A couple weeks ago there was a survey that made some news about Catholic beliefs. I thing that I found most interesting in there concerned one of the major difference between older and younger Catholics. Per Catholicnews.com:
Knowledge about the Catholic faith generally was higher among the older generations than the younger ones, but the survey found that knowledge of the Bible was higher among younger Catholics than their older counterparts.
I found that to be really good news concerning the future of our church. The old Catholics may know the catechism better, the young Catholics know our early Christian roots better. The dreams of Pius XII and the Second Vatican Council are making progress in this respect. There was a strong emphasis with Pius and the Council to get Catholics to start reading the Bible.
I would guess that the success for this in the United States has two primary reasons, a change from catechism-like homilies to scripture-based homilies (add to that religious ed), and the fact that we live in a very evangelical country where if our youth do not know the Bible, they'll be embarrassed by their ignorance to a degree.
My hope in all of this is that a future generation of Catholics who know the Bible will help usher in a reform of the Catholic church sooner rather than later.
12 comments:
I like your analysis. But younger catholics seem to be more traditional. What is your analysis of this? One I saw said fewer young catholics attend regularly and tend to be the more conservative type. Jack
Faithful Catholic. I am familiar with what Vatican 2 said about religious responsibility vis-a-vis civic responsibility. But I have posted a question on my blog and others and no one has answered. I thought you might give it a try.
If a public official, like John Kerry, can be denied the eucharist because of his stand on abortion, would not the same apply to other officials, say Supreme Court justices. If such a justice voted to uphold Roe v.Wade would they not have commited a (grave)sin and thus be denied communion? Jack
Jack, about your first comment. I believe that many younger Catholics are attracted to the certainty that the many church teachings offer - perhaps these generation Y Catholics feel a lot less certain in a post-911 world. And while I believe that this generation will probably stay a bit more conservative than the Vatican II generation, I think they'll mellow a bit with age.
It's also worth noting that this study was regarding Mass & sacraments, if it had been about women priests and gays, these same young conservatives would have looked a lot more liberal.
Jack, regarding your second question. I just think it's all crap. It's a political ploy. Since every member of Congress has either voted against some ban on abortion or for some form of funding for the Iraq war, using the logic of this minority of bishops, they should put a blanket ban on all of Congress. As I listened for a few minutes to "Relevant" Radio yesterday talk about automatic excommunication, I thought it might help if these minority bishops just say that joining Congress bars you from receiving communion.
Someplace I read on your blog a discussion of the virgin birth. Also the question of whether Mary was "ever Virgin". My point is this shows the obsession of the Church with sex. Even the cathechism says it is not clear whether Mary was "ever virgin." But the church's obsession with sex is shown clearly here. Really what difference does it make? Jack
Exactly - the Virgin birth should not matter.
"the Virgin birth should not matter."
Anything else in the Apostles Creed that "should not matter"?
Terrence, maybe a matter of terminology---"virgin." Do I take your argument by extension to mean we are only bound by the creeds. What about the thousands of other teachings not in the creed? Must we follow all of them? Jack
"maybe a matter of terminology"
To the contrary.
Have you seen this site? People confess their sins online, anonymously at http://iconfessmyself.blogspot.com
Virgin Birth is optional belief now? That's not even Christian anymore. The Apostles Creed and the Nicaean-Constantipolitan Creed is what defines the essence and core of the Christian Faith.
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