One of the parishes in Bolesławiec published on its website a text prepared by Rev. Dr. W. Lechow and R. Witkowski, with the telling title “Consequences of a student withdrawing from religion classes.” It reads, among other things:

There are many reasons why students withdraw from religion classes. They include reasons arising from religious motives, such as deciding to give up developing Christian formation, changing one’s denomination, young people’s doubts in the area of faith, leaving the Church, identifying as a “non-believer,” etc., as well as reasons related to attitudes toward the subject itself, taught in a specific form as part of school classes—for example, the quality of the catechist’s work or classroom discipline.

The authors immediately add, however:

Often neither parents nor students realize the consequences of the decision being made. [...]

The decision not to attend religion classes at school entails consequences arising from the obvious obligation of a believer to deepen their faith. A Catholic who consciously gives up Christian formation offered, among other places, through religion classes at school commits a sin against the First Commandment of God. The seriousness of this sin should be considered in one’s conscience, taking into account both the personal aspect—neglecting one’s religious life—and the social aspect—the scandal that may occur in a specific environment as a result of the public decision to withdraw from religion classes. The decision to stop attending religion classes entails a number of consequences for Christian life, ranging from giving up learning about the Church’s teachings, the doctrine of faith and liturgical matters to a serious lack of understanding of spiritual, sacramental and community life.

The authors on parents’ responsibilities:

[…] Those primarily responsible for Christian upbringing are the parents, which is why they should ensure that their children attend religion classes at school. The Code of Canon Law, in canon 226 § 2, emphasizes parents’ general duties: “Because they have given life to their children, parents have a most serious obligation and right to educate them. Therefore, it belongs in the first place to Christian parents to care for the Christian education of their children, in accordance with the teaching handed on by the Church.”

The text goes on to state, among other things, that “the Code of Canon Law also specifies the conditions for receiving and preparing for the sacraments of the Eucharist, penance, confirmation and sacramental marriage, and lists the conditions that must be met to become a godparent or confirmation sponsor. The Code does not explicitly mention an obligation to participate in religious education at school; however, such an obligation can be deduced from the general guidelines.”

What are the consequences of withdrawing from religion classes according to the authors of the text in question?

  • this results in the “inability to properly prepare for the sacraments: First Holy Communion, penance and reconciliation, and confirmation, and thus makes it impossible to receive these sacraments.
  • not participating in religion classes “also makes it impossible to be a godparent or confirmation sponsor”
  • causes “a serious violation of religious upbringing, which is closely connected with receiving the sacraments and preparing for them”
  • “the student not receiving a grade in this subject”
  • results in “not receiving a diocesan certificate confirming completion of a given level of religious education.” (“A student who has withdrawn from religion classes is also not entered in the parish register of religion graduates. This is stated in a communication from the Department of Catholic Education of the Diocese of Zielona Góra–Gorzów dated June 15, 2010.”).

Interestingly:

The fact that a student has withdrawn from religion classes should be reported to the parish priest of the parish where the student lives. The information is recorded in the parish records. This procedure follows from the document Protection of Personal Data in the Activities of the Catholic Church in Poland, prepared by the Inspector General for Personal Data Protection and the Secretariat of the Polish Episcopal Conference.

The authors conclude:

Withdrawing from religion classes at school entails a whole range of consequences, beginning with the possibility of incurring moral guilt, through a serious neglect of concern for faith and spiritual life and difficulties in preparing for marriage, to depriving oneself of the opportunity to prepare for the sacraments of confirmation, the Eucharist, penance and reconciliation. It also closes the path to becoming a godparent or confirmation sponsor. In addition, it results in not receiving a grade in religion on the school report and not receiving a diocesan certificate of completion of religious education. The fact of withdrawing from religion classes itself is recorded in the parish records.

The full text can be found on the website of the Roman Catholic Parish of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ in Bolesławiec.

What do you think? We invite you to discuss.