The Valley Catholic June 20, 2017 | Page 12

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IN THE CHURCH
June 20 , 2017 | The Valley Catholic
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY – To involve young people in preparations for the Synod of Bishops on youth in 2018 , the Vatican has released an online questionnaire to better understand the lives , attitudes and concerns of 16- to 29-yearolds around the world .
The questionnaire – available in English , Spanish , French and Italian – can be found on the synod ’ s official site : youth . synod2018 . va / content / synod2018 / it . html and is open to any young person , regardless of faith or religious belief .
The general secretariat of the synod launched the website June 14 to share information about the October 2018 synod on “ Young people , faith and vocational discernment ” and to link to an online , anonymous survey asking young people about their lives and expectations .
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 in January .
Young people from all backgrounds are encouraged to take part in the

Vatican Releases Online Questionnaire for Youth

World Youth Day pilgrims listen as Bishop Frank J . Caggiano of Bridgeport , Conn ., speaks in 2016 at Sacred Heart Church in Krakow , Poland . The October 2018 Synod of Bishops at the Vatican will focus on young people . ( CNS photo / Bob Roller )
questionnaire because every young person has “ the right to be accompanied without exclusion ,” synod officials had said .
The list of 53 mostly multiplechoice 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 . The write-in questions are an invitation to describe a positive example of how the Catholic Church can “ accompany young people in their choices , which give value and fulfillment in life ” and to say something about oneself that hasn ’ t been asked in the questionnaire .
Other questions ask about living arrangements ; self-image ; best age to leave home and have a family ; opinions about education and work ; measures of success ; sources of positive influence ; level of confidence in public and private institutions ; and political or social activism .
The section on faith looks at the importance of religion in one ’ s life and asks , “ Who Jesus is for you ?” That question provides 16 choices to choose from , including “ the savior ,” “ an adversary to be fought ,” “ an invention ” and “ someone who loves me .” It also asks which topics – promoting peace , defending human life , evangelization , defending truth , the environment – are the most urgent for the church to address .
The Vatican ’ s preparation for a synod generally includes developing a questionnaire and soliciting input from bishops ’ conferences , dioceses and religious orders . This is the first time the Vatican ’ s synod organizing body put a questionnaire online and sought direct input from the public .
A synod ’ s preparatory phase seeks to consult “ the entire people of God ” to better understand young people ’ s different situations as synod officials draft the working document . The synod on youth will be looking for ways the church can best and most effectively evangelize young people and help them make life choices corresponding to God ’ s plan and the good of the person .

Behind Hatred , Violence is an Unloved Heart , Pope says at Audience

By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY – Violence and hatred often are signs that a person is unhappy and feels unloved and unwanted , Pope Francis said .
In today ’ s world , people – especially children and youths – often feel that unless “ we are strong , attractive and beautiful , no one will care about us ,” the pope said June 14 during his weekly general audience .
“ When an adolescent is not or does not feel loved , violence can arise . Behind so many forms of social hate and hooliganism , there is often a heart that has not been recognized ,” he said .
Despite a heat wave that brought temperatures close to 90 degrees , an estimated 12,000 pilgrims donning colorful hats and umbrellas cheered and waved as the pope entered St . Peter ’ s Square .
Pope Francis took a moment to greet the sick who were watching the audience
from indoors because of the hot Roman weather .
“ They are in the Paul VI hall and we are here ,” the pope told the crowd in the square . “ But we are all together ; we are connected by the Holy Spirit who always unites us .”
In his talk , the pope focused on the certainty of hope that comes from feeling loved as children of God .
When men and women do not feel loved , he said , they run the risk of succumbing to the “ awful slavery ” of believing that love is based solely on one ’ s appearance or merits .
“ Imagine a world where everyone begs for reasons to attract the attention of others and no one is willing to love another person freely ,” he said . “ It seems like a human world but , in reality , it is a hell .”
Feelings of loneliness , he added , often lead to “ man ’ s many narcissisms ” and can be conquered only by an “ experience of love that has been given and received .”
God , who never needs a reason to
Pope Francis waves during his general audience June 14 in St . Peter ’ s Square at the Vatican . ( CNS photo / Max Rossi , Reuters )
love his children , has that kind of unconditional love for each person , the pope said . “ God does not even bind his benevolence to our conversion ; if anything that is a consequence of God ’ s love .”
Recalling his time as archbishop of Buenos Aires , Argentina , the pope said he saw God ’ s unconditional love reflected on the faces of mothers who went to the local prison to visit their children .
“ I remember so many mothers in my diocese who would get in line to enter the prison . So many mothers who were not ashamed . Their child was in prison , but it was their child and they suffered so many humiliations ,” the pope recalled .
“ Only this love of a mother and father can help us understand God ’ s love ,” he said , adding that “ no sin , no wrong choice can ever erase it .”
Departing from his prepared remarks , Pope Francis asked the crowd , “ What is the medicine that can change an unhappy person ?” “ Love !” the crowd exclaimed . “ Very good , very good ,” the pope said . Christian hope comes from knowing “ God the father who loves us as we are . He always loves us , everyone , good and bad .”