Teaching the basics

John Cavadini's "Ignorant Catholics" (April 9) points to the growing gap between theology and catechetics. Too often theology is seen as a discipline for elites and catechetics as something for those who never grow beyond religious childishness. This kind of thinking sees the laity as educationally juvenile, and their role in the church as supportive rather than collaborative. Cavadini is correct to say that until local churches provide real money for the teaching of basic theology, it is unlikely that the laity will move beyond a servile relationship with clergy. Add to this an ecclesial atmosphere that views almost any departure from the reasoning of The Catechism of the Catholic Church as heretical, and the hopes for producing a practical catechetical/theological pedagogy are rather dim.

DAVID P. KILLEN

Parkland, Wash.

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