Book Review of the Month
Rating ****
Deception: Catholic Education in America, by Steve Kellmeyer, Bridegroom Press, 242 pages, $16.95
Over 3,000 Catholic elementary schools and roughly half of the nation’s Catholic high schools have closed since the 1960’s. In Deception: Catholic Education in America, Steve Kellmeyer analyzes the reasons for the collapse of Catholic education in America by taking us back in time, to show us when the first cracks appeared and how they grew as a result of human error and frailties. The historical background he presents is filled with amazing real-life stories and events that are not only eye-opening, but are often filled with mystery and intrigue. His views are well-supported and based upon truths of the Magesterium as well as solid evidence from European and American history. The historical journey begins with the era of the early Christian martyrs and extends to the present day. There is no finger pointing here – only a logical and lucid explanation of why specific decisions were made and what their impact was on the teaching of the faith.
In his historical and theological analysis of Catholic education, Kellmeyer insists that parents should be the primary faith educators of their children – that they have been given the grace to do so through the sacramental bond of Matrimony and that the lack of knowledge in faith matters on the part of Catholics has been largely due to the abdication of parental responsibility as well as to the improper takeover by Catholic hierarchy of Catholic education to children by Catholic schools initially run by religious. Despite the fact that some parents view themselves as incapable of performing such a task, Kellmeyer argues that this is not an impossible task beyond their abilities. He strongly encourages and promotes adult education in the faith to better equip parents to carry out their mandatory parental duties.
Writing with strong conviction, in a clear and direct manner, Kellmeyer captured and held my attention from the very first chapter in which he presents a dramatic, but realistic portrayal of the current crisis in Catholic education. I did not expect to agree with him, but his arguments are indisputable. As I moved through each chapter, I became more aware of the immensity of the problem, fitting each of the pieces of historical and theological information together to obtain a clearer picture of the current dilemma. I was surprised at how little I actually knew about the theology and the history of Catholic education and the impact which certain historical actions and decisions have had upon my life as a Catholic, despite attending Catholic schools for twelve years and having taken classes in theology as a lay member of a religious community. This book was a welcome antidote. While all of the chapters in this book are engaging, I found the most useful part of the book to be contained in the last few chapters in which Kellmeyer makes practical recommendations for parents, for priests, and bishops that can be implemented to bring about the necessary changes for improvement.
Steve Kellmeyer has written a powerfully enlightening and intriguing book which analyzes the historical factors behind the current crisis in the Catholic parochial system. This book will most certainly impact the way that American Catholics view parental responsibility for their children’s religious education and, hopefully, will result in positive changes to bring about a solution to the crisis. Deception is a must read for all adult Catholic laity and Religious who are interested in the education and catechetical formation of both Catholic youth and adults in America.
Written by Jean M. Heimann, a freelance writer, an Oblate with the Community of St. John, and a retired educator.
~ copyright 2005
Rating ****
Deception: Catholic Education in America, by Steve Kellmeyer, Bridegroom Press, 242 pages, $16.95
Over 3,000 Catholic elementary schools and roughly half of the nation’s Catholic high schools have closed since the 1960’s. In Deception: Catholic Education in America, Steve Kellmeyer analyzes the reasons for the collapse of Catholic education in America by taking us back in time, to show us when the first cracks appeared and how they grew as a result of human error and frailties. The historical background he presents is filled with amazing real-life stories and events that are not only eye-opening, but are often filled with mystery and intrigue. His views are well-supported and based upon truths of the Magesterium as well as solid evidence from European and American history. The historical journey begins with the era of the early Christian martyrs and extends to the present day. There is no finger pointing here – only a logical and lucid explanation of why specific decisions were made and what their impact was on the teaching of the faith.
In his historical and theological analysis of Catholic education, Kellmeyer insists that parents should be the primary faith educators of their children – that they have been given the grace to do so through the sacramental bond of Matrimony and that the lack of knowledge in faith matters on the part of Catholics has been largely due to the abdication of parental responsibility as well as to the improper takeover by Catholic hierarchy of Catholic education to children by Catholic schools initially run by religious. Despite the fact that some parents view themselves as incapable of performing such a task, Kellmeyer argues that this is not an impossible task beyond their abilities. He strongly encourages and promotes adult education in the faith to better equip parents to carry out their mandatory parental duties.
Writing with strong conviction, in a clear and direct manner, Kellmeyer captured and held my attention from the very first chapter in which he presents a dramatic, but realistic portrayal of the current crisis in Catholic education. I did not expect to agree with him, but his arguments are indisputable. As I moved through each chapter, I became more aware of the immensity of the problem, fitting each of the pieces of historical and theological information together to obtain a clearer picture of the current dilemma. I was surprised at how little I actually knew about the theology and the history of Catholic education and the impact which certain historical actions and decisions have had upon my life as a Catholic, despite attending Catholic schools for twelve years and having taken classes in theology as a lay member of a religious community. This book was a welcome antidote. While all of the chapters in this book are engaging, I found the most useful part of the book to be contained in the last few chapters in which Kellmeyer makes practical recommendations for parents, for priests, and bishops that can be implemented to bring about the necessary changes for improvement.
Steve Kellmeyer has written a powerfully enlightening and intriguing book which analyzes the historical factors behind the current crisis in the Catholic parochial system. This book will most certainly impact the way that American Catholics view parental responsibility for their children’s religious education and, hopefully, will result in positive changes to bring about a solution to the crisis. Deception is a must read for all adult Catholic laity and Religious who are interested in the education and catechetical formation of both Catholic youth and adults in America.
Written by Jean M. Heimann, a freelance writer, an Oblate with the Community of St. John, and a retired educator.
~ copyright 2005
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