The humanistic challenge of Catholic education: an essay for Catholic educators to consider

Abstract

It would be stating the obvious to assert that education, as it supports growth and allows for the promotion of the human self, necessarily hails from a humanistic perspective. But after putting this trite idea on the table, the matter remains problematic because the very smooth nature of such an assertion covers too well the challenges and issues related to the difficulty of being human in our contemporary societies and cultures, as well as the educational responsibility it entails. Indeed, to talk about education and humanism implies that one knows, with a certain amount of confidence, what it means to be human and how to become one. Yet, what was once relatively clear is no longer assured today.

Keywords:

• anthropology
• Integral education
• Humanism
• Evangelisation

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank the Editor of this journal for helpful comments received on a first draft of this paper.

Notes on contributor

François Moog, Ph.D, STD, is full Professor at the Faculty of Theology of the Catholic University of Paris where he teaches ecclesiology and practical theology. After having directed the Higher Catechetical Institute (ISPC) for 7 years, he became Dean of Education in 2014. He's Member of the Board of the Association of Catholic Institution for the Study of Education (ACISE), IFCU.

Notes

1 Cf. “Trouble dans la définition de l’humain : prendre la mesure d’une crise anthropologique”, Transversalités, supplément 1, 2014, 152 p., “Destinée de l'humanisme et révolution anthropologique contemporaine: Trouble dans la définition de l'humain II”, Transversalités, Supplément 3, 2015, 292 p. et : “Ressources des pratiques chrétiennes en post-modernité. Trouble dans la définition de l’humain III”, Transversalités, 143 (2017) 7–187.

2 Cf. Joël Molinario (2015, 17 sq).

3 Charles Taylor (1991, 135).

4 Jean-François (Lyotard 1979, 109).

5 Joël Molinario (2016, 370).

6 Cf. Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter caritas in veritate on integral human Development in Charity and Truth, 29 June 2009 [CV].

7 Cf. for exemple CV 4, 9, 16, 18, 31, 78 et passim.

8 CV 23.

9 CV 21.

10 Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (2000).

11 Ibid.

12 Ibid.

13 Pope Francis, Encyclical Letter Laudato si on Care for our common Home, 24 May 2015 [LS] 53.

14 Cf. LS 108.

15 LS 215.

16 Michel Serres (2009, 78).

17 Henri-Jérôme (Gagey 2015, 17).

18 For this paragraph, I willingly acknowledge my debt to my colleague and friend Joël (2014, p. 31–56 and 2016).

19 Judith Butler, 1990, 236 p.

20 Cf. Dominique Lester (2010, 186), Elisabeth (de) Fontenay (2008, 212), Florence Burgat (1997, 254). and Jean-Marie Schaeffer (2007, 446). See also Paul Valadier (2011, 152).

21 Cora Diamon (2004, 429).

22 Cf. Rémi Sussan (2005, 286). and Jean-Michel Besnier (2009, 208).

23 Jean-Michel Besnier (2009, 21).

24 Cf. Brigitte Cholvy (2016, 405–406).

25 Quoted by Joseph Yacoub (2012, 32).

26 Geneviève (Médevielle 2008, 76).

27 Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, The new Evangelization … , art. cit..

28 CV 11. Cf. Gerald (Grace 2013).

29 CV 3.

30 CV 9.

31 CV 11.

32 CV 16, quoting Populorum progressio 15.

33 CV 18.

34 CV 45.

35 Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, The new Evangelization … , art. cit..

36 LS 206.

37 Benoît XVI, Encyclical letter Spe salvi on christian hope, 30 November 2007, n° 2.

38 GS 41 § 2.

39 Benoît XVI, Meeting with representatives from the world of culture, Paris, 12 september 2008.

40 Ibid.

41 Ibid.

42 Ibid.

43 Ibid.

44 Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, ‘Vérité du Christianisme’, conférence à la Sorbonne du 27 novembre 2000.

45 Cf. Rodney Stark (1996).

46 Cf. Brigitte Cholvy, ‘l’anthropologie chrétienne, … ’, art.cit., p. 410.

47 Henri-Jérôme Gagey, Les ressources de la foi, op. cit., p. 20 et 239.

48 Ibid., p. 203 et 237.

49 Ibid., p. 191.

50 Cf. ‘Ressources des pratiques chrétiennes en post-modernité. Trouble dans la définition de l’humain III’, Transversalités, 143 (2017) 7–187.

51 Cf. Bruno Devauchelle (2015, 10–15).

52 CV 3.

53 CV 4.

54 Cf. CV 4, 8, 9, 11, 17, 18, 29, 30, 34, 43, 44, 48, 51, 55, 62, 67, 74, 77, 78.

55 For further developments, I would like to refer to François Moog (2017, 35–51).

56 Jacques (Maritain 1968, 308). (original in French in 1936). On Maritain's influence on the work of the Second Vatican Council, see in particular Philippe Chenaux (2006), which recalls that Paul VI regularly consulted Maritain during the Council (p. 92–95) and which specifies the influence of Integral Humanism on the work of the Second Vatican Council (p. 96–98).

57 On this last point, it will be useful to consult: Alain Mougniotte (2013, 1–6); on line: < http://revue-educatio.eu/wp/2013/11/29/la-notion-de-personne-dans-la-pensee-de-jacques-maritain/#more-503>.

58 Congregation for Catholic Education, The Catholic School (19 March 1977) n° 19. This type of statement can be found in all the documents published by the Congregation for Catholic Education: see for example Lay Catholics in Schools: Witnesses to faith (15 October 1982) n° 28 ; The Religious Dimension of Education in a Catholic School (7 April 1988)  n° 70, 110 ; Circular letter to the Presidents of Bishp's conferences on religious education in Schools (5 May 2009) n° 12 ; Educating to Intercultural Dialogue in Catholic Schools. Living in Harmony for a Civilization of Love (28 October 2013) n° 12, 45 ; Educating Today and Tomorrow: A Renewing Passion (7 April 2014), III … 

59 The Religious Dimension of Education …  n° 98.

60 The Catholic school … n° 35. Cf. also le n° 63.

61 GE 2.

62 Congregation for Catholic Education, Circular letter to the Presidents of Bishops’ conferences on religious education in Schools … n° 10.

63 Ibid. n° 520/2009 … , n° 17. It is in fact a quotation from Benedict XVI's speech to Catholic religious teachers in Italian schools on April 15, 2009, which himself quotes Benedict XVI's speech to participants in the IVth National Congress of the Italian Church in Verona on October 19, 2006.

64 Circular letter … n° 520/2009 … , n° 17. This is a quote from Benedict XVI's speech to Catholic teachers in Italian schools on April 15, 2009.

65 Congregation for Catholic Education, Catholic Schools on the Threshold of the Third Millennium (28 December 1997) n° 17.

66 Cf. GE 8.

67 Cf. GE 2 et 10.

68 Conférence des évêques de France, Statut de l’Enseignement catholique en France (1^er juin 2013), published by the French Catholic Education Service, art. 43, with a reference to Ep. 4, 15. On line <http://www.enseignement-catholique.fr/ec/images/stories/abonnement/statut-enseignement-catholique-juin-2013.pdf>.

69 We can mention here some great names such as La Salle, Pestalozzi, Don Bosco, Montessori, Lubienska de Lenval, Danielou, Faure, … 

70 Abel Pasquier (1988).