The Critical Error in Faith Formation
We are currently witnessing a concerning trend of declining participation among young individuals in the Catholic Church. While many acknowledge this issue, the gravity of the problem might not be fully understood by the majority of Catholics. Without significant changes, it's projected that a majority of American Catholic parishes will face closures or substantial budget cuts within the next two decades.
This situation is nothing short of a crisis, and what troubles me the most is the infrequent accurate articulation of the core problem. Frequently, I hear the suggestion that "more and better catechesis" is the key to addressing the disaffiliation of young people.
I appreciate the sentiment. Indeed, the Catholic Church faced a period of insufficient catechesis post-Vatican II. However, it's essential to recognize that catechesis has vastly improved since the 1970s. One could argue that the Church has never had a more abundant or higher-quality collection of catechetical content than it does now. We boast video programs, top-ranked podcasts, streaming services offering a plethora of Catholic programs, and numerous leaders advocating for and safeguarding the deposit of faith.
Let me be clear—I am a supporter of catechesis. However, I contend that better catechesis addresses the wrong problem.
In the Catholic Church, there's a dangerous belief that the teachings of the faith inherently speak for themselves. The prevailing attitude is that if people truly understood these teachings, the reasons to follow them would be self-evident. There's a misconception that orthodoxy—faithfulness to the Church's teachings—is an end in itself.
This sentiment is a critical error and, quite frankly, it's dead wrong.
The Wasteland of CCD
Today, the most common method of catechesis for teenagers remains some variation of instructing the Catechism through classes taught by a catechist. Many will recognize this method of formation by the title “CCD” which stands for the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. When I ask people to guess when the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine was established, the most common response that I get is sometime within the early to mid 20th century.
CCD was established in 1562 AD.
That’s right, the method of formation that most Catholic parishes use to catechize our young people is over 450 years old. I think it is safe to say that young people and the culture around young people has changed considerably since 1562. CCD reduces the faith to mere instruction, memorization, and dogma.
In 2020 the USCCB and the NFCYM released a report entitled National Dialogue: On Catholic Pastoral Ministry With Youth and Young Adults. The report consisted of the findings of a 3 year process of Church leaders having conversations with over 10,000 young people. When discussing conversations with youth who have left the Church, I pulled out this quote from the report, which I found fascinating:
One last theme that came up frequently in conversations was how young people struggle with the Church’s teachings. Unlike some theories that better catechesis would alleviate this concern, we observed that many young people do understand the Church’s teachings well, but felt that there was more to be said. Whether they agree with the theological concepts is one thing. What came up in many conversations was the lack of action of consistency in the living out of these teachings.
- p 80 of National Dialogue Final Report
Young people know the teachings, but the disconnect for them is that they have not seen those teachings lived.
A quality living witness will always trump quality Catholic teaching.
Consider this... during the formative years of the Church, Christians were drawn to the faith by two compelling aspects: the genuine love within Christian communities and the joyful manner in which martyrs embraced their fate. The apostles testified to the witnessed events, early Christians exemplified the power of the Holy Spirit through their joyful deaths, and the community's attraction stemmed from their extraordinary love for one another.
While the teachings of Christ hold paramount importance, divorced from the nurturing environment of a Christian community, these teachings lose their credibility. A friend of mine often emphasizes, "If you remove love from a marriage, what remains is merely a to-do list." Unfortunately, this parallels what has occurred with the Gospel message. Our youth often perceive the teachings as a mere checklist, rather than embracing them as an invitation to experience and share love.
Sower and the Seed
In the parable of the Sower and the Seed, Jesus imparts wisdom about the varying outcomes when the seed, representing the "word of the kingdom," falls on different types of soil—symbolic of people. Success, as elucidated by Jesus, hinges not on the seed's quality but on the receptiveness of the soil. To ensure fruitful endeavors and abundant results, it logically follows that our time is most effectively invested in cultivating receptive soil. Opening hearts to receive a message is optimally achieved through building relationships.
Contemplating the landscape of Catholic ministry reveals a troubling trend of toxicity. Within the Church, conflicts abound—Catholics engaging in heated debates over teachings, liturgical interpretations, and even prominent apologists sparring on podcasts. The deficiency of Christian charity is palpable in comment sections on Catholic media. This wearisome atmosphere prompts reflection on whether an overemphasis on orthodox teaching and an inadequate focus on living witness have contributed to this discord.
Therefore, it prompts the crucial question: What might the Church resemble in 20 years if we were to reimagine youth ministry, directing our efforts toward nurturing a generation capable of offering a living testimony of their faith?
