Why are young Catholics leaving in droves?
Bishop Robert Barron, the world-famous YouTube evangelist, was Chairman of the Bishops’ Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis. At the U.S. Bishops’ Conference meeting in June 2019, he spoke of the massive apostasy of Catholic youth and cited statistics such as “half the kids we baptized and confirmed in the last 30 years are now ex-Catholics or unaffiliated.” To put that into perspective, he said that “one out of six millennials in the U.S. is now a former Catholic.” He claimed that they simply no longer believe the Church’s teachings and called that “the bitter fruit of the dumbing down of our faith” as it has been presented in catechesis and apologetics. The reality is that many of those once-Catholic children of whom Bishop Barron spoke never had the faith or lost it before confirmation because of “the dumbing down of our faith.” Read More
Catholicism, Evolution, and Secular Theology
Catholicism's hierarchy has seen a significant decline in its youth membership. Bishop Robert Barron stated that half of the baptized and confirmed members in the last 30 years have left the faith. Additionally, one out of six millennials in the U.S. is now a former Catholic. Barron attributed this decline to the Church's failure to effectively convey its teachings, resulting in a loss of belief among the youth.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church addresses questions about human origins and purpose. While the Bible has traditionally provided answers, the Catechism also acknowledges the value of scientific studies in understanding the cosmos, life's development, and human evolution.
However, the author argues that interpreting the Bible through the lens of scientific evolution has led to conflicts between faith and science. Many young individuals lose faith due to teachings about evolutionary origins in school, leading them to prioritize science over religion.
The author contends that evolutionary cosmology, biology, and geology are not as settled as portrayed in the education system. Neither evolutionary nor supernatural origins can be conclusively proven. The creation vs. evolution debate is, therefore, more about philosophy than science, and the author presents facts for readers to judge the plausibility of both perspectives.
Creation, Evolution, and Catholicism: A Discussion for Those Who Believe
The book, updated in April 2021, explores the impact of belief in evolution on Catholics, particularly young Catholics who are leaving the Church in large numbers. It addresses the issue from both a scientific and theological perspective and argues that the acceptance of naturalism has become a problem for the Church, leading to a loss of faith. The book analyzes the teachings of the encyclical Humani Generis and offers unique insights on the Galileo Case. It is aimed at parents, priests, and mature students who want to understand the creation vs. evolution controversy and its connection to Catholicism. The book has been praised for being fascinating, eye-opening, and funny, and for providing a much-needed reflection on the New Evangelization.
The Evolution of Catholic Unbelief
The book criticizes Catholic scholars and education leaders, including Bishop Robert Barron, for adopting a secular Humanist paradigm regarding cosmic and biological origins, and accepting the evolutionary hypothesis as a proved fact. The author argues that this approach undermines the Bible and leads to the massive apostasy of Catholic youth who see a conflict between the Bible and science. The book proposes a plan to revive Catholic catechesis by teaching the forgotten creation doctrines combined with 21st Century natural science that proves intelligent design is more credible than chance. The author believes that such a catechesis would restore the integrity and harmony of Catholic teachings based on Scripture.
Intellectual Combat: Resistance to Religious Atheism
The article discusses the concept of "religious atheism," which is also known as Humanism. Humanism is an ideology that promotes "good without God" and has a long history dating back to the 19th century. Many atheists adopt Humanism, which has a common core of beliefs and a worldview that coincides with Humanism's creed. The article argues that once society rejects God, it can lead to frightening social, political, and spiritual consequences. The author believes that Humanism should be opposed as a religion, and education in modern natural science is key to effective apologetics in the 21st century. The author suggests that re-education of the Catholic clergy and laity is necessary to revive the Catholic Church's confidence in their theistic beliefs. Continue on Amazon