NOTE: It is worth noting that the situation in the San Antonio Archdiocese has improved markedly since this article was written in August, 2001, and most of the irregularities have been corrected

For the most part, catechetics in San Antonio have suffered the same fate as elsewhere, in which bizarre doctrines, which even non-Catholics would find offensive, have been condoned by the Archdiocesan Catechetical Center, which has invited several notorious dissenters and revisionists to their annual Catechetical Conference (and also at other times throughout the year). This is in addition to what many Pastors have done and said at the Parish level.

Please check the links given below for some examples of some of the non-sense foisted on people in the San Antonio Archdiocese:
The Ninth Annual Catechetical Conference
Off to See the Wizard
Dr. Megan McKenna Talks Dirty to Catholic School Teachers
The Megan McKenna Saga
Drunk Apostles
Catechetics in the Archdiocese of San Antonio
Witch Doctors, Shamans, Crystal Balls, Enneagrams, Labyrinths---San Antonio Has It All!!
Sexual Promiscuity and Perversion Taught to Catholic School Children

So-called "Cafeteria Catholics" would do well, perhaps, to heed the message (in the summer of 2001) on the marquee in front of the Ventura Church of Christ on FM 78 just outside Converse:

Like I've said in other places at this Eingedi website, a non-Catholic of average intelligence and goodwill would take one look at some of the non-sense being taught in Catechetical programs and workshops, and say, "this is nuts." Unfortunately, when such non-sense appears to have been tolerated and possibly encouraged by the Head Catechist in the Archdiocese, (ie, the Archbishop--cf CIC/83 775; Christus Dominus, elements 12-14), then some non-Catholics could easily be misled into thinking that such non-sense is what the Church actually teaches and has taught for centuries. Is it any wonder that some sects can then say, with apparent justification, that the so-called "Whore of Babylon" teaches blasphemous doctrines?? Unfortunately, "whore" could indeed be an all too appropriate word to use, since the so-called "Catholic" revisionists have prostituted themselves with false doctrines (cf Revelation 2:20-22) that approach the genre of fables (cf Galations 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:4, 4:7; 2 Peter 1:16), political-economic ideologies and "liberation" theologies, and a bogus (as opposed to authentic---click HERE to see what "authentic" entails) eco-spirituality (and the closely related, wiccan and lesbian-tinged eco-feminism).

Please check the links given below to see what kind of attitude has actually been exhibited toward the Magisterium:
Abortion Supporters Funding San Fernando Community Center
Abortion Supporter Anthony Padovano Dis-Invited to St. Matthew's, Sneaks Into Town Anyway
A Message From The Pastor
Bob Walden (local married/laicized "rent a priest") to give retreat

Given that the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance was the central message of John Paul II's Sunday sermon at Westover Hills, failure to heed this particular message is perhaps the gravest sin of omission and, in some cases, commission, of any to be committed. Is it any wonder that this Archdiocese as a whole has become, in many ways, a "structure of sin" (cf Reconciliatio et Paenitentia, element 16), and perhaps more a hindrance than a help toward a person's continued conversion?

Given the questionable nature of what has at times occurred in San Fernando Cathedral, not to mention the plans that Liturgical "Design" Consultant Richard Vosko has w/r its so-called "renovation," this part of John Paul II's message was likewise ignored or forgotten in large part. You can see for yourselves in the following links what has actually taken place, as well as what is envisioned for the near-future:

Unfortunately, far too many church communities in the Archdiocese of San Antonio have aligned themselves with political organizations, such as Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS), which have ideologies perilously similar (some would dare say identical) to "liberation theology." Sometimes, these ideologies have been woven into the Small Faith Community (SFC) structures. This is unfortunate, because the SFC concept, in and of itself, has been shown to be a promising way of the future for the Church [cf Redemptoris Missio, element 51: also click HERE to visit the website for, sad to say, one of only a few SFC movements apparently doing things the "right" way, using the 'criteria of ecclesiality' (cf Christifideles Laici, element 31)]. Furthermore, the attitude exhibited toward the laity by bureaucrats (both clerical and lay) in the Chancery, the Deaneries, as well as at the Parish level, concerning the proper teaching of morals and doctrine in Religious Education programs in Parishes and in the Catholic school system, reflects anything but one of justice and compassion. They have in fact established a "structure of sin" (cf Reconciliatio et Paenitentia, element 16). This same attitude, w/r abuses in the Liturgy, also militates against a proper education for justice [cf Convenientes ex universo, Section III ('The Practice of Justice')].

As has happened elsewhere, there has been a tendency toward a clericalization of the laity, in conjunction with a laicization of the clergy. Our blurring of those roles (click HERE for a local example of this), especially w/r the Liturgy, has hindered and delayed all of us in undertaking the real work at hand --and hence our real spiritual and personal growth---which occurs once we leave the "Temple" (cf Luke 2:51-52). As a result of having to respond to efforts to pervert, for example, the authentic implementation of the Liturgical renewal engendered by the seminal Vatican II document Sacrosanctum Concilium (one of the first documents issued by the Council), we have lost valuable time in authentically implementing the harder exhortations of, for example, Gaudium et Spes (one of the final documents issued by the Council). Instead, like a bunch of children who have just discovered a new pastime, certain individuals have seemingly engaged in a childish game of "let's play Church"----but only if they get to be the Priest, or if not that, then at least the Director of Liturgy, or the dreaded DRE. Otherwise, they don't want to play at all, and they go off and pout, or proceed to play their own game with anyone else similarly childish enough who cares to join them. The fact of the matter is that, Chapter III of another key Vatican II document, Lumen Gentium, clearly states that 'The Church IS Hierarchical.'

Through the distortion of timeless Church teachings, particularly those pertaining to sexual matters as well as the nature of God Himself, and as a result of an incomplete (ie, in-authentic) understanding of God, His Law, and also His Love, we have been impeded in that authentic self-giving, necessary in navigating through the "frontier" of the harder exhortations of Gaudium et Spes. This slouching along with inauthentic teaching produces an inauthentic diversity (chaos, put in other words), and thus anything but true unity. Consequently, "unity in the work of service"----the theme of John Paul II's 1987 US visit---has been hindered beyond comprehension. We thus continue to withhold in some way a complete gift of ourselves, thus making a part of all of us weak (1 Corinthians 12:26; Ephesians 4:25). We are instead allowed and possibly forced to hide behind institutions established upon a false or incomplete understanding of ourselves, God, and His Church (cf Dominum et Vivificantem, elements 58-62). Hence, lurking just below the surface, is an unfathomable depth of individual and collective desperation and alienation in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, as well as many other Dioceses in the United States. Indeed, there is "no peace" (cf Jeremiah 6:14), no matter how "attractive" they try to make the phony facade of a superficial communion (cf Novo Millennio Ineunte, elements 43-45).