I Come From The Land Down Under
Where children quit 'cuz The Church blundered
Interesting news from the Land of Koalas, really big sharks and Mel Gibson.
A Perth Marist Brother who lectures at Edith Cowan University last month delivered a report that claimed almost all students who graduate from Catholic education regard the Church as irrelevant.
In a report by Brother Luke Shaker, only 12.8% of those surveyed attend Sunday Mass regularly, even though most (55.6%) strongly agreed or agreed that their overall religious education program influenced their religious development. Hey, a blind man could see the problem here. Yes, the Catholic Religious Education they recieved most certainly did influence them... to leave The Church.
On the other hand, Br. Saker reported, when students have the reasons for the Church's teachings and position on a number of issues explained to them in university classes, they often express surprise that they have never heard such explanations before. What??!! These kids aren't even taught the basics until they hit university?
Do yourself a favor and read this article. The numbers are simply shocking. Catholic kids in Australia are abandoning The Church quicker than rats off a sinking ship.
But can we really blame them? I seem to recall a certain someone talking about something called "The Dictatorship of Relativism" that has infected The Church.
We have met the enemy and they are us.
Where children quit 'cuz The Church blundered
Interesting news from the Land of Koalas, really big sharks and Mel Gibson.
A Perth Marist Brother who lectures at Edith Cowan University last month delivered a report that claimed almost all students who graduate from Catholic education regard the Church as irrelevant.
In a report by Brother Luke Shaker, only 12.8% of those surveyed attend Sunday Mass regularly, even though most (55.6%) strongly agreed or agreed that their overall religious education program influenced their religious development. Hey, a blind man could see the problem here. Yes, the Catholic Religious Education they recieved most certainly did influence them... to leave The Church.
On the other hand, Br. Saker reported, when students have the reasons for the Church's teachings and position on a number of issues explained to them in university classes, they often express surprise that they have never heard such explanations before. What??!! These kids aren't even taught the basics until they hit university?
Do yourself a favor and read this article. The numbers are simply shocking. Catholic kids in Australia are abandoning The Church quicker than rats off a sinking ship.
But can we really blame them? I seem to recall a certain someone talking about something called "The Dictatorship of Relativism" that has infected The Church.
We have met the enemy and they are us.
posted by Kevin Whiteman at
3:02 PM
5 Comments:
I decline to believe that this problem is confined to Australia.
I think the American Catholic college might be a little better off, I had a good experience at a Mass at one a little while back. Maybe there is some hope for the future. We all do need to keep an eye on things though, especailly the theology department. If kid's were being taught about the faith by devout top intellectials, Catholic Universities should actually be increasing the number of Mass attendes by converting Protestant students.
Paul, your right. This posting just further illustrates how the "Spirit of V2" screwed up The Church not only in North America and Western Europe... but Down Under as well.
My eldest son is in Grade 7 in a Catholic school here in Ontario. He has complained to me several times that he does not lerarn about the Catholic Church or Faith in school.
I believe he is correct.
Similar results obtained in a study of US 'Catholic' colleges conducted in the early 1990's.
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