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The Catholic Church is struggling to connect with Gen Z due to cultural differences. Gen Z values inclusivity, diversity, and social justice, which the Church often lacks. To attract young people, the Church needs to be more welcoming and compassionate. It should focus on issues like LGBTQ rights, climate change, and economic justice. The Church should also create spaces for open dialogue and engage with young people on social media. It should present its traditions in a way that is relatable and meaningful to Gen Z. Overall, the Church needs to adapt to connect with young people while staying true to its core beliefs. Alright, we are back. So, the Catholic Church has been struggling to connect with Gen Z, and it's mainly because of some pretty big cultural differences. Gen Z grew up in a world that's more outgoing, open, and accepting, especially around issues such as LGBTQ plus rights, gender inequality, and individualism. But, the Church, with its traditional values and conservative teachings, often feel out of touch or unwelcoming to young people. A lot of Gen Z doesn't see how the Church's strict views on things like marriage and sexuality fit into the more inclusive world they want to live in. Plus, Gen Z is all about exploring their own beliefs and not just following a set of rules handed down by an institution. Adding to that, the impact of 2020 and quarantine disconnected the youth significantly from the Church's life altogether and led them to start questioning things even more. Additionally, the rise of the social justice movement and the fact that the Church hasn't really modernized its approach makes it easy to see why young people are stepping away from Catholicism. So, if the Catholic Church really wants to attract Gen Z, it's going to have to rethink a few things. And I'm not saying it needs to completely rewrite its teachings, but there are definitely ways that the Church can adapt better to connect with young people while still staying true to its core beliefs. First and foremost, inclusivity is a huge necessity. Gen Z places a huge value on diversity, acceptance, and equality. They want to feel like they belong, and right now, a lot of men feel like the Church doesn't have any place for them, especially when it comes to LGBTQ issues, women's roles in society, and race. The Church needs to show that it cares about everyone, no matter who they are or what their background is. This doesn't mean the Church has to suddenly change all its doctrines, but it does mean that it needs to create a more welcoming environment for those who are looking at joining the Church. One way to do that is focusing on compassion and empathy. For example, Pope Francis has already started making more moves in this direction, like when he says the Church should be more welcoming to LGBTQ individuals, but there's a gap between those words and what's actually happening in many parishes. The Church could train clergy and leaders to engage in more open and compassionate conversations with people from all walks of life, including LGBTQ individuals, those who don't fit into the traditional gender roles, or even people who've fallen away from the Church but are wanting to come back. This could create a real sense of community where people feel like they're accepted rather than judged. I believe it's important to get the insight of a practicing priest when researching this topic. My name is Matthew, Matthew Zurcher. I am born and raised in Western Pennsylvania. I went to Carnegie Mellon University for my undergrad when I was your age. I was a musician. I was composing and conducting. I worked in music for a while. One thing led to another. I started really looking into the Jesuits and became one. I'm still in formation. Formation for the Jesuits is super long. It's like 12 years. I'm like two-thirds of the way through, so I'm in my last year of what's called Regency here at New York, which is sort of a break between graduate philosophy and theology studies where you just get to have a job. The Jesuits are at their best working with people who have one foot in the Church and one foot out. We often are in those spaces with people who are struggling with the Church in one way or another or are on the margins of society. That's why a lot of times Jesuits are involved with immigrant populations. They're involved in prisons. They're involved in schools. Beyond inclusivity, social justice needs to be front and center. If there's one thing Gen Z is passionate about, it's making the world a better place. There's something about youth that is just experimental, rebellious, wants to test the limits. There's something about being young that just perennially, through the generations, it's always like that. So I think there's some of that going on. According to Circle.Tufts.edu, over 18% of Gen Z voted that racism and other social injustices were the most important issue in the United States currently, while 23% said climate change. They're all about activism, whether it's fighting climate change, advocating for racial justice, or taking on poverty. The funny thing is, Catholic social teaching has a long history of promoting justice for the poor and marginalized, but a lot of young people don't see the Church being active enough on those fronts. If the Church wants to attract Gen Z, it should really highlight its work in those areas. Imagine if the Church became a visible leader in addressing modern social issues. For example, the Church could lead campaigns for environmental stability, like encouraging parishes to reduce their carbon footprint or get involved in reforestation projects. Or they could put focus on economic justice, with Church-led initiatives to fight homelessness or support immigrant communities. And here's the thing, young people want to be involved. The Church could invite them to be part of these projects, giving them real opportunities to make a difference. Not only would this give Gen Z something they can get behind, but it would also remind people that faith and social justice can go hand-in-hand. However, one thing that is unattractive to young people is being told what to think without having a chance to share their own ideas. Gen Z is all about open conversation, questioning the traditional social norms, and finding their own truths. Because of this, AmericanSurveyCenter.org shows that 26% of Americans 12 and under are disassociating from religion. This increases to 48% in the 13-17 age range. The Church, which is often seen as traditionally conservative and organized, needs to create more spaces where young people can engage in real dialogue. So, yes, the Catholic Church is kind of a medieval institution in some ways, that is lingering into modernity and fighting with this in a lot of ways. It also has the contractions necessary to develop. And so, you know, it's going to be very slow. Like, we're going to be 100 years behind on a lot of stuff. But there's a virtue to patience. Okay, we want to revise sexual teaching or whatever. Okay. What does that look like for people in cultures where you can still get killed for that, you know? Youth groups can be reimagined to talk about real-world issues. Things like mental health, relationships, identity, and social justice. These are just topics that young people are grappling with, and they're looking for guidance. If the Church can position itself as a space where those tough conversations are welcome, where young people feel heard and not judged, it could really change the game. And so, yeah, I think a lot of people encounter the Church in their daily lives through stuff like that. And they'll identify the Church with, you know, a particular political ideology or platform. This could also include more Q&A sessions where young people can ask tougher questions about faith, morality, This could also include more Q&A sessions where young people can ask tougher questions about faith, morality, or Church teachings, and get thoughtful, compassionate responses from priests or other religious individuals. The Church should make it clear that faith is a journey, and doubts or questions are part of that journey. Social media is another area where Church has room to grow. Gen Z lives online, and the Church is already on social media. But let's be real, it's not exactly thriving there. The Church should take social media seriously and use it as a platform to engage young people in a way that feels relatable and authentic. Again, the U.S. bishops will make some statement. I just literally today saw, you know, some priest, a video of some priest saying, like, you know, no Catholic in good conscience could be a Democrat or something like that. And that stuff hits the news, you know. So, like, and social media feeds, we know how the world works now. Like, these little sound bites or something, they will catch fire. And I think the business of news is selling newspapers and making news. And the business of social media is getting more eyeballs on your material. And so those things get a lot of traction when they travel well. This could be more behind-the-scenes content showcasing real young Catholics who are living out their faith in interesting ways. Or creating content that speaks directly to the issues Gen Z cares about. Things like anxiety, loneliness, and activism, but through a faith-based lens. But it can't feel forced. As a member of Gen Z myself, young people can spot inauthenticity a mile away. The church needs to create content that doesn't feel like it's trying hard to be trendy. It should feel real, personal, and genuine. Like, hey, here's how faith is helping me deal with real life things. Maybe it can help you too. Another area where the church can adapt is how it approaches its traditions. I'm not suggesting the church ditches its rituals or sacraments because that would be extreme. However, the church should look at how those traditions are presented. For instance, mass could be more engaging for young people. The sacraments could be explained in a way that speaks to more towards Gen Z values. For example, confession is largely seen as a means of discomfort or a way of shaming the youth, according to uscatholic.org. To combat feelings such as these, confession could be framed more as an opportunity for personal growth and healing, rather than something that feels intimidating or shame-based. Synodality is an ancient way that the church has governed itself. And it's basically, up to now, it's been the bishops of the world would gather, and they would talk. They would sit at tables, and they would have discussion on matters that needed to be resolved. And so, Francis wants to encourage this, a synodal dimension of being a church for the whole thing. And so, what was different about this one is that women religious were invited, non-bishops were invited, lay people were invited, college students were invited. We had a group of Zadar students went to observe. And, you know, they did, they discussed hot topic, political issues, women's ordination, you name it. I mean, it was all on the table. And they discussed this in a context, again, of like, okay, I'm not sitting here, I'm the American at the table. I'm sitting here with a bishop from Ghana. I'm sitting here with a nun from Paris. You know, a layman from Bolivia. You know, and we had those discussions together at a table. I'm like, you know, we share our voice and try to come to some consensus about where we can go now. You know, like, what can we do right now together that we can all get on board with, you know, and that resonates with the harmony of the gospel and the Holy Spirit. At the end of the day, it's all about showing that the Catholic Church is still relevant and has something meaningful to offer. If the Church can demonstrate that it's willing to listen, adapt, and focus on love, inclusion, and making the world a better place, I think the students would be way more open to be a part of it. They want to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and the Church has the potential to offer that. As long as it meets them where they're at and shows them that faith is all about compassion, community, and making a real difference in the world and your life. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. All credit to Ethiopia Stinky Club for Music Archive, CCBYNC, Church Bell CBSE, AWAVE, Inspector J, Free Sound, Columbia Church Bell, Ambiances, Format A, USB Mag, Ambiances, Sound Library, freesound.org, CCBYNC, CrowdSmall, Light Gym, Before Public Debate, Doors Open to Distant, Throaty Traffic, and Light Activities, Spanish Voices, Columbia, 2016, freesound.org, St. Joseph Catholic Church and Cemetery, Emmitsburg, Maryland, USA, White Arrow 10.
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