Crisis: Young People Leaving The Catholic Church
Crisis:Young People Leaving the Catholic Church
What role does today 's Roman Catholic Church play in our culture, as it relates to America 's adolescents, teens and young adults? Is there still a place for organized religion in a society were Snookie and the iPad have all but replaced Jesus Christ and the bible? As the newly-elect pontiff Pope Benedict prepares to guide the Roman Catholic Church into the future, church leaders are struggling to keep young people from leaving the faith.
Four out of five Catholics who have left the church, and have not joined another faith or denomination, did so before the age of 24, according to a recent study (Lopez, 2013).
Some young Catholics have drifted away as they moved from home and failed …show more content…
Be that as it may, Catholic Cardinals throughout the United States say that the Archdioceses are actively working with local parishes to stop the mass youth exodus.
According to church officials, getting young adults to explore long-term spirituality is difficult when they are living more in the moment. The church sees the issues as more of a generational problem and not necessarily
A growing number of young people are leaving not just the Catholic church, but organized religion as a whole. In the 1970s, 12 percent of 18-29 year olds were unaffiliated with a church, according to the General Social Surveys. Last year, a Pew Research survey found 32 percent of 18-29 year olds were unaffiliated, far higher than any other age group (Ghezzi, 2013).
Former Catholics cite frustration with the church 's stance on social issues as a common reason for leaving. According to a Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life 2009 survey, half of former Catholics said dissatisfaction with the church 's teachings on abortion, homosexuality and birth control were among their reasons for …show more content…
Benedict officially retired on Thursday, ending his eight-year papacy. Cardinals are expected to begin meeting Monday to discuss plans to elect his successor, according to reports.
In an effort to attract more young people, some Catholic organizations said they are spending less time talking about controversial social issues and more on the benefits of the faith.
FOCUS, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, sends missionaries to college campuses across the country to recruit new members for the church. FOCUS officials said many students are figuring out who they are in college, making it a critical time to provide information about the church.
FOCUS missionaries talk less about social issues, and more about the positive benefits of
a relationship with Christ.
Indeed, FOCUS 's mission statement is to tell young people what the church is for and not only what the catholic church is against (Ghezzi, 2013).
The church 's conservative social positions have left some young Catholics feeling isolated from others in their faith. Some parishes and Catholic groups throughout the United States have created opportunities for like-minded 20-somethings to connect with each other and discuss more than church
What role does today 's Roman Catholic Church play in our culture, as it relates to America 's adolescents, teens and young adults? Is there still a place for organized religion in a society were Snookie and the iPad have all but replaced Jesus Christ and the bible? As the newly-elect pontiff Pope Benedict prepares to guide the Roman Catholic Church into the future, church leaders are struggling to keep young people from leaving the faith.
Four out of five Catholics who have left the church, and have not joined another faith or denomination, did so before the age of 24, according to a recent study (Lopez, 2013).
Some young Catholics have drifted away as they moved from home and failed …show more content…
Be that as it may, Catholic Cardinals throughout the United States say that the Archdioceses are actively working with local parishes to stop the mass youth exodus.
According to church officials, getting young adults to explore long-term spirituality is difficult when they are living more in the moment. The church sees the issues as more of a generational problem and not necessarily
A growing number of young people are leaving not just the Catholic church, but organized religion as a whole. In the 1970s, 12 percent of 18-29 year olds were unaffiliated with a church, according to the General Social Surveys. Last year, a Pew Research survey found 32 percent of 18-29 year olds were unaffiliated, far higher than any other age group (Ghezzi, 2013).
Former Catholics cite frustration with the church 's stance on social issues as a common reason for leaving. According to a Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life 2009 survey, half of former Catholics said dissatisfaction with the church 's teachings on abortion, homosexuality and birth control were among their reasons for …show more content…
Benedict officially retired on Thursday, ending his eight-year papacy. Cardinals are expected to begin meeting Monday to discuss plans to elect his successor, according to reports.
In an effort to attract more young people, some Catholic organizations said they are spending less time talking about controversial social issues and more on the benefits of the faith.
FOCUS, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, sends missionaries to college campuses across the country to recruit new members for the church. FOCUS officials said many students are figuring out who they are in college, making it a critical time to provide information about the church.
FOCUS missionaries talk less about social issues, and more about the positive benefits of
a relationship with Christ.
Indeed, FOCUS 's mission statement is to tell young people what the church is for and not only what the catholic church is against (Ghezzi, 2013).
The church 's conservative social positions have left some young Catholics feeling isolated from others in their faith. Some parishes and Catholic groups throughout the United States have created opportunities for like-minded 20-somethings to connect with each other and discuss more than church