Catholic Youth Survey Reveals Hope, Challenge For Church Indian Catholic March 1, 2006
MUMBAI, India (UCAN) - The first nationwide survey of Catholic youths in India indicates that generally they are comfortable with their religion but have not made their faith "their own." The Salesians' Mumbai province interviewed Catholics aged 12-25 across India about their faith and beliefs as part of the congregation's celebration of its 100 years in the country. According to Salesian Father Darryl D'Souza, director of Bosco Information Service in Mumbai, the first survey of its kind "has given a direction to those involved in youth ministry, catechetics and evangelization." Speaking with UCA News in mid-February, Father D'Souza said Catholic dioceses and those involved in youth ministry should decide how they will "counter the shortcomings and maximize the strengths" in youth ministry that the survey has revealed. The Mumbai province began the survey in July 2002 and completed it in April 2005, having contacted 3,609 young Catholics. The findings have been compiled into a book, Lord, I Believe, Increase My Faith: Response of Catholic Youth to Religion, which was unveiled Jan. 5 at a seminar in Bangalore, southern India. According to the findings, 93.4 percent of Catholic youths surveyed feel a sense of belonging to the Church, 82.8 percent pray daily and 29.2 percent go to church every day. While 87.2 percent find catechism classes meaningful, only about half subscribe to the Church's teaching on birth control. General social values appear to have much influence on them on this issue. Salesian Mumbai provincial Father Ivo Coelho told UCA News in mid-February that although he finds "the overall" results consoling, nevertheless, "it appears the youths have not made the Church's doctrines their own." Salesian Father Adolf Furtado, who initiated the empirical research, says the survey prods Church people to look into the life of youths and see how to serve them better. "Our congregation has been working for the youths in particular. But we needed to know their spiritual values," the priest commented. "The survey will lead to further questions and study," he added. The survey team consisted of Salesian Father Cyril de Souza, lay theologian Josantony Joseph and social activist Johny Joseph, who said that while Catholic youths are not facing a "crisis of belief," they might be heading toward a "crisis of faith." The survey differentiates between belief, which it defines as intellectual assent to Church dogmas, and faith as confessing to certain beliefs. "This confession would hopefully though not necessarily lead to a deep confidence or trust in God," the authors say in the fourth chapter of the book. The team studied the youths' understanding of and approach to the Bible, belief in God, Christ and Mary, and what these relationships mean to the young people. The target group was also questioned about their sense of Church belonging, their understanding and practice of prayer and liturgy, their understanding of justice and integrity, and other social and personal core values. Team leader Father de Souza told UCA News Feb. 27 that the absence of "a deeply acquired and personally reflected faith" among the Catholic youth in India causes concern. According to him, these young people might become as religiously apathetic as "European Catholic youths are today." Josantony Joseph observed that the Catholic teaching of religion "apparently focuses far more on the vertical dimension than on the horizontal." While the vertical stresses an individual's personal relationship with God, the horizontal measures how one relates to the community. Johny Joseph also said the Church helps people relate to God, but ignores how they relate to one other in the community. The Church has to go "a little beyond" teaching people to pray, he added. "The study shows that the youths believe without any critical thinking. For example, they would like to imitate Mother Mary. But they still think that men should have an upper hand in most matters," he elaborated. The study reveals that 93.6 percent of youths surveyed said the Blessed Mother plays an important role in their lives, and almost nine out of 10 want to imitate her. But 74.9 percent say it is God's will that men should head the family. "So which Mother Mary do they want to emulate-the subservient Mary or the radical Mary?" Johny Joseph asked. According to Josantony Joseph, religion attracts people now because they have experienced some loss of self-identity as globalization homogenizes cultures. Religion's "specific" rituals, on the other hand, give them a sense of identity. Concern was raised that a shallow faith would not serve the youth well during crises. "Their faith might suffer, resulting in their joining groups that offer them greater levels of internalization and a more vibrant sense of community," Father Coelho said. Similarly, Josantony Joseph said that during "personal crises," Catholic youths might either reject their religion completely or become fundamentalists. But all is not lost, the researchers agreed. The book concludes that young Catholics do not suffer from a crisis of belief or belonging as yet. There is still an "opportunity to bring back faith into their lives," it adds. "The Church cannot become complacent about "the quality of its youth ministry," Father de Souza warned, "or else it might find itself unprepared when a crisis comes." Father Coehlo pointed out that the survey "will be of no use if we don't follow it up." He added that his congregation now knows the areas in which it has to work harder. While Josantony Joseph wants the Church to "de-mystify its teachings" to help the youths understand them, the book says the challenge for the Catholic Church is "to convert believing and belonging youth into faith-full youth." ~(^^)~ Avelino
