Faithful from across the United States and other parts of the world will attend the 2020 Religious Education Congress (RECongress) – the nation’s largest annual gathering of Catholics – the weekend of February 20-23 at the Anaheim Convention Center, 800 Katella Ave, Anaheim, 92802. The weekend begins with Youth Day, February 20, which focuses on high school age youth who come to renew, experience and celebrate their Catholic faith on a day full of fun, interactive and educational workshops, plus a special Youth Mass celebrated by Archbishop José H. Gomez.
“This year, the theme of the Religious Education Congress, Adult Days, ‘Live Mercy –Be Holy,’ is a radical invitation to create a more compassionate and loving world,” said Sister Rosalia Meza, director of the Archdiocese’s Office of Religious Education. “This year’s theme will not only restore our own hope, but inspire, transform and challenge us to continue seeing the face of Christ in ourselves and in our faith communities.
The above comes from a Feb. 6 press release from the L.A. archidiocese.
Read the Feb. 6 posting by Church Militant on the upcoming conference. Excerpt:
The Los Angeles Religious Education Congress is approaching once again. Boasting an attendance of nearly 40,000, the event is considered the largest gathering of Catholics in the country. Throughout the years, it has been as infamous as it is well attended, consistently bringing together speakers who openly reject Church teaching on such timely issues as false ecumenism, transgenderism, homosexuality, women’s ordination and liberation theology. This year’s conference promises more of the same.
This is to be expected considering that it will be the first conference held under the diocese’s new senior director of religious education, Sr. Rosalia Meza, a zealous promoter of leftist schooling. Indeed, in her doctoral dissertation, she dubbed Brazilian educator, Paulo Freire an “an icon of social change through education.” However, Freire’s ideas about “social change” are evident from his 1961-1962 literacy campaign in Brazil. While purporting to teach the uneducated how to read, it did more to instill the Marxist notions of class struggle than pursue any educational goals.2
With Sr. Meza at the helm of religious education in the diocese, faithful LA Catholics should wonder to what extent her work will mimic that of her “icon.” From this perspective, the lineup of speakers and activities planned for this year’s REC provides a lot of food for thought.
The event is titled Live Mercy Be Holy. It will be held February 20-23 at the Anaheim Convention Center. A careful observer will note that in addition to the many dissident speakers, the congress will also host a number of events and performers who endanger the Faith in a symbolic way. This could be more damaging than subtle heterodox teachings inaccessible to many participants.
For example, liturgical dancers may not say anything against Catholic teaching, but their actions will undeniably send a message that sensuous and ridiculous movements are compatible with the sacredness of the renewal of Christ’s passion made present at the congress’ multiple Masses. This weakens the faithful’s understanding of the seriousness of such a sublime event.
Indeed, it has been rightly said that only behavior suitable at the foot of the cross has a place at Holy Mass. Nevertheless, liturgical dancers have been a hallmark of Congress liturgies for years.
Such can be expected again at this year’s meeting, where there will be four workshops on dance. One will be led by Betsey Beckman who helped create and develop the “Abbey of the Arts,” described as: “a global online monastery fostering contemplative and creative expression.”
The members of this “online monastery” are collectively – and disrespectfully – named: “The Holy Disorder of Dancing Monks….”
Gay priest who painted Sodomite Christ to exhibit at religious ed conference
The artwork of gay iconographer William Hart McNichols will be displayed in the Arena Lobby at the Anaheim Convention Center. McNichols is a self-outed former-Jesuit gay priest. According to Kittredge Cherry, author at the LGBT spirituality website QSpirit, which often features McNichols’ work, “…McNichols is a New Mexico artist and Roman Catholic priest whose gay-positive icons have caused controversy.”
Read more on this at Feb. 8 posting on Sons of St. Joseph blog by Joseph Sciambra
(Warning: graphic links)
I attended the L.A. Religious Education Conference several times some twenty years ago as a catechist from Fresno. We were expected to go, and none of my fellow catechists slightest ripple of impact from the disturbing things said or insinuated at the conference. The speakers gave me such a terrible feeling, and I was always very relieved to get out of there. So many years later I cannot specify the things they were already promoting back then, but I know they were not in line with the Magisterium.
The L.A. REC is horrible! Well– I am very thankful, because the Pope just denounced the idea of both married priests and women deacons, for the Amazon, in his final document! Very smart, Pope Francis! Excellent!
You need to go back a re read exactly what Pope Francis wrote in his exhortation. It is not at all good. Check out Life Site News on it.
Why isn’t “Father” McNichols and his hideous, blasphemous works–excommunicated, and forbidden by Abp. Gomez, to be an REC presenter?? And where does this ex-Jesuit gay “priest” practice his religion, presumably in “artsy” Northern New Mexico?? (also full of sick, liberal-leftists, hippies, feminists, abortionists, and radical LGBTs!) Santa Fe Abp. Wester (formerly a San Francisco bishop) ought to excommunicate him!
Whatever happened to Kenneth Fisher who used to lead a protest at this event every yeae?. I think his organization was called Concerned Roman Catholics of America.
Sadly Ken got sick and died a few a years ago. He was a faithful Catholic man. May he Rest In Peace ??????
Susanne, I am sorry to hear that. I will pray for the repose of his soul. Thank you for letting me know.
Ditto for me. I will pray for him too.
Church Militant has picked up his sword. They organize and protest in a way that would have warmed the heart of Kenneth Fisher, may he rest in peace.
Church Militant organizes a protest at the REC?
Catholic means “here comes everybody” so what’s the big deal.
Suzanne, I know that LifeSiteNews will always rightfully be worried about what Pope Francis might do, erroneously. But for now, his “Querida Amazonia” has little for us to worry about.