God Answers to Me

In the statistically insignificant experience of my life, I seem to be meeting more and more young people who boldly tell this Deacon that they “no longer practice the faith.” Everett Fritz^[1] noted that the arguments he encounters in this regard are:

1. Lack of Catechesis: Young people may not fully grasp the teachings of the Faith. It is believed that a deeper understanding would lead to active and engaged Catholicism, suggesting a need for enhanced catechesis.
2. Parental Influence: Some argue that parents do not exemplify a serious commitment to the Faith, evidenced by their absence at Mass despite enrolling their children in faith programs. This points to a need for more robust parental formation.
3. Cultural Secularization: The secular nature of contemporary society is often blamed for drawing young people away from the Church, highlighting the necessity of rejuvenating Catholic culture.
4. Youth Ministry: There is a perception that the Church does not prioritize youth ministry sufficiently, prompting calls for increased funding and focus on youth engagement and Catholic education.
5. Vatican II Reforms: Some attribute the decline in youth participation to changes initiated by the Second Vatican Council, advocating for a return to the extraordinary form of the liturgy.
6. Youth Attitudes: Some argue that young people themselves are at fault, being labeled as lazy or disrespectful. This view suggests that focus should only be on those already inclined towards a pious life.

Fritz acknowledges multiple contributing factors, emphasizing the Church’s need to accompany individuals through different stages of conversion. However, reflecting on my interactions with the younger generation, a prevalent issue appears: the contemporary demand that God must conform to individual expectations. For thousands of years, people have rightly feared God. Scripture telling us that to “fear” God means having a reverence and awe that leads to wisdom, obedience, and a life of service (Proverbs 9:10, Job 28:28, Psalm 111:10).

We’ve taught our children to value autonomy but forgot that St. Pope John Paul II reminded us that true freedom is found in choosing to do what one ought, in alignment with truth and the divine will. Whatever the source, our children grew up with a notion of autonomy that means doing whatever “feels good.” Unlike John Paul II, our children and us were privileged to grow up without experiencing life and limited freedom under the Nazis, Communists, and World Wars. Instead, our children received participation trophies and now live in a world where some feel they can simply choose their gender…

Pope Benedict XVI was challenged for calling homosexual acts “disordered.” How dare he! Yet, if the natural order is opposite-sex attraction—visit any farm with a bull and herd if you don’t understand—then same-sex attraction is not ordered; it is disordered. The Church has never wavered on this teaching. Yet, some bishops appear to minimize it. While rightly pointing out that everyone is made in the Imago Dei and is a cherished creation of God, they stopped preaching that us “cherished creations of God” sin. Yes, we sin against our neighbor and in our worldly desires, but when a President of the United States who self-promoted his Catholicism is unapologetically pro-abortion and enabled millions of dollars to fund this murder, the topic is minimized by some of our modern-day apostles. The evil seems downplayed, often reducing grave moral issues to components of a broader social justice narrative.  

As a deacon, I was taught that the people of God deserve the authentic Gospel. We preach the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Church; despite the challenges this may present. We do not seek to wound, but to heal. How can anyone authentically follow Christ if there is no clarity and consistency in His teaching? In the Catholic Church, we are thankful to have 2,000 years of consistency. The teaching has been straightforward, even if some have taken curves on individual journeys.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is about truth and love. Yes, sometimes it is hard to hear and even harder to live authentically. If we truly believe Jesus is God, then His teachings are not open to individual choice.  In a society that often elevates subjective truth over objective truth, younger generations may perceive an obligation only to self-fulfillment. This contrasts with sin as our rejection of God.

Despite God’s unconditional love for sinners, His instruction is clear: love the sinner, reject the sin. Historically, there have been failures in this approach, including a personal tendency to judge others while neglecting my own shortcomings. Yet, this reflects human fallibility, not the Church’s truth. If the Church is His “mystical body,” by default, its teachings are not optional either. As Catholics, we need to shine the light on Christ’s teachings, shout them from the rooftops, and not apologize to those whose “truth” is distorted. Jesus loved the woman caught in adultery but rejected the false paths of sin: “Go and sin no more,” he said to her. (John 8:11)

In a world that promotes “my” truth over authentic truth, our younger generations have been taught that what they think and whatever desires they choose to follow no longer have to answer to anyone or anything but themselves. They have been taught that it is a “sin” to reject pleasure. Thus, when one of their friends or family members engages in same-sex acts, those acts are considered okay. It is just “love,” and all “love” is good, right? Thus, God and His Church must be wrong—they disagree with feelings experienced in this fallen world. In a Church that has bishops who no longer wear their “big boy” clerics, our Churches begin to empty on both sides of the aisle.

Most of the younger generation I’ve interacted with are kind, thoughtful and care for both people and the environment. Their error is in thinking that they are on their own path, not God’s. As parents, we only got it partly correct. We’ve boldly taught our children to make decisions and be autonomous while failing to correct them when they are wrong. Saying “no” to God is always wrong. Sin is never righteous. A life focused simply on pleasure is empty hedonism. Some think they are being noble when they leave the faith to “support” their friends and family with same-sex attractions or have chosen a culture of death over life. This situation is not to be celebrated but mourned. It is not a victory of independent thought but a victory for Satan. He duped another to again “bite the apple.”

Faith requires responsibility and actions have consequences. God doesn’t answer to me or my desires. We answer to Him; God and His Church are not the ones in need of correction. We must strive to guide the younger generation towards a life of authenticity in Christ’s teachings, not individual interpretations. True freedom lies in adhering to His path, not ours. It is the only freedom we have from the temporal allurements of this world.

^[1] Everett Fritz, “Why Young People Are Leaving The Church, The Priest, 15 Apr 2023.  https://thepriest.com/2023/04/15/why-young-people-are-leaving-the-church/