Indian bishops told youth place faith in God, not clergy

(February 26, 2010) Most Catholic youths in India have immense faith in God but not so much in Church leaders and elders, a survey suggests. The youth commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) conducted the nationwide survey to formulate the Church’s national youth policy for the next ten years. The survey results were presented at the CBCI’S current biennial general body meeting in Guwahati, Assam state. Some 40 youth delegates attended the first two days of the Indian bishops’ Feb. 24-March 3 assembly which has as its theme, “Youth for peace and harmony.” Saiby Mathew, a youth leader who coordinated the survey among some 6,000 young people of an average age of 23 years, said young Catholics value the Church and appreciate their faith and its values, and would “love to participate” in Church activities if given encouragement and support. An overwhelming 90 percent of respondents said Sunday Mass and the Eucharist were important for their spiritual growth, and 36% said they go for Confession every month. However, a whopping 70 percent of young people said Church leaders and elders do not respect young people’s views. 54% said they are not encouraged to join various commissions and organizations at parish and diocesan levels. Disturbingly, nearly 40 percent said young people experience discrimination on the basis of gender, class and caste, and 68% said parishes prefer young people from rich families.