BY KATHI STEARNS

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--Pastors, teachers and those involved in catechetical ministry previewed the Benziger Family Life program during workshops held throughout the Archdiocese of Atlanta in spring 1995.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue has requested that by September 1996 all parochial schools and parish religious education programs implement the Benziger Family Life series.

"I am thrilled that we as an archdiocese will embark on a new journey of ministry and service to family life," said Annette Kulasa, consultant for children's catechesis and coordinator of the formation days. "This is another way that as parish catechetical and school leaders we can minister to our families, assisting and supporting them as they teach their children how to respond to the Gospel through the gifts of life, family, self, sexuality and community."

Irene Murphy, vice-president and national consultant for the Benziger Publishing Company, provided workshop participants with an overview of the program.

Ms. Murphy explained that the program is "rich in the documents of the Church," including the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, papal encyclicals and other church texts on a Catholic perspective on human sexuality.

One of the strengths of the Benziger program is that it explains the basic teachings of the Church on issues relevant to contemporary society, she said.

She used the fifth commandment, "Thou shalt not kill," as an example. Benziger instruction concerning this commandment would touch upon the issues of abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, suicide, sterilization, artificial insemination, in-vitro fertilization and organ transplants. Abuses of the gift of life which affect the human body such as drugs, alcohol and physical and emotional abuse would also be covered. In addition, discussion would address concern for the poor, allocation of limited medical resources, pacifism, non-violence, unjust aggression and the "just war" theory.

"When I was learning about the fifth commandment there was no such thing as the Supreme Court decision on abortion or the AIDS virus," she said. "The Benziger series takes into account the issues which are pertinent to the society in which these kids live."

Participants agreed that relevant issues must be addressed. "Kids are looking for someone to answer the questions raised when they hear their friends, parents or teachers talk or see, hear or read media reports," said Amy Foster, director of religious education at Good Shepherd Church, Cumming. "These issues deal with their lives today; they really want to know where the Catholic Church stands."

Ms. Murphy walked participants through the fifth-grade text of the Benziger program. This particular text was chosen because Ms. Murphy wanted participants to see the manner in which Benziger had addressed procreation and male and female anatomy.

The Benziger program, according to Ms. Murphy, is not a "sex education" program. "Education and sexuality are presented in an integrated way rather than in isolation," Ms. Murphy said. "That's why the actual biological information is less than 10 percent of the entire program. We deal with the growth and development of the whole person."

Most participants felt very comfortable with material they previewed in the Benziger Family Life program. "Irene couldn't have outlined the program any better," said Suzy Fitzpatrick, a religious education coordinator at St. Andrew's Church, Roswell, and a mother of three. "It was nice to see for myself that the program evolves around the family and not just that three-letter word."

Ms. Murphy stressed that the program recognizes the role of parents as primary communicators of Catholic family values. "No family life program should ever take over the teaching rights of the home," Ms. Murphy said. "That is not the purpose of this program. We are trying to affirm what we hope is already being done in the home."

Maureen Houlihan, a former administrative assistant at St. John Neumann Regional School, Lilburn, discussed the theological framework behind the Benziger program. She defined theology as man's attempt at a systematic description of what God has revealed and his subsequent effort to conform his life to that revelation. She used the scriptural stories of Abraham and the Holy Family as examples which speak of the importance of family. "You have to start with Scripture because that is where revelation begins," she said.

She explained that Catholic theology has three components: creed, what we believe; cult, how we celebrate those beliefs; and code, how we live out what we believe. "These are the first three pillars of the catechism," she said. "The Benziger series does a very good job of incorporating these components into their text."

Ellie Cupps, a parishioner at St. Benedict, Duluth, who previously taught human sexuality in the context of family life in Houston, stressed the importance of having teachers and catechists trained in the Catholic Church's teachings on human sexuality.

"The ideal situation is to have a separate group of teachers who are willing to come into the classroom and teach this program," she said. "I say this because there is a lot of information that must be learned."

Mrs. Cupps believes that a competent teacher must have a complete and accurate theoretical knowledge of the meaning and value of sexuality. At the same time he or she must be personally mature, integrated and responsible concerning his or her own sexual identity.

"Our parents, the church and society have placed great trust in these teachers," Mrs. Cupps said. "We owe it to everyone to have well-trained, competent teachers discussing human sexuality. Parents tend to see the catechist as a church authority. Therefore, teachers need to understand and believe the teachings of the Catholic Church."

In another workshop Frances Kummer, director of religious education at St. Patrick's Church, Norcross, spoke about family relationships. Citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church Mrs. Kummer explained why the family is the domestic church. According to the catechism, family "is a community of faith, hope, and charity. It assumes singular importance in the Church as is evident in the New Testament."

"The Church would not have an identity at all apart from the identity of family," Mrs. Kummer said. "We are many parts but we are all one body, the Body of Christ."

Mrs. Kummer explained that each child's unique family life provides his initiation into life in a larger society. "It is primarily through their families that children learn about free will, moral values, the need to honor God and His gift of reconciliation." But she believes that because of the instability of contemporary family life, "Benziger is fighting to keep the family together."

Over 160 people attended the three regional formation sessions held May 15-17, 1995. Among them were eight priests and two school principals, Dr. Thomas Collins of St. Thomas More School in Decatur and Peggy Warner of the Cathedral of Christ the King School in Atlanta.

"Their presence affirms their leadership role in catechesis while it additionally speaks of their roles as shepherds of parish life," Ms. Kulasa said. "It is indeed good to continually see them supporting us in our endeavors to carry out the archbishop's vision."

Tapes of these presentations can be purchased from the Office of Religious Education. For information call Annette Kulasa at (404) 888-7848.