Scottish Catholic Observer

Another week, another attack on Christianity.  Not an open onslaught but the usual insidious attempt to undermine the rightful place of Christianity, this time across Europe.  I write, of course, of the meeting of EU foreign ministers, called to publicly condemn recent attacks on Christians in Egypt and in Iraq.  The meeting broke up with some acrimony when Baroness Ashton, the EU’s most senior foreign minister and appointee of the last British government, refused to use the word Christian when referring to these attacks in the Middle East.  Italian and French representatives objected to this ‘excess of political correctness’ on the part of Baroness Ashton and no finished statement was issued as the meeting was abandoned.

A warning of the threat of further persecution of Christians, this issued by Pope Benedict XVI, would seem to have been completely ignored by Baroness Ashton.  An even more serious fact has emerged here. It seems that Eurocrats agreed to remove any mention of Europe’s Christian heritage from the Lisbon Treaty, the document forced on us without a referendum.  Some may call this sorry episode ‘political correctness’ but it’s more likely to be part of the constant and insidious threat against Christianity that is rearing its head in many disguises.

What can be done?  Does the answer lie with the Christian voting public?  The present government has promised to listen to the people.  It is time for voices to be raised as one Christian voice.

It is reassuring to hear of the strategy announced by the Catholic Media Office for quantifying Mass attendance more exactly than at present. It is very important that we have accurate figures at this particular time. Those figures will be of positive use but of course they will give rise to questions too. One question that seems to arise every time I have a conversation with friends who are Catholic parents is – “How many young people are being lost to the Church?”

By ‘young people’ they refer to teenagers and those in their early to middle 20s. I was in the company of a group of half a dozen Catholic mothers recently.  They carried out an experiment by counting the numbers of young people in their immediate and also extended families who had ceased to be practising Catholics.  The final number was well into double figures and came as a bit of a shock to all concerned.

The question following from that must surely be “Are we doing enough to support young people in the practice of their faith?”

Of course there is excellent work being done by Catholic youth organisations, by youth groups in parishes.  But what of those who do not have ready access to this?

The usual teenage rebellion that parents have come to expect can easily turn either to total apathy or to a questioning which will not wait around for answers.  Young people inhabit a world that has changed, and much of it not for the better.

There is an abundance of what our parents were wont to call ‘distraction’s —a disintegration of communities, a change in the balance once afforded by the triangle of home, school and church.  In such a world, it is difficult to achieve a sense of belonging.  For those of middle years and beyond, there are happy memories of faith formation, where boundaries were clearly marked, where Catechism answers were memorised, prayers learned, hymns sung, visits made to churches which were open all day, parish priests who were so familiar as to seem part of the family. Social life was often satisfied by parish functions, availability of clubs and societies… the list is long and nostalgia gilds the memories a little, but the contrast between that an what is available to the young in terms of faith formation today is clearly obvious.  But it is only part of the possible reason for them turning away from the practice of their faith.

The RE curricular used in schools are presently under scrutiny.  Many teachers have expressed disappointment in those used for children of primary school age and they are presently being reviewed.  I’ve heard it said that older pupils are asked to study comparative religions rather than learning about their own.  It does seem clear that a firmer foundation is needed in this area.

But young Catholics need, above all, to be given a place in the scheme of things, to have their voices heard.  They are the future of the Church.  They need a framework within which they can ask questions, contribute ideas, insight.  If they are given the chance, they are in a position not only to have a proper sense of belonging but to use their talents in a positive sense.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has recently announced an essay competition for young Anglicans.  It has several categories relating to age and also to different viewpoints of faith.  There are several benefits to be derived from the entries. The reasoning behind the competition is clear.  It is a positive step.  But will it reach the disaffected young?

In writing this, I’m trying to remember my own youth.  It’s a bit of a struggle, but I do remember that I felt I had important things to say and was frustrated by the fact that nobody seemed to be listening to me.  If then had been now, I’d probably be tossing all my pearls of wisdom into thin air via Facebook, Twitter and the rest.  Let us not squander the talent and enthusiasm of the young.  Instead, let’s provide them with a proper platform, try to answer their questions and use the best of their ideas.

We, as adults, deplore a society where morality constantly diminishes, where so-called political correctness seems more and more a weapon used to inflict on us state control which inhibits free speech, where so-called equality legislation claims to protect women while womanhood is openly debased.  Young people are, in a way, ‘in the front line’ when it comes to living in and coping with such a society.  To be a practising Catholic, for them, requires more than just lip-service,.  It is not surprising, then, that some turn away.

At the time of writing this, an announcement has just been made of a Youth Catechism, produced by the Vatican, its foreward to be written by Pope Benedict, to be published in 13 languages in April of this year.  Some 300 pages long, it will be known as Youcat.  It will provide a Faith guide for the young, will provide a firm foundation stone, and most importantly of all, will answer their many questions.  Here must surely lie material for discussion groups at parish and diocesan level.  When the late Pope John Paul issued the encyclical Veritatis Splendor some years ago, it was noted that the publication contained more than 50 points dealing with morality.  At that time, a chance was missed in that there was little coverage of the publication. Youcat is a chance that should not be missed.

The recent Papal visit showed us the enthusiasm and commitment of many young Catholics.  If that can be garnered and nourished it will be a formidable force in countering the incursion of secularism.