The matter of the letter sent by the electronic journal to all parents of high school students from High School no. 11 was publicized by the Szczecin councilor, Przemysław Słowik. This is another case involving the clergy in Szczecin that touched the public. On Onet, we described the shocking messages that one of the priests wrote to the student.
A letter from a Catholic clergyman was sent to the mailbox of each parent, regardless of their faith. However, it was entitled: “Appeal to Roman Catholic Parents”.
The catechist does not spare bitter words to those who wrote their children out of religion lessons. At the same time, he argues that religion is the most important subject which – unlike the others – prepares for “eternal life”.
The rest of the text below the video.
“Please remember that by rejecting Religion in school, you rejected faith, and by rejecting faith, you rejected God. You teach children to reject God’s things for their own convenience, belittling the first commandment: You shall have no other gods before me. instead of religion you use mundane matters or other excuses that you have placed on the throne belonging to God and not to people or their matters “- the priest writes.
As he argues, “being good is not a ticket to Heaven”, and “we will all soon stand before God’s Judgment, accountable for how we cared for our life in faith and for those who were entrusted to us”.
Curia: the priest did not break the rules
The case outraged some Szczecin councilors who argue that such messages should not be sent via an electronic journal to all parents, regardless of their faith. The curia, however, argues that the priest did not break any rules, let alone the law, because the letter was addressed to the parents of believers and is a form of evangelization.
One of the parents is of a different opinion, and he decided to write back to the clergyman. In his letter, he points out to the priest that he does not see mistakes on the part of himself and the church itself.
“The responsibility for the fact of a sharp decline in the number of the faithful and the failure of catechesis are condescendingly passed by the priest to his parents without noticing even a trace of guilt in himself or the institution that the priest represents. Why can’t you afford this type of reflection? from Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski a message of hatred comparing other people to the plague? Why should the child have contact with the institution that has been covering up the case of Father Dymer and many others for 25 years? Why should the child have contact with people who beating their mothers and sisters? What would we learn from clerics like Cardinal Dziwisz locked in palaces and limousines? Humility? Service? Or hypocrisy, cunning, greed and pride? ” – one of the addressees of the priest’s letter asked, historian Radosław Ptaszyński.
One of the students’ father accuses the clergyman of manipulation. “You are supposed to go to religion, because you will go to hell? As a member of the Church, also a historian, I feel obliged to say that this is not a good way. Probably this appeal did not make anyone change their decision to withdraw a child from religion, I am afraid that the result will be exactly the opposite, which means that the first and only form of contact between the Church and the children and parents of LO XI has been wasted “- he argues.
The full text of the priest’s letter to his parents:
APPEAL TO ROMAN CATHOLIC PARENTS
Dear parents, by asking for your child to be baptized, you assume the obligation to educate him in faith so that, by keeping God’s commandments, he may love God and neighbor, as Jesus Christ taught us. Are you aware of this obligation?
Dear Parents!
These words were addressed to you several years ago by the priest who baptized your children. Certainly each of you joyfully replied: We are aware. After this promise, which was made publicly in the temple to the faithful, family members, godparents, and the priest who at that moment represented not himself but God, your child was baptized.
I would like to remind you, dear Roman Catholic parents, that your assurance: We are aware sounds still in the temple, it still sounds in an empty classroom during catechesis. The empty class intensifies this echo of your assurance, making it louder in the ears of God, who will hold us accountable for the careful cultivation of the seed of faith: me as the first to be entrusted with the office of shepherd, you as the next to be entrusted with the office of parentage.
I am writing to you as the catechist of your children, whom you did not send to religion lessons this year. I am deeply shocked and touched by the fact that a parent, who by nature should care for their child, injures them so far. It does not provide an opportunity for religious formation, strengthens in what is not good and right, and does not allow the child’s spiritual and intellectual development.
I have always said and said: Religion is the most important subject because it prepares you for eternal life. The remaining items prepare only for mortal life. They are all important, however, only Religion allows us to acquire the knowledge and attitudes necessary to lead a holy life, thanks to which we can reach Heaven. For not every good person can be saved. Being good is not a ticket to Heaven. He is admitted to Heaven when baptized, deepened in faith and Holy Communion.
Religion at school is an opportunity to deepen your faith, an occasion to raise issues that arise in the more and more adult minds of your children, as well as a testimony to our faith. Often it is also an occasion to undertake the toil and sacrifice of our time. This sacrifice, in turn, is a vehicle of God’s grace and an opportunity for the emergence of virtues that today’s youth lack so much. Require of yourself, even if others did not require of you, said St. Pope John Paul II.
So I am asking you, dear parents, what are your requirements for the religious education of your children? Do you fulfill the vow you made publicly and solemnly at the Baptism of your children?
Please remember that by rejecting Religion in school, you rejected faith and by rejecting faith you rejected God. You teach your children to reject God’s things for their own convenience, belittling the first commandment: You shall have no other gods before me. With this other idol, it can wash time that you use for mundane matters instead of religion, or other excuses that you have placed on a throne that belongs to God and not to people or their matters.
I am asking you, dear parents, to reflect on and withdraw your disastrous decision not to send your children to religion lessons. Take care of their religious development, which will not be provided by the street or the Internet. For my part, I promise to do everything in my power to ensure that the religious formation of your children takes place as desired by our Mother – the Holy Church – in the saints and blessed persons and in God’s people constantly on pilgrimage to the Promised Land.
Each of you may at any time revoke an earlier decision and submit a new declaration.
Please accept my appeal as an expression of concern for you and your children. This is the appeal of a shepherd who is concerned about his sheep, because we will all soon appear before God’s judgment, accounting for how we cared for our life in faith and for those who were entrusted to our care.
–
