Healthy Relationships for Catholic Family Life

All people are called to cultivate the virtue of chastity, which allows us to imitate Christ in doing what is right, good and truly loving in the areas of relationships and sexual morality.

“Assisting parents of adolescents and youth in the formation of their children for chaste living is essential to their formation in the Catholic faith and should be mandatory in Catholic schools and in parish religious education and youth ministry programs” (Catechetical Formation for Chaste Living, USCCB, 2009).

Child Protection Education in the Context of Catholic Family Life

The Archdiocese of Baltimore is committed to providing education for parents and children about preventing, identifying, and reporting child sexual abuse within the context of a holistic catechesis for chaste living. 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, from kindergarten through high school.

Program Summary – Archdiocesan Policies

Family Life Catechesis in the Archdiocese of Baltimore is 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 moral living, marriage and family, healthy sexuality and sexual abuse prevention.

Goals of Catechesis for Family Life

Provide Catholic teaching on morality

Present skills and virtues for Catholic family living

Place human sexuality within the context of Catholic family moral living

Help families address the complex issues of contemporary life

Offer child protection education for children and their parents/guardians

Frequently Asked Questions

For Specific Questions

Curricula and Content: Office of Family, Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Safe Environment and the Annual Audit: Office of Child and Youth Protection

Application within Catholic Schools: Department of Catholic Schools

Application within Parishes (k-5): Office of Family, Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Application within Parishes (6-8): Office of Family, Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Parish Forms

Parent/Guardian Declination

Approved Family Life Curricula

PDF for Easy Reference

Schools

Kindergarten- Eighth Grade

RCL Benziger Family Life (first or second edition) -OR-

Loyola Press Growing with God – IMPORTANT: please contact the publisher to ensure you are implementing the *Archdiocese of Baltimore approved* version of this text (omits one chapter and includes additional material)

Ninth – Twelfth Grade

Created to Love

Parishes

Grades Kindergarten- Eighth Grade

RCL Benziger Family Life (first or second edition) -OR-

Grades Six – Eighth

PREFERRED:
RCL Benziger FamilyLife (first or second edition)-OR-
Loyola Press Growing with God – IMPORTANT: please contact the publisher to ensure you are implementing the *Archdiocese of Baltimore approved* version of this text (omits one chapter and includes additional material)

Archdiocese of Baltimore Created to Love for middle school is still an option, but preference is given to the above options.

Grades Ninth – Twelfth

Archdiocese of Baltimore Created to Love for high school. If you choose to supplement the above with other materials, please contact the Office of Family, Youth, and Young Adult Ministry for guidance.

Teaching Models

Each family life 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 week

Parish Faith Formation Program

Contact the Office of Family, Youth, and Young Adult Ministry for guidance on various methods of incorporating the family life catechesis component into your formation scope and sequence. Example integrations include:

One chapter per session incorporated into basic catechetical lessons*

Additional sessions added to regular faith formation schedule

Monthly family life class; basic catechesis on other weeks

For middle and high school: retreat format