Multi-cultural Society and Catholic Religious Education

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to explore Catholic religious education in the multi-cultural society. This study focused on Catholic Church teaching about Catholic religious education in the context of the multi-cultural society, the current situation and the roles of Catholic religious education. Based on the Bible and Catholic Church documents, following concepts are regarded as the important points for religious education in the multi-cultural society context. Human was created in the image of one God. Welcoming to differences and openness to the other religious traditions are important approaches in religious education. Catholic Church respects other religions and is open to dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions. Religious freedom is a basic human right and faith is a human’s response to God’ revelation. Evangelizing is the main purpose of religious education in the Catholic schools but giving opportunity for learning about other religions is also not disregarded. Hospitality, solidarity and openness are the basic principles of Catholic immigrant ministry. Catholic secondary schools are not yet practicing the religious education reflecting multi-cultural societies’ characters, however they plan to cover these issues in religious education. The multi-cultural Catholic support centers have helped the immigrants since 1990’s but these centers have not practiced religious education for non Christians who did not want to be Christians. The people of these centers, who have practiced Christian’s life as good Christians, pointed out the necessity of faith education for the multi-cultural family. In order to practice religious education in the multi-cultural society, the following things required our concern-eliminating bias and prejudice toward religious education, teaching hospitality, using listening and sharing story as the methods of religious education, life-long learning religious educator, the comprehensive approach of church and school community toward religious education, avocation of Catholic church, and establishing a network between Catholic schools, the multi-cultural support center of Catholics and parishes.