I don’t understand how Catholics could be misinformed. I was in 7th grade at St. Mary’s in Richland Center when Roe v Wade passed. Sister Rita laid everything out in clear terms for us, even addressing the “life of the mother” argument. I’ve never had a question in my mind since then that abortion is evil and an abomination.
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They can't be misinformed. They are willfully going against Church teachings.
Alas Sister Rita is now retired and most children fortunate enough to attend Catholic school, are taught by lay people. My daughter would tell me that her science class often ran two periods because the science teacher was also the religion instructor. You can see where he placed his priorities.
As Dir for Rel Ed at my parish, let me assure you that it is a struggle to convince parents to send their children to Sunday school. Ironically, parents of 2 and 3 y/o's beg to have their kids admitted to class. It matters not that their babies comperhend nothing and only disrupt the class for the 4 and 5 y/o's. But once the kids reach age 10, the battle ensues. They don't want to come and Mom and Dad give every excuse imaginable in their son (or daughter)'s defense .... he has (fill in the sport) practice at that time, she has a b'day party (or is in a wedding, etc) on that day ....
Like you, I also had the nuns but those days are long gone. The bishop in our RC diocese has now made rel ed, optional. Is it any wonder the children and their parents are all confused?