My sister sent me this today via Twitter. It really hit home in two regards: my personal and my professional life. As a mother of a young adult and 2 teens I found it to be relevant to what I'm experiencing with my children. Secondly, I teach catechesis to my Second Graders. I'm seeing apathy among my children, students and parents in regard to their religion. Why are so many young people leaving the church or attending sporadically?
Interesting point of view from Father Dwight Longnecker that Catholicism is supposed to be "difficult" and "disciplined", not a "nice" religion. We painted for our children an unrealistic view of Catholicism. The idea perhaps was to engage them with the notion that being a Catholic you only have to be "nice". Well, they are learning they can be nice but not go to church.
Is this true? Are young people feeling this way? Are they looking for the warm and cozy religion that we taught to them but are finding it is really a farce but difficult and lonely at times? "Carrying your cross" is not easy task and they are looking for that "nice" route.
Is this the same phenomena we see in young athletes who enter high school and college sports realizing that they were told they were amazing at their sport but in reality are just in the middle of pack? Once the reality sets, they become disillusioned with the sport, coaches, and parents? Perhaps that is a totally different topic in which I will leave for another time..........
Read the article my friend and then decide for yourself are we teaching that to get to heaven you just have to be "nice".