As I understand,
CCD had its beginnings several decades ago and served as the method of
religious instruction for those children who did not attend a
parochial school. I also understand that these particular children were considered something like
second-class citizens because their parents were too cheap/lazy to send them to the parish school. Since my parish (
Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church) had long since closed its school, I was not subject to this. I don't think
CCD actually exists as a
Catholic Church program any longer, but its name is so engrained that it is still widely used.
I'm surprised it took so many writeups before someone mentioned the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.