Concerns with the Catholic Church

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alexyanthar

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Hey all,

I was just curious as to what some issues are that you find are happening in the Catholic Church as a whole or in a diocese or even in a single parish that you may go to. It could refer to singular people or the community as a whole but all concerns are welcome so let your hearts out!
 
Do you have any idea as to why that might be? In your eyes what do you think could be changed to make more people go to Mass?
 
People need to change, not the Church. That change must come from the people - within themselves - a desire to meet Christ.
 
From your experience evangelizing the young ones, what is it, if you know, that makes them not want to go to church? and if they do go to church what made them come?
 
I agree because the church is a unification of the people in Christ. God is found within all of us. However, with my question to start the post, I wanted to try and make it as general and broad as possible. So to ask you now, since you said that the change must come from within and to have a desire to meet Christ, what do you feel would get people to desire to meet Christ?
 
I worry about the retention rate for people raised in the faith. It doesn’t seem sustainable.
 
That’s fair! So what do you think are some ways to make faith more sustainable in people’s lives?
 
For sure, I understand that it must be tough with the children sometimes. Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut though! I will definitely keep your worries in my prayers and hope that the light will shine on those little ones.
 
In theory the Catholic church needs to be supportive to a person at all stages of their lives and responsive to the life transitions and situations people typically find themselves in as they grow up.

In practice (and this is the more difficult bit) I guess formation for how to be Catholic in the current world rather than an idealized version of the 1950s. Maybe we should be talking openly to teens about the youth exodus.
 
I agree, the Catholic Church is for those who are rejected and denied by all people and the Church is a place where all people of the world can come and be unified in the Lord. All people will have all sorts of problems and we as part of the Church and unified in Christ should follow Him and help those in need.

I believe that it’s very difficult for people to understand Catholicism because it feels very complicated with our catechism and many other rules and dogmas that are backed by the church. I am not against any dogmas, neither against and rules and the catechism, but the message that our Lord preached and it is quite simple is Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (matthew 22:36-40)
 
Hmm I see. I do feel that those sacraments and rights are very necessary for a Catholic, but I do feel that it is over-complicated and it is more fine-tuned for adult minds to understand rather than the children. For children it has to be more appealing to their eyes and not make it feel like they are going to school. The faith is very simply held up by love and I feel that it is a lack of knowledge in the sacraments, in the church, and in God in general.
 
When you’re young a Catholic church can feel like a church for other people but not for you. A lot of lapsed folk I speak to speak quite fondly of their Catholic childhoods but it’s like they grew up and reached a point where Catholicism simply stopped being a part of their lives.
 
I think we should not try to attract young people with gimmicks, or think that what they want is "catholic-lite’, or try to make Mass entertaining. I think we need to focus on the Eucharist and on our mission to change the world.
 
There are many answers in the bible alone (not including the amounts of saints who explain ideas and the texts thoroughly) that explain the idea of God’s commandments very well and if translated for children I feel that they would be rather interested in it. Take for example St. Paul’s letter to the Romans 7. I wont post that part of the letter here since it is too much text, but in essence of his writing, one needs to surpass the law and transcend the law so they are no longer part of the law but something much bigger and greater. To apply this to children who value the world more, I would say that there is place far away which is not part of the world but much better. It will allow you to understand and know things that others cannot and it will make all your sufferings light. As Jesus said that the burden of life is light when one believes in Him. So not only will they transcend to great things, but all the fears and insecurities they have will disappear and those attachments to the world they have because those things are finite where God is infinite.
 
I understand that as well. There are many different perspectives and different ways to do things. I agree that no one in fact should be led by gimmicks and false speakings to those who don’t believe. The truth must always be spoken, but it has to be spoken differently to each person and to each category of people. Whether they are homeless, rich, man, woman, children or adults.
 
I/we need to make sure others can see the love and joy we have in Christ. Make it contagious, live our lives as Christ has commanded. It is through our example and personal interaction that they will see Christ. As the friendship and interest develops, invite them to Mass, activities, a chance to meet other Christians.
 
That’s interesting for sure. I think that kind of feeling definitely comes with someone who is learning about themselves and struggling through insecurities and constant changes happening to physical body and their mental state. I believe that there is a dissonance between the older Catholics and the younger Catholics which makes the more prone and vulnerable (the youth) feel left out and scared, whereas the older people might be more worried about certain things like their death or finances and family things. The old don’t understand the young and neither the young for the old. However, Christ loves all and it something that all of us should humble ourselves in trying to know. There is always a need for gaining reputation and self-love when that is exactly what Christ preached against.
 
I agree with what you said entirely. Christ had the ability as God to convert the world but His boundless love and mercy wanted for us to keep free will so instead He sacrificed Himself so that the world would always have an open gate to heaven whether you want to enter or not. There is great goodness in our Lord and it is something that should humble us and keep us full of love.
 
alexyanthar said:
The truth must always be spoken, but it has to be spoken differently to each person and to each category of people. Whether they are homeless, rich, man, woman, children or adults.
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I would agree with that.

But I do think that we sometimes underestimate young people and talk to them as if they are not really capable of fully understanding things. I think there can also be a tendency to think that young people will be motivated to come to Mass to listen to the music and meet people socially. I think we underestimate young people.
 
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The problem with the Church is me. I am a sinful, fallen human and I am not the best disciple that I can be. Every day I get up and pray for His help to be a little bit more like Christ that day.
 
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