Skwim
Veteran Member
"Study shows why young Catholics leave the church
There are the growing numbers of young Catholics leaving the church — the focus of a new national study to examine why they're departing and where they're landing.
They stopped believing in God. They saw a disconnect between what Catholics say and what they do. They disagreed with the church’s stance on social issues such as homosexuality and birth control.
They are the growing numbers of young Catholics leaving the church — the focus of a new national study to examine why they’re departing and where they’re landing. It’s an issue that worries church leaders across the country.
“Leaving the [Catholic] church crosses all age groups, but the fastest growing demographic is age 18 to 29,” said John Vitek, president of Saint Mary’s Press in Winona, which commissioned the study.
“Our data shows the median age for leaving the church was 13 years old,” he said. “That was a surprise to everyone … and something we really have to take note of.”
Once they leave the church, more than a third report no religious affiliation and 29 percent switch to another Christian denomination.
Called “Going. Going. Gone: The Dynamics of Disaffiliation in Young Catholics,” the unusual survey focused on former Catholics between ages 15 and 25. It is based on a random sample survey of 204 teens and young adults, as well as 15 personal interviews. The research was conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University.
The survey found that the biggest reason young Catholics bailed was that they no longer believed in God. One in five cited that lack of faith.
Another 16 percent said family experiences shaped their misgivings. Divorce, death, illnesses and perceived “hypocrisy” were cited.
Others were put off by the church’s stance on social issues such as same-sex marriage and the role of women.
“I believe in birth control. ... I am a complete supporter of same-sex marriage,” said one teen. “I’m fine with priests being married. This whole being married to Jesus or God thing is kind of ridiculous.”
source
There are the growing numbers of young Catholics leaving the church — the focus of a new national study to examine why they're departing and where they're landing.
They stopped believing in God. They saw a disconnect between what Catholics say and what they do. They disagreed with the church’s stance on social issues such as homosexuality and birth control.
They are the growing numbers of young Catholics leaving the church — the focus of a new national study to examine why they’re departing and where they’re landing. It’s an issue that worries church leaders across the country.
“Leaving the [Catholic] church crosses all age groups, but the fastest growing demographic is age 18 to 29,” said John Vitek, president of Saint Mary’s Press in Winona, which commissioned the study.
“Our data shows the median age for leaving the church was 13 years old,” he said. “That was a surprise to everyone … and something we really have to take note of.”
Once they leave the church, more than a third report no religious affiliation and 29 percent switch to another Christian denomination.
Called “Going. Going. Gone: The Dynamics of Disaffiliation in Young Catholics,” the unusual survey focused on former Catholics between ages 15 and 25. It is based on a random sample survey of 204 teens and young adults, as well as 15 personal interviews. The research was conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University.
The survey found that the biggest reason young Catholics bailed was that they no longer believed in God. One in five cited that lack of faith.
Another 16 percent said family experiences shaped their misgivings. Divorce, death, illnesses and perceived “hypocrisy” were cited.
Others were put off by the church’s stance on social issues such as same-sex marriage and the role of women.
“I believe in birth control. ... I am a complete supporter of same-sex marriage,” said one teen. “I’m fine with priests being married. This whole being married to Jesus or God thing is kind of ridiculous.”
source
In answer to the title's question, "Will Catholicism be Forced to Change its Thinking?" my answer is that in order to survive it has to. The church's future lies entirely in the hands of its youth, and if it can't appease them it's going to sink.
One ominous sign is the steep decline in Catholic marriages.