Pope says Catholic instruction in schools is essential to society

(April 25, 2009) Imparting Catholic religious instruction in schools is not an additional structure of education; rather, it is integral to culture as it helps in creating a fuller man. The remark was made by the Pope on Saturday in the Vatican as he met some 8000 Italian teachers of Catholic instruction. Representing around 25,000 teachers of Catholic religion, they were led to the papal audience by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, the president of Italy’s Catholic bishops. “The religious dimension is not an additional structure; it is an integral part of the person right from early childhood; it is a fundamental openness to others and to the mystery that pervades every relation and encounter among human beings,” the Pope told the teachers. “Putting man, created in the image and likeness of God at the centre, is in fact what distinguishes you in your daily task alongside other educators and teachers,” the Pope told them. “In fact, the religious dimension that is intrinsic to culture helps in the all-round formation of the person and helps in transforming knowledge into wisdom of life,” the Pope said. Through their teaching, teachers of Catholic religion, on the one hand, contribute to give a soul to the school, and on their other, ensure that the Christian faith is guaranteed full citizenship in places of education and culture in general. Offering St. Paul as a model to Italy’s Catholic religion teachers, the Pope said, religious formation is not separated from human formation. St. Paul’s pastoral letters frequently remind the disciples of Christ of the social and civil life. “Rather than interfering with or limiting freedom, the Pope said, the presence of teachers of Catholic instruction in schools is a valid example of the positive lay spirit that helps in promoting a civil and constructive coexistence which is based on reciprocal respect and sincere dialogue - values which a country always needs, the Pope said.