Volume > Issue > Note List > It Could Be Worse

It Could Be Worse

A strong point of evangelical Protestantism is The Youth Group. Tremendous effort is put into getting young people saved and active in church (and there’s nothing wrong with that!), and The Youth Group is the entrée.

We Catholics can complain about the absence of a youth group in most parishes, and about the mediocre or misleading religious instruction offered up in many Catholic schools and CCD programs. But, hey, it could be worse.

The Youth Group in evangelical Protestantism is in deep trouble. Writing in the staunchly Evangelical weekly, World (Aug. 24), Gene Edward Veith tells us with a heavy heart about what’s been going on lately in The Youth Group: “There is ‘Sanctuary Softball,’ which involves whacking a nerf ball in church, with home plate being the area of the altar,” and running through the pews as the fielder tries to hit the runner with the ball to make an out. “Another fun activity is ‘Seafood Catch,’ which involves putting minnows in the baptistry, then catching them by hand.” We Catholics worry about the profanation of our churches, as we should, but has it gotten this bad?

Enjoyed reading this?

READ MORE! REGISTER TODAY

SUBSCRIBE

You May Also Enjoy

The Two Worlds of John Henry Newman

Newman rejects the notion that the "other" world does not exist at this present moment, but begins after death: "No: it exists now, though we see it not."

Deaths in the Family

NOR provides the truth about the Church and the forces that seek to destroy her, and we do it without extremism, without an ideological agenda, and without apology.

Multiple-Choice Question

Is Fr. Maciel thoughtlessly pandering to the Zeitgeist?