In a Catholic school all students have the privilege and the obligation to participate in religious instruction. Teachers have the privilege and responsibility to provide all students with an encounter with Christ and instruction in Catholic doctrine and practice. This whole process calls for witness to the way of Christ as found in Scripture and Catholic Church teaching. As teachers promote knowledge of Scripture and sacred tradition, they seek to create an environment conducive to Christ on campus and in the classroom, and to impart what will form the students’ foundational understanding of doctrine, moral decision-making, discernment of vocation, forms of worship and service, and involvement in the Christian community of faith.
Elementary school teachers are required to participate in catechetical formation, and all elementary school teachers who are Catholic are required to obtain and maintain certification as school catechists as set forth by the California Catholic Conference.
High school teachers (including teachers at private Catholic schools) are required to participate in the high school religious formation program for a minimum of ten hours each academic year. This formation program is offered in a four year cycle that follows the parameters established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the California Catholic Conference.
All students whether Catholic or non-Catholic are required to be enrolled in a religion course for a grade/credit each semester. As appropriate, schools may offer an introductory preparation class for students who have no experience with formal religious structures or vocabulary. Students who are not Roman Catholic are required to participate in liturgies, other sacramental programs and retreats in a manner that respects Catholic religious traditions and recognizes that they are not Roman Catholic. Should students from a non-Catholic background or who have no formal religious background express an interest in joining the Roman Catholic faith, their parents/guardians must participate directly in the discussion and, as a general matter, any decision would be postponed until adulthood and after high school graduation.
6-23-2021, 7-22-2025