By Bishop James Conley
In October 2017, I had the privilege of celebrating Mass at the Church of St. Anne in Jerusalem, built on the site which Christians have long believed is the birthplace and childhood home of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I was on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. It was a powerful experience to celebrate Mass in the place where Mary’s parents, St. Anne and St. Joachim, prepared and formed her for the great mission of her life: to be the Mother of God.
The thick walls of Saint Anne’s make it look more like a fortress than a home, but one can imagine what took place there over 2,000 years ago. St. Joachim and St. Anne would not have known the full extent of what God was preparing for their daughter, but they played a crucial role in the history of salvation, albeit a hidden one.
It was in this home where the Blessed Virgin Mary learned how to pray, learned how to be a faithful Jew, and learned how to love. By handing on the faith to Mary through their words and example, St. Joachim and St. Ann were willing instruments of Divine Providence in preparing her to raise the Son of God.
While I was there, I reflected on how every family is called to participate in proclamation of the Gospel and the mission of the Church. God has called families, from the very beginning of time, as essential participants in fulfilling his will, and in the mission of the Kingdom. Not all families are called to the same kind of life or ministry. But, to be sure, every family is called to serve the Gospel in some unique way.
Parents, the first educators
In order to speak of thriving family life, we have to look at marriage. God has designed the institution of marriage as a life-long covenant between a man and a woman with two ends or purposes: the good of the spouses themselves and for the procreation and education of children. Thus, the Church teaches that parents are the primary educators of their children.
What does it mean that parents are the primary educators of their children? First, we look at what it means to educate. The word educate comes from the Latin words ex, meaning “out of” and ducere, meaning “to draw or to lead.” In proper education of their children, parents help draw the best out of their children to help them grow intellectually and spiritually, leading them to know what is true, love what is good, and appreciate what is beautiful.
Parents are primary educators, quite obviously, because they begin educating them the moment they enter into the world, but more foundationally because they shoulder the ultimate responsibility in the education of their children.
This responsibility is articulated in the Rite of Baptism of a Child when the celebrant says to the parents of the child who is about to be baptized: “In asking for Baptism for your child, you are undertaking the responsibility of raising him in the faith, so that, keeping God’s commandments, he may love the Lord and his neighbor as Christ has taught us. Do you understand this responsibility?”
Yes, this is a grave responsibility; it has many demands. Yet, it should be considered a great blessing because God has entrusted parents to become instruments of God’s love and salvation in the lives of their children. It is an inalienable duty and a right.
Parents are not alone
Parents are not alone in this great task as educators of their children. First and foremost, they accomplish it with the help of the Holy Spirit. Parents should pray to the Holy Spirit that they will be good parents. Parents open up their children’s hearts to the grace and power of the Holy Spirit by introducing their children to the beliefs of the faith; teaching them proper worship of God, especially in the Mass and in the sacraments; instilling in them what it means to live out Catholic moral teaching through instruction and discipline; and showing them how to pray.
Moreover, the Church does not teach that parents must be the exclusive educators of their children. Catholic schools, as well as CCD programs assist parents in their duty as primary educators of their children.
The Second Vatican Council, in its Declaration on Christian Education, Gravissimum Educationis, speaks of the mission of the Catholic school: “…the Catholic school, while it is open, as it must be, to the situation of the contemporary world, leads its students to promote efficaciously the good of the earthly city and also prepares them for service in the spread of the Kingdom of God, so that by leading an exemplary apostolic life they become, as it were, a saving leaven in the human community.”
We are, of course, blessed in the Diocese of Lincoln with rich tradition of faithful, vibrant and affordable Catholic schools which help parents in their duty. I am so grateful for all those who make our Catholic schools possible. Nevertheless, without the assistance of dedicated and involved parents who see themselves as primary educators, then good and faithful Catholic schools would decline.
There are many Catholics in the Diocese of Lincoln, who, due to lack of proximity to a Catholic school or for other reasons, attend public schools. There are good public schools in our diocese and dedicated teachers and administrators who care about the education of children.
The curriculum that is taught in public schools in the State of Nebraska ought to be of vital interest and importance to all Christians as it should be to all Nebraskans. This curriculum shapes the minds and hearts of Catholics and non-Catholics alike in our great state. It has long-term consequences on the culture of our people.
Health Standards a concern
For this reason, I am deeply concerned about the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) recent release of a first draft of new Health Standards, the first of its kind ever proposed. The NDE provides content area standards for a variety of subjects, which are also periodically reviewed and updated. These standards are meant to guide curriculum for all Nebraska schools, including public and non-public schools. While not mandatory for any school, these state standards will heavily influence what is taught throughout the state.
The Health Standards are a deeply flawed document and promote ideologies contrary to the Christian vision of marriage, the family, and human sexuality, not to mention sound human reason. Content in these Standards presents a false understanding of marriage and human sexuality.
The document does not mention the role of parents as primary educators of their children, especially on matters of human sexuality. It does not mention how the scourge of pornography leads to sexual objectification, the creation of shame and depression, and sexual dysfunction. Sadly, it does disassociate gender identity from biological sex; it does promote the language of gender ideology, and it does promote a promiscuous and contraceptive culture.
To give some examples of problematic content in the Standards regarding sexuality, marriage and the family, in kindergarten and first grade, students will discuss genitalia. In fourth grade, students “distinguish between sex assigned at birth and gender identity sexuality and explain how they may or may not differ.” In sixth grade, students “define and explain differences between cisgender, transgender, gender non-binary, gender expansive, and gender identity.” In seventh grade, students will “define vaginal, oral and anal sex and their relationship to STD/HIV transmission.” In eighth grade, students will discuss ways to prevent pregnancy, pregnancy testing, “discuss sexual consent and agency.” High school students will discuss sexual consent, contraceptives, “local services that provide contraceptive methods including emergency contraception.”
Learn more, and act
I applaud the work of the Nebraska Catholic Conference in confronting these proposed Standards and providing necessary information about them to parents, educators and clergy. This information is available at https://necatholic.org/be-an-advocate/nde-health-standards.html.
Should such standards be adopted by schools, children will be placed in peril, many educators will find their professional judgment and conscience under attack if they do not wish to teach the standards, and the culture will move toward a further normalization of child sexualization.
The NDE is asking for feedback on these draft standards. Visit www.education.ne.gov where you can view the standards and respond through a survey. Also, contact your elected State School Board member, whose contact information can be found at the NDE’s website.
In his apostolic exhortation Familiaris Consortio, St. Pope John Paul II exhorted families to “become what you are.” Families live within cultures. Families should be leaven in the countries and cultures where they find themselves. Above all, families are designed by God, and they find their true flourishing in living according to God’s plan. Parents need the freedom in our society to live out their roles are primary educators of their children.
As I have traveled the Diocese of Lincoln the last eight years, I’ve met many families who are leaven in their communities and I’m edified by their witness. Parents, please know that I appreciate the charity and struggle you undertake to educate your children as disciples of Jesus, and know that I am praying for you.
