• MyArch
  • Parishes
Catechesis for Human Sexuality and Child Protection Education
Search 
human_sex_pic-1_1

Curriculum

“Each child is a mysterious gift from God, entrusted not only to one’s parents, but to the whole community as well. One’s wider family, the church community, and the society at large, all have an interest in protecting new members, in safeguarding their rights and fostering their growth and development.”

-- Human Sexuality, a Catholic Perspective for Education
and Lifelong Learning, USCC, 1994

 

Program Summary

The Archdiocese of Baltimore is committed to providing children and their parents with education about child sexual abuse within the context of a holistic catechesis in human sexuality.

This catechesis is to be offered as an important component of the curriculum of religious instruction and faith formation in the parish or school setting. The National Directory for Catechesis (NDC, Chapter 6, 178) calls for catechesis in human sexuality which “recognizes the duty of pastors and parish catechetical leaders to support and encourage parents as they carry out their role as educators of their children in human sexuality as well as to provide additional instructions regarding Catholic teaching and values that complement and complete the formation provided by parents.”

The Regulations and Guidelines for Catechesis for Human Sexuality (Archdiocese of Baltimore, 1994) call for this catechesis to be implemented in all programs, grades Kindergarten through Grade 8, and recommends that youth in high school and adults also receive appropriate catechesis in this subject.

The Catechesis for Human Sexuality in the Archdiocese of Baltimore is in fact a Catechesis for Healthy Relationships. The purpose of this catechetical endeavor is to create a knowledgeable school/parish community that welcomes open communication and a holistic discussion around the issues of healthy sexuality and sexual abuse prevention.

 

 
human_sex_pic2

Human Development Across
the Lifespan

“The Church has an important and beautiful message to share about human sexuality, and catechesis for human sexuality is an integral part of the Church’s catechetical ministry which aims to foster growth towards personal maturity and Christian faith in children, youth and adults.”

--Catechesis for Human Sexuality, Regulations and Guidelines,
Archdiocese of Baltimore, 1994

 
human_sex_pic-3

Child Protection Curriculum Update
Educational Methods

In grades K-8, each parish or school should select a recommended textbook series to use in conjunction with their basic religion textbook. Each of the human sexuality textbook series approved for use in the Archdiocese of Baltimore covers five core faith themes:

  • Living as a member of a family
  • Healthy moral, physical, and spiritual development
  • Human dignity Life choices and vocation
  • Responsible living in society

Based on these five core faith themes of the Catechesis for Human Sexuality and Healthy Relationships, the lessons provided in this Curriculum Update supplement the textbook curriculum to protect children from sexual abuse. Each appended lesson includes a detailed explanation for the addition/substitution/change.

Child Protection Update lessons enhance the Catechesis for Human Sexuality in several ways:

  • As a classroom activity to reinforce the faith theme
  • As a classroom activity to clarify the lesson in the
    textbook, especially if the textbook content omits a
    key child protection message
  • As a parent education tool

Benziger, Family Life

          Update to Teacher Manual and Family Resource Grades K-8

Harcourt, Growing in Love

         Update to Teacher Manual and Family Resource Grades K-8

Silver Burdett Ginn, Fully Alive

         Update to Teacher Manual and Family Resource Grades 1-8

 

Program Implementation

Correlations to Basic Religion Textbook Series

 
human_sex_pic-1_1Teaching Models

Each human sexuality catechesis textbook series includes implementation ideas for any parish or school program. Several models are possible, for example:

  • Catholic Schools
    • Three days a week for 7-8 Weeks
    • Four to Five days a week for 2-4 weeks
    • One day a week for 10-12 weeks

  • Parish Religious Education Program
  • Parish Weekend or Summer Model
    • One chapter daily for two weeks, or
    • 2 chapters daily for one week.
    • Refer to Benziger Implementation Guide pg.15-16
 
Resources
 

 



 
©2008 Archdiocese of Baltimore. Report an error on this page. Comments