Archbishop Murray presented a petition on November 14, 1934 at the Sixteenth Annual meeting of the American Hierarchy regarding the Diocesan Confraternities of Christian Doctrine. This petition was drawn up on November 7, 1934 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The representatives at St. Paul recognized the importance of promoting the high standards of religious education and stated their beliefs in the following petition.
"The Diocesan Confraternities of Christian Doctrine, assembled in St. Paul, Minnesota, respectfully petition the Hierarchy of the United States of America, to take such steps as they may deem advisable in order to establish a permanent Episcopal committee which will consider the problems of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in the United States of America.
The assembled delegates feel particularly the need of an authorized central office for the exchange of information, and a further need for suggestions toward a confraternity program, both in the field of vacation schools and of year round instruction of children not in Catholic Schools, and of Adult religious education outside organized schools."
Submitted by the Chairman and assembled delegates, November 7, at St. Paul, Minnesota. Signed: Msgr. Hickey, Brooklyn Msgr. Wolfe, Dubuque Fr. Treacy, Great Falls Fr. Callahan, Los Angeles Fr. William A. Scully New York Fr. McNeil, Wichita Fr. Barden, and St. Paul.
Following this petition a committee was created to tend to the issue of Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. Following this meeting the Episcopal Committee had its first meeting, and the minutes from the first meeting establish the framework for this organization. The committee's full name was the Episcopal Committee on the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine that was appointed by the Bishops at the NCWC meeting in Washington, DC on November 14, 1934. The members of the committee were named by H.E. Cardinal Mundelin who presided over the closing of the Bishops meeting. The committee consisted of Archbishop John T. McNicholas of Cincinnati, Archbishop G. Murray of St. Paul, Bishop Edwin V. O'Hara of Great Falls; O'Hara would be elected chairman of the first committee.
The office of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine was opened in Washington, DC on May 18, 1935 with Rev. F.A. Walsh O.S.B as its first director. Archbishop Murray and O'Hara were present at the initial meeting. The initial task of the committee was establishing a Catechetical Congress in Rochester, New York and to create promotional leaflets.
Archbishop O'Hara served as Chairman of the committee until his death in 1956. He was replaced by Bishop Matthew F. Brady from 1957-1959 and then Bishop Charles P. Grecco from 1959-1969. These three chairmen provided strong leadership to guide this organization. Early in Archbishop O'Hara's tenure the annual meeting of the committee was set to be held every year in November to coincide with the annual Bishop's Conference. O'Hara pushed for the organization to have the name of the organization legally changed to Confraternity of Christian doctrine in 1936, and to have it incorporated in 1939.
The Committee on Confraternity of Christian Doctrine was dissolved in 1969 and was merged into a Committee of the Department of Education. However, the officers of the committee voted to stay on with the new committee until new officers were elected. Lastly, the most famous publication to come from this committee was the 1956 publication titled "The Confraternity Comes of Age, A Historical Symposium". Most of the contributors were committee members of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. Overall, this committee served the purpose of setting strong standards for religious education and continued to do so as a committee in the Department of Education.
This collection is divided into two series. The first series comprises of nineteen boxes of administrative files and publications. The Administrative files for the committee include files on the Baltimore Catechism, and various other catechisms. There are also files on Parish organizations which include leaflets, manuals, and various correspondences with the individual organizations. There are also files on Vacation Schools of Religious Education, which were summer schools of religion for Catholic public school students. This organization was founded and greatly influenced by Bishop O'Hara.
Also, included in this series are files on elementary school courses on religion for students from grades one-eight; as well as files on the religious programs in high schools. This also includes information on after-school religious clubs at public schools. It is important to note that the files on religious education programs for public school Catholics include a history of the programs. Outside of school O'Hara also created Religious Discussion Clubs and Parent-Educator programs. These programs were designed to teach religion to Catholic students outside of school. The files on the Parent-Educator Program are extensive on the outline of the program as well as leaflets that were given to parents.
This series also includes information on Diocesan, Hospital, and Seminary organizations that the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine was involved in. Another component of this series is the files on different organizations that the CCD sponsored such as The Apostolate of Good Will which was ran out of Dallas-Forth Worth, Texas. The committee also created an organization to promote the beautification of Pope Pius X in 1950. Lastly, there are files on the different Newman Clubs that the CCD sponsored.
The CCD were also deeply involved in the formation of The New American Bible, the files on their involvement is included in this series. Lastly, this series includes files on the CCD when it was incorporated into the Department of education from 1969-1991. The second series of this collection are two boxes of miscellaneous correspondence and information on religious teachers. There are also film strip canisters and overhead film slides. Overall, this collection is gives good insight to the standards set by the NCWC/USCC on religious education for most of the twentieth century.
The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine consists of two series:
25 years or living persons.
National Conference for Catechetical Leadership (NCCL) Records
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Youth Department Records
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
This collection was given to CUA Archives in 1993
Processing in 1993 by Barbara D. Miles, with additional contributions from Raymond Moore in 2012. EAD markup completed in 2012 by Raymond Moore.
This series contains files on the general administration of the committee on the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. This includes files on religious education programs and the various catechisms, such as the Baltimore. There are also files on different organizations such as Newman Clubs and Pope Pius X Clubs. Lastly, there are files on religious programs for parents such as religious discussion programs.
A list of the by-laws as well as added amendments made to the committee through the years. This is in a ledger as well.
Volume two of minutes from every executive committee meeting, in a ledger.
Third volume of minutes, in a ledger, also includes handwritten notes within the minutes.
Correspondence with Rome
Includes correspondence on the transition to the Department of Education.
From the Department of Education
Complete minutes from March meeting
Includes copies of clippings from newspaper articles
A history of the office
By Ruth Craven Rock
Includes correspondence on the creation of the leaflets
Diocesan Divisions
Addressed to CCD, pamphlets
Pamphlets
Diocesan Certificates
Promotional leaflets in Spanish
Various leaflets, on the CCD
All leaflets
Religious education program for elementary and high school students
Pamphlets explaining program
Full manual on the program
Spanish booklets
Leaflet collection
Five booklets
Folders with leaflets
Two folders of educational materials and two booklets
A collection of Booklets
Multiple booklets on educational materials
Includes correspondence
Ten copies of the revised catechism
Eight copies
Three copies
Copies for Secondary Schools and Colleges
Seven booklets on education prior to receiving first communion
Fifteen copies
Full report
Correspondence
Full report
Work book-Proposal
Listing and synopsis of all published work
First Consultation
Third Consultation
Third Consultation, second half
Fourth draft
Approved text, final edition
revision
Publication on how to run one
"Bible of CCD-The Parish Manual"
Guide for CCD directors
a collection of leaflets
Booklets on training CCD directors
How to start a rural parish CCD
Booklets and leaflets
Eleven copies
Titled-"The Adaptive Way"
Six copies of teaching materials
Five copies
"Our Sacramental Life"
Six copies
Copies of teachers manuals
Dramatization "The Life of Christ"
Organizational leaflets
New Testament Lessons Booklets
Two booklets
Three booklets
Copy from a book
Organizational Leaflets
Leaflet Plan
Parental instructional booklets
List of proper family books
Copy from a book
Organizational Materials
Catechetics
Three Booklets
"Your Place" Organizational Leaflets
Five booklets
Organizational Materials
Three copies
Thirteen copies of An Evening of Christian Friendship
Also a copy of "Street Preaching Manual"
Six folders of process work
Ledger of meeting minutes
Collection of leaflets
Two books explaining the cause for his beautification
Our Parish Confraternity-leaflets
Scholarly articles on Pius X's doctrine
History and Constitution
Includes club rules, organizational charts, and sheet music
Correspondence with CCD
Manual from national meeting
Blank surveys for NFCCS
Masters thesis on the history of the organization
From National Newman Club Federation
Contest outline
Includes newspaper clippings and articles
Article clippings and newspaper clippings
General correspondence
Manual
Minutes from meeting, and official statement from the meeting
correspondence
Correspondence and statement about event
Official Materials
Official Materials
Booklet and official minutes
Minutes from the meeting
Minutes from the meeting
Post-Vatican II report on laity
Official Transcript
Minutes from workshop, and booklet on commuter students
New American Bible
Includes correspondence on the translation
Translation notes from January-March
Translation notes from March-December
License Agreement Forms
Contract with biblical translators
Press releases and newspaper clippings
Correspondence on completion
International book year
Organizational correspondence
Organizational correspondence
Organizational correspondence
Correspondence of American Bible Society
Raskob Foundation Correspondence
Biblical study groups correspondence
Bible study correspondence
Bible study correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Committee on liturgy
Ecumenical Affairs
NCCB Committee on Liturgy
Committee on Liturgy
NCCB Committee on Liturgy
Committee on Laity and Evangelization
Committee on Liturgy Newsletter
National conference of Diocesan Directors
Correspondence
Jewish-Catholic Relations
General Correspondence
Memorandums
correspondence
Department of Education Plans
Plans and programs correspondence
USCCB General Secretary
correspondence
correspondence
correspondence
correspondence
Correspondence and booklet
Correspondence and leaflets
Correspondence and questionnaire
Newsletters
With the USCCB Department of Education
Year of the Bible
Year of the Bible
Logos and Translators
Philippine-Bible Society
Bibliography of Biblical Publications
CCD National Conference of Diocesan Directors
CCD National Conference of Diocesan Directors
National Conference of Diocesan Directors
Catechetical Ministries/Division
CCD National Conference of Diocesan Directors
CCD
Research and development in religious education
Correspondence
CCD Correspondence
CCD Correspondence
Lesson plans
Lesson plans
Correspondence included
Complete manual
Correspondence and articles
Correspondence and essays on Catholic higher education
This series contains miscellaneous files from the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. This includes various copies of CCD Bibles for religious instruction, files on religious discussion clubs, religion teachers, and schools of religion These are miscellaneous files of elementary and secondary school religion programs, similar files can be found in the previous series. There are also files on the CCD Congress Proceedings, Living Light microfilm. Lastly, there are audio cassettes, film strips, and overhead slides of various religious education topics.
Written for CCD students, as well as altar servers
Written for CCD students
Revised from 1941-1943 edition
Textbook
Notes are in Greek and Latin
Four editions including first NAB edition
Goes with the NAB
Written by Rev. Thomas Plassmann, O.F.M.
Four copies of third edition with discussion notes
two copies of third edition
first edition
Religious Discussion Club Series, thirty two copies
Ten volumes written by Rev. Leo J. Trese
five booklets
Fourteen leaflets on teachers materials
Twenty leaflets on summer courses and various courses for religious teachers
Four year and two year masters
Ten booklets on different religion programs for CCD
Nineteen projection slides
Two microfilms of manuscripts
Two reels of film from a trip to Rome
Nine tapes of audio transcripts from the congress