Bishops

What USCCB resources are you studying and implementing?

BISHOPS  http://www.usccb.org/
The Catholic Church runs the largest network of private schools in the United States. Total Catholic elementary/middle and high school enrollment for the 2014-2015 academic year was 1,939,574.

USCCB Framework  59pp. pdf   [Find commentary on the Framework listed below]
This 2008 document offers guidance to catechetical publishers in the development of instructional material. It provides guidance in creating doctrinal content of catechetical text and materials, curriculum development, and catechetical instruction that completely define and present the teaching of the Church for young people of high school age. It's a helpful resource for Catholic high schools, parish religious education programs, children schooled at home or within the context of the catechetical instruction which should be part of every youth ministry program. It is also designed to help young people develop the necessary skills to answer and address the real questions in life and in their Catholic faith. It's an important resource for catechetical leaders, teachers, and laypersons.

Framework Adaptation 15pp. pdf
Offered by the bishops primarily as a point of reference for the work of catechetical publishers, this resource encourages and supports the creativity of publishers and catechists in the development of catechetical materials and programs.

Renewing The Vision  This 1997 vision document still provides a vital framework for ministry with adolescents. Builds on the 1976 "A Vision for Youth Ministry."
Outline:
Part One: The Growth and Development of the Church's Ministry with Adolescents
Part Two:  Goals for Ministry with Adolescents
Goal 1: To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.
Goal 2: To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community.
Goal 3: To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.
Part Three: Themes and Components for a Comprehensive Ministry with Adolescents
The Ministry of Advocacy
The Ministry of Catechesis
The Ministry of Community Life
The Ministry of Evangeliation
The Ministry of Justice and Service
The Ministry of Leadership Development
The Ministry of Pastoral Care
The Ministry of Prayer and Worship
Part Four: A Guiding Image for Ministry with Adolescents
Notes
A NCYOF PowerPoint summary here.  10th anniversary review article here.

Catholic Schools Governance models 37pp. pdf

Engaging youth for discipleship 4pp.  pdf by Fr. John J. Serio, SDB

Protocol for Assessing the Conformity of Catechetical Materials

The Protocol for Assessing the Conformity of Catechetical Materials with the Catechism of the Catholic Church is the instrument used for the evaluation of catechetical materials as to their conformity to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. For reference purposes, please find the reformatted version below, i.e., including all the text but without the columned boxes used for evaluation. (Word-version of the Protocol with the columned boxes available)
Introduction: Important caveats
 Part One: Principles for Assessing the Conformity of Catechetical Materials to the Catechism
◾Authenticity      ◾Completeness
Part Two:  ◾Reviewer Instructions  ◾Publisher Instructions

Secondary Level (SL) Protocol Introduction 6pp. pdf

Click HERE for more Protocol Resources  (resources indicated by bullets below)

What is the Conformity Review Process?

The Conformity Review Process has served the Church in the United States over the past twenty years since the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The review process is meant to assist in the conformity of catechetical texts and series in an authentic and complete way to the Catechism.

• Please visit the Handbook on the Conformity Review Process for further information and history on the review process.  20pp. pdf

• Textbooks conforming with Catechism (CCC)  5pp. pdf as of 9.18.14 The Conformity List is a list of catechetical texts or series which have been judged to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Procedures for Publishers: (click HERE for links)

• For information and guidelines on how to submit a catechetical text or series for the conformity review process, please visit this webpage. 
• Please also visit our webpage for Conformity Review Q & A for further information addressing common questions about the review process. 

Informative Documents for the Conformity Review Process:  (click HERE for links)

• Presentation on the Ten Deficiencies: A presentation on the pervasive issues and specific theological problems which fall under the Ten Deficiencies given by Archbishop Alfred Hughes on September 3, 2015.
• Letter on Criteria and Applicability: This is an update to the 2010 letter of criteria and applicability, concerning what catechetical materials are eligible for the conformity review process.
• Letter on Supplemental Materials: This letter clarifies the policy concerning the review of supplemental materials.
• Letter on Revisions of Materials: This letter clarifies the policy concerning the review of materials that have been revised. 
• Letter on Guidelines for the Treatment and the Interpretation of Sacred Scripture in Catechetical Texts: This letter was offered as guidelines in November 2011.
• Oral Report to the General Assembly of Bishops, given by Archbishop Buechlein in 1997: This report lists ten particular doctrinal deficiencies which were a concern in catechetical materials.
• Oral Report to the General Assembly of Bishops, given by Archbishop Hughes in 2003. 
• Letter on Boilerplate Language: This letter explains the use of "boilerplate" language in reports and includes the list of definitions. 

Review Instruments for the Conformity Review Process: (click HERE for links)

• Preschool: Preschool Guidelines -- address authenticity and completeness in an age-appropriate manner for pre-K students. 
• Protocol:  Protocol for Assessing the Conformity of Catechetical Materials with the Catechism of the Catholic Church The Protocol addresses the authenticity and completeness of materials at an age-appropriate level from kindergarten through eighth grade.
• Sacramental Preparation Protocols: The Sacramental Preparation Protocols are working instruments of the Subcommittee on the Catechism, approved June 2013. 
• Letter on the Sacramental Preparation Protocols
• Sacramental Preparation Protocol I, First Penance and First Holy Communion, 2nd Grade (Word Version)
• Sacramental Preparation Protocol II, First Penance and First Holy Communion, 6th Grade  (Word Version)
• Sacramental Preparation Protocol III, Confirmation (Word Version)
• Secondary Level Protocol Part I:
• The Secondary Level Protocol addresses catechetical materials for authenticity and completeness at the high school level. 
• Protocol Instrument for Review of Secondary Level -- Introduction and Part I 
• Secondary Level Protocol Part II: Core Course I – The Revelation of Jesus Christ in Scripture  (Word Version)
• Core Course II - Who is Jesus Christ?  (Word Version)
• Core Course III – The Mission of Jesus Christ (The Paschal Mystery)  (Word Version)
• Core Course IV – Jesus Christ's Mission Continues in the Church  (Word Version)
• Core Course V – Sacraments as Privileged Encounters with Jesus Christ  (Word Version)
• Core Course VI – Life in Jesus Christ  (Word Version)
• Elective Course A - Sacred Scripture  (Word Version)
• Elective Course B - History of the Catholic Church  (Word Version)
• Elective Course C - Living as a Disciple of Jesus Christ  (Word Version)
• Elective Course D - Responding to the Call of Jesus Christ  (Word Version)
• Elective Course E - Ecumenical and Interreligious Issues  (Word Version)

Reviews of the 2007 Framework

Commentary is easy to find and worth a study for a critical appropriation of the Framework. Here are some examples in chronological order:

New high school religion guidelines center on knowing Christ
Catholic News Service Wednesday, November 28, 2007 1:38 AM

Faulty Guidance September 14, 2009 Issue America by William J. O'Malley
A new framework for high school catechesis fails to persuade. The text cautions that “the order in which the doctrinal elements within each theme are identified should not be understood to be an outline of a text or course.” But 53 single-spaced, double-columned-for-density pages seem hardly a neutral “suggestion.”

A Sturdy Framework  September 28, 2009 Issue America by Alfred McBride
A defense of the bishops' new high school catechesis. The bishops want to foster in our high school students a deeper personal relationship with Christ. They hope that a Christ-centered Framework that is systematic and comprehensive will serve this goal. The Framework is a service to our young people, helping them know and love Christ and live according to his truth. In this way high school age students are enabled to participate more deeply in the life of the church and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to reach eternal life with God in heaven. It is a very high ideal; but teenagers are well suited to idealism, and their personal development is related to human and faith-based challenges.

Dissertation (2010) Looking for love: a critique of doctrinal elements of a curriculum framework for the development of catechetical materials for young people of high school age published by the U.S. conference of catholic bishops (USCCB), November 2007.
UNCG Author/Contributor Danita Miskiewicz Ostasiewski; Advisor: Svi Shapiro
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Abstract: This study critically examines the curriculum framework published by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops which directs the four year, eight semester course of study for religion classes taught in all U.S. Catholic high schools. By examining this framework, I identify the concepts and methodology privileged by the Roman Catholic hierarchy and evaluate their efficacy in light of current insights in postmodern curriculum development. This study traces the twelve year timeline approaching the document’s publication, sociological research data which supported the USCCB’s decision to produce the Framework, and pre-Vatican II text series upon which the framework has been based. It critiques the framework against the Tradition of the Catholic Church in the U.S. from 1640 to the present, the Magisterial documents of the universal and local Church on education, and Holy Scripture. It also examines the framework against a postmodern description of the student consumers of the framework and present work in postmodern curriculum development. The study concludes with a recommendation to individual bishops and vicars of education to convene their own education councils before requiring use of the framework in their individual diocese.

Embracing the Bishops' Framework
September 13, 2013 NCEA By: Patrick A. Brady, Chairman, Religious Studies, Archbishop Spalding High School