| dc.description.abstract | We cannot deny that there are Catholics who have abandoned their Church and joined Pentecostal Churches due to inadequate knowledge of the faith. The study, therefore, set out to establish the thesis that intensified catechesis is indispensable for the attainment of Christian maturity among the people of Kyengera Parish; in order to curb the problem of inadequate catechesis that renders many Catholics prey to Pentecostalism. A combination of qualitative and quantitative method was applied and data collected via interviews, questionnaires, observation and literature review.
The study actually found out that about 90% of Catholics today are inadequately catechized leaving them ignorant about their religion. This is due to the poor catechesis given by incompetent agents like the catechists. It was further intensified by the very minimal participation of the priests in the ministry of catechesis. The inadequately catechized Catholics have fallen prey to Pentecostals who convince them that their religion (Catholicism) and all its doctrines are mere concoction, not biblically based and cannot lead any one serious to salvation. This shows a strong relationship between inadequate catechesis and the influx of Catholics into Pentecostal Churches because the Pentecostals often attract people who are hungry for something deeper in their religious lives. Catholicism is a well organized religion in form of doctrines which need to be clearly explained to the believer through adequate catechesis. Much as there are other reasons why Catholics join the Pentecostals, the Church is to blame for not adequately catechizing her members to have them attain grounded faith. Inadequate catechesis is the core factor from within the Church its self rendering her members vulnerable to Pentecostalism. The purpose of catechesis, hence, consists in leading individual Christians and communities and communities to a mature faith. Faith, the maturing of it is to be promoted be catechesis. This adequate catechesis is lacking in the Parish of Kyengera.
Consequently, catechetical programs must prepare people for the ministry of apologetics. With the fact that Catholics with such shallow knowledge rather than conversion and experience of faith become very vulnerable to Pentecostalism, the study concluded that intensified catechesis about the Catholic doctrines is indispensable in forming Catholics who are convinced of their faith and are able to cherish it and defend it against Pentecostalism. It is against this background that the study critiques and gives recommendations that Catechists should be taken for catechetical formation, a special program for the youth, ongoing training or refresher courses and seminars for Priests, Religious, Laity and Catechists, drafting a uniform catechetical syllabus and bible studies. Above all, Priests should get more involved in the work of instructing the Christians in catechesis. The duty of pastors of the Church to defend the Catholic faithful from erroneous or dangerous associations is a serious one. | en_US |
