St. Dominic Catholic Church

Pastor's Corner

April 29, 2018

As I mentioned a few weeks ago in my homily, many young adults are leaving the Church.  In fact, among 18-29 year olds in the US, 39% say they have no religious affiliation.  But why are so many young people leaving the Church?  The 2017 study Going, Going, Gonespoke to many young former Catholics and discovered six common dynamics  among those who leave.

1) A precipitating event or series of events, insight, or awareness triggers a wonderment or process of questioning or doubt. It might be a struggle with why bad things happen to them, or an observation that people of faith behave hypocritically.

2) They accept the secular culture’s assumption that faith and religious practice are options among many other lifestyle options (many of which are less demanding).

3) They feel a sense of happiness, freedom or relief by the decision to disaffiliate

4) They believe that religion was forced upon them and are determined not to force religion or religious practices or a particular faith on their own children.

5) The individual perceives him/herself as moral and committed to living a moral life, but believes the secular motto, “I can be ethical without religion.”

6) Whether the person still somewhat “believes” or “disbelieves” in God or “something bigger,” the individual is not closed to belief (or fuller belief) if a rational argument or provable evidence can be presented to them.

These common factors underlying disafilliation can give us some starting places for pastoral discussion, understanding and response.  Our culture promotes personal autonomy and choice.  One of the claims of our faith is that Jesus makes us trulyfree.  Do our lives demonstrate this freedom from fear, anxiety, addiction, and selfishness?