Book guides Gr. 12s to Catholic morality

By ART BABYCH
Canadian Catholic News
Ottawa

Through questions posed in each of the 18 chapters, the program invites young Catholics to arrive at a moral view of the world through the eyes of their Catholic faith, using supporting Scriptures and the teaching of the Catholic Church.

To be launched this summer by the Catholic bishops' National Office of Religious Education, the program focuses on morality, ethics and self-awareness. The goal is to assist students to "understand themselves as moral persons living the way of Christ through an examination of ethical theories, the revelation of sacred Scripture, and the experience and teaching of the Catholic Church," said NORE.

Pilot classes and reviewers across Canada have worked with the program materials and their feedback helps ensure "activities and texts meet the diverse learning needs in the high school environment," it said.

Bishop Richard Grecco of Toronto, the chair of the CCCB's commission for Christian Education, said, "The book is about the human quest for happiness and was inspired by the Holy Father's message at World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto.

"It will equip young Catholics to enter the workforce or graduate studies, aware that their culture is pluralistic and secular, yet confident in and ready to respond to the power of God's grace to lead them to their true fulfillment."

The moral principles derived from three great philosophers introduce the text, followed by three chapters on the mystery of revelation, said NORE. "In this way the foundation of Catholic moral teaching, namely, reason informed by faith, is clearly established for the 12 chapters that follow."

Key features of the program include strong connections with the students' daily lives, exploration of religious experience, expression and diversity, implications for Christian moral behaviour and an exploration of who we are as Church.

The teacher's manual includes background notes for teachers, creative teaching and assessment strategies and an overview of the content. It also provides questions to encourage student understanding.

A preview of the new program and ordering information is available online at www.cccb.ca. The student text and teacher's manual will be available this summer.

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