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                                       How Would You Respond ?

Recently a young Catholic man proposed the following question and concern to Pope Benedict --- "I wish to speak on behalf of those young people, who like me feel they are on the outskirts of the Church. We are the ones who do not fit comfortably into stereo-typed roles. This is due to various factors, among them: either because we have experienced substance abuse; or because we are experiencing the misfortune of broken or dysfunctional families; or because we are of a different sexual orientation; among us are also our immigrant brothers and sisters, all of us in some way or another, have encountered experiences that have estranged us from the Church. Other Catholics put us all in one basket. For them we are those “who claim to believe yet do not live up to the commitment of faith.” To us faith is a confusing reality and this causes us great suffering. We feel that not even the Church herself recognizes our worth. One of our deepest wounds stems from the fact that although the political forces are prepared to realize our desire for integration, the church community still considers us to be a problem. It seems almost as if we are less readily accepted and treated with dignity by the Christian community than we are by other members of society. 

We understand that our way of life puts the church in an ambiguous position, yet we feel that we should be treated with more compassion—without being judged and with more love. We are made to feel that we are living in error. This lack of comprehension on the part of other Christians causes us to entertain grave doubts, not only with regard to community life, but also regarding our personal relationship with God. How can we believe that God accepts us unconditionally when his own people reject us?"

                      Sr. Maura and Co-workers reflect on the question.

WOW! Rather than look at the Pope’s response, we ask ourselves in our parish and Mercy ministries, what can we say to that young man who raised such an honest and courageous question before the Pope on behalf of so many. We know that youth and young adults are not present in great numbers in many parishes and ministries because our communities have not decided to do what it will cost to welcome them. They will come with questions and challenges. We ask ourselves are we willing to welcome their personal, family and social issues and the controversies that may result. Jesus Christ gives us a start as he affirms those who hear and follow him in the often confusing and turbulent paths of their lives. “No one will snatch them out of my hand.”

Maura Redington, RSM