From research to the project

“Catholic Churches in Europe are conscious that religious teaching in schools fulfils the mandate of evangelization”.This is the key-statement of the document approved by the delegates of the Catholic Churches in Europe summarizing the findings of a two-year survey regarding the teaching of religion (RT) in their Countries.The Churches of Europe acknowledge RT as a founding element within the broad scope of evangelization and care of man, and consider it a precious opportunity in the formation of European citizens.The survey, conducted between January 2005 and November 2007, was presented at the plenary meeting of the presidents of the Bishops Conferences in Europe held in Esztergom/Budapest (the minutes are in the process of being published). It is promoted by the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) on the initiative and with the operative and economic support of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI) through the national service for CRT (Catholic Religious Teaching).From Rome to Sankt Gallen. The initiative took shape in Rome’s National CRT service at the end of 2005. The purpose was to monitor the European situation regarding the teaching of religion in schools and collect information and suggestions within the specific Italian situation. The CCEE coordinated the initiative, thus enabling the full cooperation of all Catholic Churches in Europe. The strategy was developed in Sankt Gallen with the appointment of the staff, the identification of research stages, its finalities, and objectives. The strategy was agreed upon from the very onset: collecting information providing a snapshot of the situations in different European countries. Mostly, it aimed at encouraging Christian communities and national Churches to undertake a common path thus expanding the scope of religious teaching after having collected their viewpoints and experiences. The research team was thus created thanks to the indications of the Bishops Conferences. Each researcher thus represented his Church. This is the basic trait of the survey that distinguishes it from other researches under way, or which have already been carried out in specific centers, universities and by experts, which it doesn’t intend to replace. The results. First of all, the research led to the creation of a network of people capable of bringing together the experiences of the different European Churches. It also gave an assessment of the situation of religious teaching in schools across Europe through the “national reports” filled in by the delegates of the Churches according to the indications contained in a “grid” drawn up by the staff which all delegates approved. In collecting information, the focus was more on quality than on quantity, seeking the “viewpoint” of the Catholic Churches. Indeed, the focus wasn’t merely placed on accurate classification. Rather, basic data collection was combined with the thoughts and evaluations of the Churches involved in the project. This approach enabled the identification – among many other things – of the existing diversities in Catholic Churches throughout Europe. Thus, a precious synoptic table was drawn up with the contribution of data from national reports. This material, (that will soon be posted at www.ccee.ch ) constitutes a unique source of reference for whoever wishes to learn more about the state of religious teaching in Europe. In addition to the national reports, the researchers’ dedicated and thorough teamwork culminated in the presentation of the final document. Perspectives. The research – as pointed out in the final document approved by the delegates – isn’t to be viewed as a point of arrival. Rather, it is a new point of departure in Church cooperation and in the evangelizing commitment for the care of man whose self-accomplishment is achieved also thanks to religious teaching in schools. The delegates of the Churches of Europe called for the preservation of a living network of people in charge of addressing issues pertaining to religious teaching in schools across Europe. Envisaged future developments include study seminars and debate sessions over themes brought to light in the research (such as those regarding the teaching of religion and catechesis, or the legal framework of RT in the different countries, and ecumenical cooperation).