Abstract

As Pope Benedict XVI stated, 'Youth is a time when genuine and irrepressible questions arise about the meaning of life and the direction our own lives should take' so 'we need to help young people to gain confidence and familiarity with sacred Scripture so it can become a compass pointing out the path to follow'. The 'instrumentum laboris' for the Synod on the Word of God recommended that 'greater appreciation needs to be given to teaching the Bible in schools, especially in courses on religion, by presenting a complete course in learning the most significant Bible texts and the methods of interpretation adopted by the Church'. Scripture has had an enhanced place in Religious Education in Australia over the last thirty years.However, the issue of students' direct engagement with biblical texts is an ongoing challenge. This article analyses and evaluates the place of Scripture in Catholic schools in Australia, with an emphasis on Scripture in Religious Education, as it is the principal way that students interact with the Word of God.