California imposes on religious instruction in child care facilities
A recent challenge to religious freedom can be found in Foothills Christian Ministries v. Johnson. At issue were regulations implementing California’s Child Day Care Act, which, in requiring all centers to be licensed, obligates their officials to inform parents and guardians that [...]
4 months ago
California has taken action affecting religious instruction within child‑care facilities, implementing new measures that impact how such instruction is delivered 1.
The state’s recent decision introduces regulations that directly address religious teaching activities in licensed child‑care settings 1.
Providers of child‑care services will need to adjust their programs to comply with the new requirements concerning religious instruction 1.
Details on the rollout schedule and compliance deadlines have been outlined by state authorities as part of the policy rollout 1.
Examine Catholic doctrine on religious education in childcare settings
Catholic doctrine treats religious education in early childhood not as optional “religious information,” but as part of the Church’s and, above all, the parents’ mission to form children in faith, prayer, and moral/spiritual life—always with respect for religious freedom and without coercion. In childcare settings (including nurseries and preschool programs), this means providing an age-appropriate formation, cultivating a Gospel-permeated environment, and working in close contact with parents, while recognizing that not every child will be Catholic.
Catholic teaching grounds religious education in two linked truths:
Therefore, Catholic norms for childcare settings aim to ensure that children receive a real formation in Christianity (faith-life, prayer, moral orientation), while also respecting conscience and religious freedom for non-Catholic children and families.
The Catechism is explicit that parents have the first responsibility for education in the faith, prayer, and virtues, and for providing the spiritual needs of children “as far as possible.”
It also teaches that the Christian family is the first place of education in prayer, calling the family a “domestic church” in which children learn to pray “as the Church.”
This matters directly for childcare settings: early years are where the child’s religious life is first awakened by the daily witness of parents and family prayer.
Catholic doctrine is not satisfied with leaving religious formation entirely to market or chance. The Church teaches that she cannot surrender the duty to watch over education that includes religious doctrine and what is related to religion and moral precepts.
In practice, this means Catholic childcare/education providers should ensure that what they offer is genuinely oriented to Christian formation rather than a vague spirituality or purely cultural religious knowledge.
The Congregation for Catholic Education describes the distinctive feature of a Catholic educational environment as one “permeated by the Gospel spirit of freedom and love,” guiding youth so that personal development goes along with the “new creature” received through baptism.
It also states that while religious freedom must be respected, a Catholic school cannot relinquish its duty and right to proclaim the Gospel and offer a formation based on Christian values.
For childcare settings explicitly inspired by Christian values, the same logic applies: the setting exists to help children grow as human persons illuminated by faith, not merely to “manage” religious attendance.
John Paul II emphasizes that when the Church supports early childhood institutions (including “school materne” / nursery schools), it does so as part of a global educational project inspired by Christian values, intending to collaborate actively with families—especially in the child’s initiation into faith.
He also stresses the need for continuous contact and dialogue with parents to examine methods and educational approaches, in order to avoid divergences that could negatively affect the child’s human and Christian maturation.
The Catechism describes catechesis as “an education in the faith of children, young people and adults” that includes teaching Christian doctrine in an organic and systematic way, with a view to initiating hearers into the fullness of Christian life.
So in a childcare setting, “religious education” should be understood as formation of persons toward lived faith and Christian practice, adapted to their developmental level—not merely delivering facts about religion.
John Paul II draws an important distinction for the religious education of children: information about religion is appropriate because it enables young people to discover the spiritual and moral roots of their culture, but it “does not yet constitute the transmission of the faith,” which opens them to practicing the Christian life.
This is particularly relevant in early childhood environments, where children may be offered “religion” as culture without awakening prayer, trust, and a personal entry into Christian life.
John Paul II also says catechesis for children requires well-planned programmes, inspired by the Catechism, presenting elements of the Creed; and through sacred history children learn biblical figures and models (including saints) that help them become disciples.
He further adds that when children ask more for Baptism, communities should help them participate regularly—again emphasizing that catechesis opens into actual sacramental life, not only classroom knowledge.
In childcare settings, this would translate into age-appropriate participation (e.g., prayer routines, meaningful celebrations), with catechetical content adapted to what young children can receive.
When speaking specifically to private preschools, John Paul II insists that the child has a right to a “simple and true” presentation of the Christian faith.
He also links this to the need for deep respect for the child and preparation appropriate to very early age.
The Congregation for Catholic Education describes the Catholic school’s distinctive role as generating a community climate permeated by the Gospel spirit of freedom and love, relating culture to the Gospel, and illuminating human learning with faith.
Applied to childcare, this implies that religious formation is not only “taught” but embodied in daily relationships, tone, values, and communal practices (e.g., prayer gestures, kindness as Christian charity, reverence in worship moments).
The same Congregation emphasizes a key boundary: to “proclaim or to offer is not to impose,” because imposing would imply “moral violence,” which is forbidden by the Gospel and Church law.
At the level of a childcare setting, this supports:
The Congregation notes that not all students in Catholic schools are Catholic or even Christian, and therefore the “religious freedom and personal conscience of individual students and their families must be respected.”
So in childcare environments that serve a variety of families, Catholic religious education must be presented with charity and respect, ensuring the child is not treated as compelled to adopt religious practices as a condition for belonging.
While the Congregation’s document focuses broadly on schools, it highlights that young people are not yet capable of ordering and prioritizing what they absorb, and need guidance so they can distinguish true and good from their opposites.
In early childhood, this supports choosing methods suited to their stage: repetition, prayer in simple forms, stories that reveal God’s love, and habits rooted in lived Christian charity.
USCCB policy statements also connect Catholic education to providing environments that are “orderly, just, respectful, and non-violent,” where adequate resources allow moral/spiritual development.
Although this is framed for education policy, it reinforces a moral expectation for any childcare setting that claims Christian inspiration: religious formation should occur within a just and respectful environment consistent with human dignity.
Catholic doctrine on religious education in childcare settings can be summarized in three imperatives:
Theologically, this means a childcare setting inspired by Catholic faith must create a daily atmosphere permeated by the Gospel spirit, provide simple and true presentations of faith, collaborate closely with parents, and respect freedom—so that children grow toward lived Christian life from their earliest years.