World Youth Day: Catholicism or Corruption?

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I really do not see anything wrong with anything in this video. As a Coordinator of Youth Ministry it is the National Catholic Youth Conference on a larger scale. I find it wonderful that so many of our young people are engaged and excited about their faith.
 
Another “bait and bash” thread? 🤷
It is not a “bait and bash” thread as you put it, I am just sharing what I feel is an important issue with other Catholics on this forum. I have been on WYD with my diocese before and think it is an excellent event, however we must teach our young people respect for the sacred.

If you don’t agree that some of the things that go on during the WYD event are irreverent, well fine, that’s what makes CAF such a good place to learn and discuss such important matters and hopefully learn another viewpoint of another person.

I hope that clarifies my intentions.

God bless.
 
I have a few things that i see wrong with his argument right away.

First off, since when is talking in a Church a grave sin? From what he stated, it was a forum for learning, and not in the context of a Mass. I dont know how this shows a disrespect for the Presence of Jesus.

Secondly, he mentions the aimless milling around? Does he really expect 24/7 learning? First, people need to get from venue to venue, secondly, “all work and no play makes johnny a dull boy”, not to mention tired. This milling around is in fact a way for people to rest for what is in reality a rather full weekend.

Third, The dancing he shows, it is unclear, but i dont think that was in the context of a Mass either. As a skit, I dont see any reason why dancing would be so offensive, unless of course, this man considers all dancing immoral.

Fourth, again, outside of Mass, what is wrong with punk music(the band is actually a Ska band, not Punk, but im not gonna split hairs over that) Are you to tell me people like Fr. Stan Fortuna CFR shouldnt be making rap songs like “Unborn Victims of Violence” becuase they are somehow against Catholic morals becuase of the kind of music, regardless of the content?
 
There is one thing the commentator said that I fully agree with. Why is it that almost everyone who deals with the youth is of the opinion that they are unable to learn the stuff we all learned at a very young age? In that respect we treat them as though they were morons, too stupid to learn how to behave. It starts with the idea that they “need” to be taken out of Mass and talked to in a dumbed down language around age 4 or 5 (after all they’re too young to sit quietly), then they need their own Mass, and on it goes.

This changes the focus of Mass from God to youth.
 
The video is pretty acurate on the complete decadence that is found in World Youth day. Modern Catholic teenagers are horribly Catechized and this party festival does nothing for the deep Catholic formation and spirit that they need.

World Youth is all about partying and rock music. It nothing more than the glorification of the cultural revolution that has destroyed the world since the 60’s.
 
There is one thing the commentator said that I fully agree with. Why is it that almost everyone who deals with the youth is of the opinion that they are unable to learn the stuff we all learned at a very young age? In that respect we treat them as though they were morons, too stupid to learn how to behave. It starts with the idea that they “need” to be taken out of Mass and talked to in a dumbed down language around age 4 or 5 (after all they’re too young to sit quietly), then they need their own Mass, and on it goes.

This changes the focus of Mass from God to youth.
I think you raise an excellent point. It’s is something that I have seen happen time and time again in the formation of youth, I think we are doing them a great disservice with some of this “funky cool dude stuff”, it becomes a substitute for real substance.
 
There is one thing the commentator said that I fully agree with. Why is it that almost everyone who deals with the youth is of the opinion that they are unable to learn the stuff we all learned at a very young age? In that respect we treat them as though they were morons, too stupid to learn how to behave. It starts with the idea that they “need” to be taken out of Mass and talked to in a dumbed down language around age 4 or 5 (after all they’re too young to sit quietly), then they need their own Mass, and on it goes.

This changes the focus of Mass from God to youth.
While this is true, i think WYD differs from the “children’s liturgy” as our parish calls it, in that WYD is a once in a couple years thing, to spark teens faith, to get them to see others who are just as thirsty for God as they are. I go to the Steubenville youth conference each year, and while it is not as solemn as a High Mass, it is good to see people really excited for God, it can be a nice boost, to get hopes up, to start making changes. Its where i first heard God calling me, and i wouldnt consider my self radical, or even progressive.
 
While this is true, i think WYD differs from the “children’s liturgy” as our parish calls it, in that WYD is a once in a couple years thing, to spark teens faith, to get them to see others who are just as thirsty for God as they are. I go to the Steubenville youth conference each year, and while it is not as solemn as a High Mass, it is good to see people really excited for God, it can be a nice boost, to get hopes up, to start making changes. Its where i first heard God calling me, and i wouldnt consider my self radical, or even progressive.
Would that all the youth who go to WYD were there for faith but I know that when the kids from our diocese went to Rome for most of them it was anything but. When our leader was trying to get them excited about something they were about to go do, one teen looked her straight in the eye and said “I didn’t come here for f**** religion, I can on a trip.”

As far as she could tell that was the situation for more than 1/2 the contingent. Even the Diocesan youth ministry coordinator was ready to take the kids back to the campground to go swimming instead of attending the Papal Mass. Only when our leader stood up to her and said “I came to Rome to see the Pope and to attend his Mass and that’s where I’m going. You can go back to swim if you want but I’m certainly not going with you and we’ll find our own way home if we have to. Now, all those who want to keep going follow me.” Diocesan coordinator backed down and all the kids attended the Papal Mass. But to more than 1/2 the contingent even a Papal Mass was less important than a swim.
 
Would that all the youth who go to WYD were there for faith but I know that when the kids from our diocese went to Rome for most of them it was anything but. When our leader was trying to get them excited about something they were about to go do, one teen looked her straight in the eye and said “I didn’t come here for f**** religion, I can on a trip.”

As far as she could tell that was the situation for more than 1/2 the contingent. Even the Diocesan youth ministry coordinator was ready to take the kids back to the campground to go swimming instead of attending the Papal Mass. Only when our leader stood up to her and said “I came to Rome to see the Pope and to attend his Mass and that’s where I’m going. You can go back to swim if you want but I’m certainly not going with you and we’ll find our own way home if we have to. Now, all those who want to keep going follow me.” Diocesan coordinator backed down and all the kids attended the Papal Mass. But to more than 1/2 the contingent even a Papal Mass was less important than a swim.
That’s just the way many teenagers are. Often teenagers are sassy and rebellious on the surface, but inside, they are soaking everything in, especially the love of their youth group sponsors.

Now of course there are exceptions. Maybe some of you are teenagers who have never rebelled and have no plans to rebel. You love your parents and family and you have remained faithful to the Lord and the Church. That’s great!

But lots of teenagers aren’t like you, OK?

I think that among any group of teenagers, including large families of teenagers, many of them are only going along with “religion” because the other kids are and they don’t want to be left out. A good youth leader will recognize this and do just what the person you described did: stay lovingly firm and enforce the rules of the youth group.

The main thing is to keep hold of the teenagers somehow and keep them alive (I’m serious) until they get through the rebellious phase, grow into their hormones, and are able to think straight. It has nothing to do with how they are raised or the failures of the parents. Many parents do an exemplary job, but the teenagers rebel anyway. That’s just the way it is. Don’t blame anyone. Just work with it.

Teenagers will often stretch every boundary and even break loose, but if you can somehow keep a lifeline attached to them, even a thin lifeline, they can find their way back again. **That youth trip that seems like a total waste of time to adults or other “righteous” teens may be the thing that one day brings the teenager back to God and the Church. **
 
Would that all the youth who go to WYD were there for faith but I know that when the kids from our diocese went to Rome for most of them it was anything but. When our leader was trying to get them excited about something they were about to go do, one teen looked her straight in the eye and said “I didn’t come here for f**** religion, I can on a trip.”

As far as she could tell that was the situation for more than 1/2 the contingent. Even the Diocesan youth ministry coordinator was ready to take the kids back to the campground to go swimming instead of attending the Papal Mass. Only when our leader stood up to her and said “I came to Rome to see the Pope and to attend his Mass and that’s where I’m going. You can go back to swim if you want but I’m certainly not going with you and we’ll find our own way home if we have to. Now, all those who want to keep going follow me.” Diocesan coordinator backed down and all the kids attended the Papal Mass. But to more than 1/2 the contingent even a Papal Mass was less important than a swim.
yeah, but those half wouldnt gain anything from an event no matter how orthodox or liberal.

I can tell you that from my experience, i have helped lead the confirmation retreat for our Church. It is put on entirely by 10th-12th graders on a volunteer basis. The “kids” are freshmen. It is not exactly required, but extremely encouraged that they attend. It is out of town, and they are not allowed any electronics. Some of them are unhappy the whole weekend and complain, dont participate, etc. We realize this. But at the same time, there are kids that actually learn from the testimonies the leaders(older high schoolers) give, and cannot wait to come back next year to be a leader. There are people who go to confession for the first time since First Reconciliation. There are people who come up and personally thank me for something i said.

moral of the story is, those just looking for fun will be there no matter what(they are at Mass every weekend too), but there are people who go to things like WYD, and really take something meaningful away from it. Even if its less than half, even if its only one. That is one more person who will become a Priest or Religious, or raise a devout Catholic family.
 
Having also been to WYD as a teenager, and really going more for the adventure with the side bonus of seeing the Pope, I would say that we need to give the teenagers at WYD a little bit of a break. I didn’t “get it” right away, either. Sometimes it takes years and maturity for the full spiritual graces received by attending WYD to be realized. As long as nothing blatantly sacrilegious is happening, I don’t think we should be upset by kids who would rather swim than go to Mass. It’s pretty typical of teens to be rebellious. The benefits of WYD far outweigh the negatives, as far as I’m concerned.
 
This may be more about “Canadian Culture” rather than WYD
I was in Rome for WYD2000 and I did not see any of this kind of thing.
I thought the report by the Italian police was most interesting; they were astonished that with 2.4 million young pilgrims in Rome for a week or more there was not one single incident that warranted attention by the police. 👍
I will be keeping an eye in Sydney in July
 
This may be more about “Canadian Culture” rather than WYD
I was in Rome for WYD2000 and I did not see any of this kind of thing.
I thought the report by the Italian police was most interesting; they were astonished that with 2.4 million young pilgrims in Rome for a week or more there was not one single incident that warranted attention by the police. 👍
I will be keeping an eye in Sydney in July
surely people were loitering. Afterall, according to that film, days are filled with aimless milling around.:rolleyes:
 
There is one thing the commentator said that I fully agree with. Why is it that almost everyone who deals with the youth is of the opinion that they are unable to learn the stuff we all learned at a very young age? In that respect we treat them as though they were morons, too stupid to learn how to behave. It starts with the idea that they “need” to be taken out of Mass and talked to in a dumbed down language around age 4 or 5 (after all they’re too young to sit quietly), then they need their own Mass, and on it goes.

This changes the focus of Mass from God to youth.
I feel that youth IS the god of modern man. Everything in our society is geared towards youth. Old people trying to look young, old people that should know better trying to keep up with their kid(s) (the one or maybe two that they have, as its too distracting to have them anymore), act like their kid(s), dress like their kid(s), the eternal quest for beauty and youthfulness, shown in the vanity of millions, constantly working out, going for face lifts, going for beauty treatments, dieting, listening to teen-age music, watching teen-age shows, reading teen-age magazines, etc. etc…its nauseous really. Let’s face it, until people grow up and quit adulating “youth”, nothing will get better, and the only way for that to happen is for people to get back their traditional Catholic faith, and then live it.
 
I feel that youth IS the god of modern man. Everything in our society is geared towards youth. Old people trying to look young, old people that should know better trying to keep up with their kid(s) (the one or maybe two that they have, as its too distracting to have them anymore), act like their kid(s), dress like their kid(s), the eternal quest for beauty and youthfulness, shown in the vanity of millions, constantly working out, going for face lifts, going for beauty treatments, dieting, listening to teen-age music, watching teen-age shows, reading teen-age magazines, etc. etc…its nauseous really. Let’s face it, until people grow up and quit adulating “youth”, nothing will get better, and the only way for that to happen is for people to get back their traditional Catholic faith, and then live it.
Yes, but WYD is not about adulating youth, it’s meant to be an investment in the future Church.
 
Another “bait and bash” thread? 🤷
A suggestion. If you have a valid point to counter or refute the original post, offer it. Saying it’s another “bait and bash” thread is not going to help things.

In any case, if it was a bait and bash thread, didn’t you take the bait by responding? 😉
 
A suggestion. If you have a valid point to counter or refute the original post, offer it. Saying it’s another “bait and bash” thread is not going to help things.

In any case, if it was a bait and bash thread, didn’t you take the bait by responding? 😉
The posts that followed clearly made my point.

“Look, Look, Look at this what do you think?”

Um, is that a rhetorical question?

Nobody here wants to talk about traditional Catholicism without turning it into a bash the V2 Church session.
 
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