National Directory

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DIMENSIONS IN THE FORMATION OF DEACONS

Church’s teaching.The intellectual dimension in each stage of the for mation program should be designed and presented in such a way as to integrate doctrine, morality, and spirituality. 133. The following criteria focus the preparation and presentation of a sys tematic, comprehensive, and integrated intellectual formation, faithful to the Magisterium of the Church. This integrated intellectual forma tion is meant to support and prepare the deacon for his primary min isterial roles of word, liturgy, and charity. 36 Based on Scripture and Tradition, the documents of the SecondVatican Council, the Catechism of the Catholic Church , the General Directory for Catechesis , 37 and the National Directory for Catechesis of the USCCB, this formation must take into account the following theological and practical content: a. Introduction to Sacred Scripture and its authentic interpretation; the theology of the Old and New Testaments; the interrelations among Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium; the use of Scripture in spiritual formation, preaching, evangelization, catechesis, and pas toral activity in general b. Introduction to the study of the Fathers of the Church and an ele mentary knowledge of the history of the Church c. Fundamental theology, with illustration of the sources; topics and methods of theology; presentation of the questions relating to Revelation and the formulation of the relationship between faith and reason, which will enable the participant to explain the reason ableness of the faith 38 d. Dogmatic theology, with its various treatises: Trinity, creation, Christology, ecclesiology including the Church as a communion of Churches (Latin and Eastern Catholic Churches sui iuris ), 39 ecu menism, Mariology, Christian anthropology, sacraments (especially theology of the ordained ministry), and eschatology e. Christian morality in its personal, familial, and social dimensions, including the Church’s teaching on sexuality, the social doctrine of the Church, and health care ethics f. The USCCB’s Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies for Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons