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Questionnaire to be completed by Young People

To involve young people in preparations for the Synod of Bishops on youth in 2018, the Vatican has released the long-awaited online questionnaire YOUNG PEOPLE, THE FAITH AND VOCATIONAL DISCERNMENT to better understand the lives, attitudes and concerns of 16- to 29-year-olds around the world. The questionnaire - available in English, Spanish, French and Italian - is open to any young person, regardless of faith or religious belief: 

Click on https://survey-synod2018.glauco.it/limesurvey/index.php/147718  and choose your language in the top right drop-down menu. 

Given the Church's tradition of strict adherence to rules that many feel need to be reevaluated, there is widespread concern for her well-being. Many feel that its future rests in the hands of young people which underscores the importance of this questionnaire. Pope Francis has invited youth from all over the world regardless of whether you are Catholic or not, whether you attend Church or not. The questionnaire is purposefully anonymous so that young people feel free to offer an honest sharing of themselves. 

The list of 53 mostly multiple-choice questions is divided into seven sections: general personal information; attitudes and opinions about oneself and the world; influences and relationships; life choices; religion, faith and the church; internet use; and two final, open-ended questions.

Missing from the Questionnaire

It is a well-known fact that many young people have turned away from the Church. Why? Because they are more open to a rapidly changing world, having grown up in it without the prejudices of prior generations.  From this vantage point, they see the grace of God in fresher and more vibrant terms than a Church governed by older generations. From the perspective of those of us interested in bringing about needed reform in the church, the questionnaire noticeably avoids raising widely discussed topics, particularly those directly related to the: 

1. right of the members to participate in the decision-making of the Church

2. welcoming of all to the Eucharist recognizing it as a sacrament of healing not reward.

3. treatment of the LGBT community

4. equality of women in the Church

5. sexual abuse issue by Catholic priests

6. responsible parenthood vs. the prohibition of artificial contraception

7. couples living together prior to marriage

8. couples entering into inter-faith relationships

The only question that opens the door to address any of these issues or others of particular concern to various cultures is the last question: What do you want to tell people about yourself which has not been asked in this questionnaire? We strongly urge you to utilize this question to share your heartfelt concerns for any needs you might have that are currently not being addressed by the Church or by the parish with which you might be associated. We believe that the future of the Roman Catholic Church is in the hands of young people, If the Church is to continue, she needs the voices of young people to speak up but only if you offer your genuine beliefs and experiences. The Spirit does not speak only through the ordained ministry. 

The Church is critically in need of authentic voices speaking up and being heard at this Synod. Unlike the two Synods on the Family that were attended almost entirely by Bishops, Catholic Church Reform Int'l encourages the Holy Father to change the dynamics of this Synod on Youth by filling the chamber with Young People so that it looks more like this: 

The answers to the questionnaire, along with contributions from bishops, bishops' conferences and other church bodies, "will provide the basis for the drafting of the 'instrumentum laboris,'" or working document for the assembly, synod officials said last January. It would also be helpful to have all of you who work closely with young people to complete the questionnaire.

Share this questionnaire on Facebook and Twitter

Share this link on your Facebook Page and on your Twitter account. Let's encourage young people worldwide of all faiths to complete this questionnaire:  https://survey-synod2018.glauco.it/limesurvey/index.php/147718

You may also send in a short 1 or 2 page paper outlining your views on the topics you'd like discussed at the Synod on Youth. If you do this, email a copy directly to the Synod office: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You may also copy us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we'll forward a copy of your paper to our direct contact in the Synod office.

Thank you for your contributions and continued support. Your donations make it possible for us to continue our work to bring needed reform to the Roman Catholic Church.

Rene

Despite internal resistance within the Vatican, Pope Francis and General Secretariat want to hear from all young people throughout the world

Last January, the Vatican promised that a questionnaire open to all young people would be released on March 1^st. It is now mid-May and still hasn’t come out. It seems apparent that there is internal resistance in the Vatican from those who do not want just anybody sending in responses, which an on-line survey would be open to. But, on the other side, that is exactly what Pope Francis and Cardinal Baldisseri want. Recently this article was posted on UCA News describing the Synod General Secretariat’s visit to Hong Kong and his meeting there with young people. It is entitled: Synod official listens to Hong Kong youth and subtitled Upcoming Synod of Bishops in Rome will take into account the views of young people all over the world. http://www.ucanindia.in/news/synod-official-listens-to-hong-kong-youth/34801/daily

CCRI is encouraged to hear the General Secretariat of the Synod office indicate that this questionnaire is still forthcoming. Cardinal Baldisseri indicated that the Synod on Youth wants the participants to be “all young people on the earth, not just Catholics and Christians. He encouraged Hong Kong Catholics not to ignore the ‘opportunity to be involved’ in the synod and to keep a look out at the General Secretariat website for a questionnaire which you can fill out online." Our young adult sub-committee is standing by ready to promote the Vatican questionnaire or, in the alternative if the matter is left unresolved in Rome, they are ready to release their own questionnaire or a series of comments from young people to be sent directly to his office, the General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops.

Day 11, May 11, 2017

 Our day began at 5:30 when we walked together into old Jerusalem to follow the Way of the Cross. Remember, yesterday, we walked the route of Palm Sunday and left off at the dungeon where Jesus was arrested, imprisoned, and scourged. The first station is the place where Jesus was then brought before the Roman governor and accused of rebelling against the government. From there we made our way through each station taking turns carrying the cross (Pic 1). This picture is Julius carrying the cross. When I took my turn, I felt the weight of the cross and the burdens of the world on my shoulder. The last five stations are all within the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. (Pic 2) Once inside, we knelt and touched the rock of Calvary where Jesus hung on the cross (Pic 3).

After breakfast, we headed to Emmaus about 18 kilometers from Jerusalem. It was on the road to Emmaus that some of the disciples ran into Jesus. Cleopas, who was with them, invited Jesus to dine at his home. Sometimes the places where we honor the memory of Jesus are approximate estimates of where the event may have happened. But when the site is located under or near a Byzantine church from the period three to four hundred years after the time of Christ, the likelihood of this being the actual location is far greater. So it is with this site depicted by this icon of Jesus dining there (Pic 4). We celebrated Mass here with Julius presiding (Pic 5). `Neither of us will ever again here this Gospel reading and feel the same way about it. According to the Gospel reading, once those who saw Jesus in Emmaus had experienced the risen Christ, they felt some urgency to go back to Jerusalem and share the good news. That is how I’m feeling as I prepare to return home: wanting to share this experience with everyone back home.

Nearby the remains of this church were first-century tombs. The Jewish custom at that time was to carve out a few niches to bury the bodies (Pic 6) and then roll a stone over the outer opening (Pic 7). After a couple of years when the body has decayed, the bones are removed and placed in a box for burial. Then the tombs are reused.

As we bid farewell to our pilgrim community and prepared to leave St. Georges, Julius led me to read the sign at the entrance to one of the chapel’s inside the cathedral here:

“Pray not for Arab or Jew, for Palestinian or Israeli. Pray rather for ourselves that we might not divide them in our prayers but keep them both together in our hearts.” (Based on a prayer of a Palestinian Christian)”

How fitting to leave with this prayer as we bring an end to our Journey through the Holy Land. Know that our cause to bring renewed life to the Catholic Church and our remembrance of all our loved ones have been carried with us throughout each step along the way.

Day10, May 10, 2017

Today we are in Jerusalem walking the route of the Palm Sunday procession. Across the street from the Jewish cemetery is the Church of Gethsemane (Pic 1) which means olive branch. This church is built at the base of the Mount of Olives where Jesus spent his final days on earth. Mass was being said while we visited the Church (Pic 2) and the altar is built on (or near) the rock where Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Pic 3). Our guide reminded us that it was Peter, James, and John who were with Jesus at the time of his transfiguration when they saw him in his divine state. Now these same three are with him at Gethsemane and see him in his human state. Jesus is in agony as he faces what is in store for him and saddened further by these three closest to him unable to stay awake and pray even one hour with him.

We next visited the Church of Beth-Phage, which means house (Pic 4) and is where Jesus set off for Palm Sunday. Riding on a donkey, he is greeted with Palms by a celebratory crowd. Here is Jerusalem, Palm Sunday is celebrated in a big way.

We followed this as we arrived at the church of Dominus Flevit, which means the Lord wept (Pic 5). It was from here that Jesus looked out over Jerusalem and predicted the destruction of the city and the destruction of the temple, symbolizing, of course, his own destruction (Pic 6).

Finally, the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, which refers to the cock crowing (Pic 7), is a three-story church with the top floor being the contemporary church. The story below dates back to the Byzantine era (4^th century when Queen Helena, Constantine’s mother, built so many churches). On this middle floor, the side wall shows Jesus predicting that Peter will deny him three times before the cock crows. Icons above the altar depict St Peter’s denial, his repentant weeping, and his reconciliation with his Master on the shore of the Sea of Galilee after the Resurrection. From this floor, there is a glass visual through the floor where we could look down to see the dungeon below where Jesus was imprisoned (Pic 8). It is highly likely that this is the exact prison (Pic 9) because of it being found below a 4^th century Church and its proximity to the palace of Caiaphas. It is also likely that this was the same dungeon that Peter and John were held and scourged for preaching about Jesus in the temple. This lowest story, the dungeon or sacred pit (Pic 10) is where our group read the Gospel and prayed (Pic 11). Outside the church, there are the sacred steps (Pic 12) that Jesus would have taken to come up and go down from this area.

In the afternoon, Julius and I walked on our own to a Lutheran church in Jerusalem. Quietly in a corner of the church, we lit candles and renewed our wedding vows to each other (Pic 13).