Church officials were very encouraged and happy to know that Catholic parents are passing on the faith to their children by teaching them at home. As the Code of Canon Law (CCL) states in #1136; "Parents have the most serious duty and primary right to do all in their power to see to the physical, social, cultural, moral, and religious upbringing of their children." In #793 of CCL it states, "Catholic parents also have the duty and the right to select those means and institutions through which they can provide more suitably for the Catholic education of the children according to local circumstances." We were able to assure the officials that Catholic parents are simply following Church teaching in choosing to educate and form their children in the Faith at home. However, the Church officials were shocked to hear that some children were denied reception of the sacraments after being prepared by their parents. We were told that it was a "serious abuse to delay or deny the sacraments" to our children.
We met with Cardinal Francis Arinze, of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, who was most gracious and generous to us with his time. We also met with Cardinal Alfons Stickler, former head of the Vatican library; Cardinal Trujillo of the Pontifical council for the Family; Archbishop Francis Stafford, of the Pontifical Council for the Laity; and Monsignor Piacenzia of the Congregation for the Clergy. We also met with representatives from the Congregation for Bishops, Congregation for Catholic Education, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, Pontifical Council for Interpretation of Legal Texts, and the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.
A special blessing for us was in being able to share the news about homeschooling with parents in the Universal church through an interview we had with Fr. Patrick Alumuku of Vatican radio. Fr. Patrick was very excited to hear of the work Catholic parents are doing in the United States in educating their children at home in accordance and in line with Church teaching. He assured us that he would broadcast our interview over Vatican radio, so that parents all over the world could learn about Catholic Homeschooling.
In addition to the meetings, a special highlight of the trip for all of us was Mass daily at St. Peter's Basilica, as well as attending the Pope's Wednesday audience, and the Pontifical Mass on the first Sunday of Advent. There was even some time for seeing some of the beautiful churches in Rome, including the four major basilicas; St. Peter's, St. Paul Outside the Wall, St. John Lateran, and St. Mary Major, as well as several gorgeous, lesser known churches. Another highlight of the trip was touring the underground catacombs of St. Callixtus, and the excavations under the basilica of St. Peter's. We also visited the seminary of the Legionaries of Christ, as well as the Regnum Christi house for women. Even though it rained several days while we were there, the joy of being in the Eternal City and the seat of Catholic Christianity, more than compensated for our soggy shoes and dripping umbrellas. We prayed for Catholic Homeschoolers in every church and shrine we visited, and we entrusted all to the powerful intercession of Mary, Our Blessed Mother.
Four homeschooled teenagers (one of them was our daughter, Maria) went on the trip with their parents. While the adults were in meetings, the young people spent much of their time appreciating the beauty and splendor of the magnificent basilica of St. Peter's. They also visited some museums, and several churches in or near the Vatican. It was a fantastic experience for us all, for it not only furthered the knowledge of Vatican officials regarding Catholic homeschooling in the United States, and the problems we are facing, but also gave us hope that although we cannot expect quick results and easy answers to difficult questions, the Vatican is not only aware of Catholic parents' efforts to follow church teaching in educating their children, but very supportive of those efforts. We all need to continue to work tirelessly, and to pray without ceasing; several officials urged us to persevere, with prudence and determination, for the sake and souls of our children, and ourselves.
Submitted by Kim Gudan, leader of Tampa JMJ Homeschoolers.
