Survey Finds Young People ‘Agree to Disagree’ on Some Church Teaching

[Mark121359]

I suspect that this is the result of years of poor catechesis. Maybe it’s time for a lot more doctrinally focused homilies. Catholicism is not just a blank slate.

I think catechesis is only part of it. I know young people who were very well catechized that support beliefs contrary to Catholic teaching. You really can’t force belief from the outside.

Oh no, Jim is quite right. Catechesis is at the heart of this. Although…it’s not entirely Catholic Catechesis. The main culprit is the catechesis they’re receiving from the culture!

Peace, Mark

 

[Sy_Noe]

I think it’s a combination of both. The Church could do a better job of relaying the importance of religious education and do a better job of educating the kids. But, it’s up to the parents to get the kid to CCD and to Mass (or at least enforce their attendance).

Here, 1st Communion is in 2nd and Confirmation isn’t until Sophmore year in high school. If I recall correctly about 1/3 of those who make their 1st Communion go on to receive Confirmation.

Thanks. I was just going by you saying parents just like the hour off so I knew those kids were in attendance. Wow though. Only 1/3 surprises me. Back in my day it seemed like it was just automatic. I can’t recall any of the kids, barring a family relocating to another city, dropping out between our 1st Communion and Confirmation. Do you think waiting til Sophomore yr has just given the kids more time to decide for themselves and then 2/3 decide not to? I realize they’re still age 15 or so. But that’s around the time when people start to make some of their own life choices.

 

[JimG]

I personally think that Confirmation ought to be given at a younger age. I was Confirmed in fourth grade. It seems to me that by waiting till high school, the children are being denied the graces of the very sacrament that they most need during those formative years. Actually, I wouldn’t mind going with the Eastern practice of giving Baptism and Confirmation at the same time, or rather, Confirmation immediately following Baptism.

 

[CatholicWhovian]

Maybe as part of the demographic being focused on the survey I can give a bit of insight on this. I’m 19 years old and even thought was conducted in the US the problems being addressed in the survey reflect the situation of young Catholics here in the Philippines - at least those belonging to the middle and upper classes.

I hate my generation. You could say I’m a rebel against them. I think part of the problem of trying to convince young people to be loyal to the Church and follow its doctrines is what my generation is. Let me count the ways:

• It’s apathetic. Part of it which is due to individualism.
• It’s shallow and superficial. Related to my previous point, my generation doesn’t care about something unless it has “the feels” (emotional attachment) or it’s about “love” without even knowing the truth of the matter or even having a rational reason behind an action. Love is all you need, but we can go as far as even “respecting your life choices”. Heck some in my generation might go as far as loving a person because he murdered a hated man.
• It’s indifferent to the point that someone who cares about a person’s behavior is “judgmental”. See point above.
• It’s too entitled and too ambitious. My generation feels that it is better than all other previous generations because we’re “special” and we always find something to change - most often radically. Young people feel like they don’t want to be followed because they feel that they’re better and wiser.
• It’s narcissistic.
• It wants to get away with everything regardless of the consequences. You know, YOLO.

This is what I would call neo-Nietzscheism. Or just simply pride. A head start for evangelizing I think is to remind people who are the same age as me not to be too proud of themselves. It’s not all about you. You may have plans but there’s someone who will always help you in them unconditionally. Something like that.