GUWAHATI, FEB 25 (UCAN): Most Catholic youths in India have immense faith in God but not so much in Church leaders and elders, a survey suggests.
The youth commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) conducted the nationwide survey to formulate the Church’s national youth policy for the next ten years.
The survey results were presented at the CBCI’S ongoing biennial plenary in Guwahati, Assam, where 163 bishops from India’s 164 dioceses are in attendance.
Some 40 youth delegates attended the first two days of the Feb. 24-March 3 assembly which has adopted “Youth for peace and harmony” as its main theme.
The survey was conducted among some 6,000 young people with an average age of 23 over a two-month period last year.
Saiby Mathew, a youth leader who coordinated the project, said the survey showed young Catholics value the Church and appreciate their faith and its values.
Catholic youths in India “love to participate” in Church activities if given encouragement and support, he told the bishops.
An overwhelming 90 percent of respondents said attending Sunday Mass is important for their spiritual growth, while an equal number considers the Eucharist as the center of their lives.
More than one third (36 percent) said they go to confession every month. However, a whopping 70 percent of respondents said Church leaders and elders do not respect young people’s views. More than half the respondents (54 percent) said they are not encouraged to join various commissions and organizations at parish and diocesan level.
Disturbingly, nearly 40 percent said young people experience discrimination on the basis of gender, class and caste.
Many respondents said girls and youths from dalit and tribal groups are not treated equally even in parishes. Parishes give special preference to young people from rich families, said 68 percent of those surveyed.
As a result of the survey the youth commission said Church officials should be transparent in their dealings with young people since discrimination and favoritism stifles youth initiative.
The commission suggested setting up youth friendly platforms at grassroots level to empower young people to serve the Church and society. It also wants the Church to give more opportunity to young people among tribal, dalit and rural families.
The commission urged Church institutions to nurture youths better and guide and support those living away from home in their search for jobs.
The Shrine of Bellary Arogya Mathe was blessed and dedicated on 8th September 2000 on the feast of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother Mary in memory of the great jubilee 2000 and the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese of Bellary