Yes!
Of course the Holy Father did not mention yesterday's March For Our Lives in Washington, but he is no doubt very much aware of it. He also respects young people, perhaps more than their own parents do in some cases. I've read comments on Facebook and on other sites suggesting that youth are being manipulated, that they are too immature to effect policy change, making fun of them as the Tide-pod generation and so on.
So many so called adults are completely dismissive of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School group of survivors - not surprisingly, Fr. Z lays it up to 'teen emotions' - this statement after returning home from the gun range with his mom. In typical fashion, he goes after another commenter scolding: The immature should not be making public policy, especially these days when they are under the thumbs of the left in their schools. Other comments on his post suggest the students are manipulated by Soros and the Deep State - typical scapegoats for anything they can't control.
Speaking of moms, one mother on FB said one of the student leaders, David Hogg needs to be 'bitch-slapped' - a somewhat gay expression she may have picked up from her ex-husband. Not long ago, another politician attempted to shame one of the young women, Emma Gonzalez, calling her a lesbian. Such remarks are a form of bullying and decidedly immature. As the Pope pointed out: “The temptation to silence young people has always existed.”
“There are many ways to silence young people and make them invisible. Many ways to anesthetize them, to make them keep quiet, ask nothing, question nothing. There are many ways to sedate them, to keep them from getting involved, to make their dreams flat and dreary, petty and plaintive,” he said.
“Dear young people, you have it in you to shout,” he told young people, urging them to be like the people who welcomed Jesus with palms rather than those who shouted for his crucifixion only days later.
“It is up to you not to keep quiet. Even if others keep quiet, if we older people and leaders, some corrupt, keep quiet, if the whole world keeps quiet and loses its joy, I ask you: Will you cry out?”
The young people in the crowd shouted, “Yes!” - Reuters
I'm inspired by the Parkland students. I'm so happy to see them activating a generation. I pray they will not allow themselves to be corrupted or manipulated - with the Pope I pray they will not be silenced or cowered into submission, or fall prey to or spoiled by success and celebrity. Stay true.
I think it is important to note that they are not against the 2nd Amendment as so many fear. To quote David Hogg: "What a lot the media, and especially Fox News, has messed up with me is they’ve made it seem like I’m trying to take away people’s guns — that I’m against the Second Amendment,” Hogg said. “My father is a retired FBI agent. I have guns in my house. I’m not against the Second Amendment.” - Source
If Francis is on the side of youth, why no talk in his document for the synod about the Extraordinary Form, or of reverently celebrated liturgy, or of chant, or of orthodox teaching...all things that young people want? I know for a fact that thousands of youth said on the survey that they wanted this to be addressed, but, no, the document and leadership ignore what doesn't fit their agenda. No, he doesn't care about youth. He only cares about using them to push his liberal agenda. This document on "youth" will once again be hijacked to push things that young people don't even want. Young people know sincerity when they see it. And let me assure you they DON'T see this in the current leadership of the Church. Until Francis teaches clearly on moral issues (like answering the Dubia), demands reverence in the Liturgy (with things like communion kneeling and on the tongue), and demands of young people a high standard they will not follow him. They will see him for what he is, a political actor seeking to promote a liberal agenda. Hagan Lio!
ReplyDeleteThis expresses my thoughts well: https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2018/03/19/god-save-them/
ReplyDeleteYes I saw that but didn't include his opinion piece because I wanted to discuss the Parkland students. I disagree with Royal, and you, but thanks for filling out this post with your comments. Have a Holy Week.
DeleteHappy Monday!
DeleteTerry, I watched the Palm Sunday service online and when Papa Francis said, "A joyful young person is hard to manipulate" well, that made me smile because it's so true.
I did read some of what is listed per CNA regarding what some of the youth are concerned about. Though it is good they have voiced their concerns, I do not agree with some of their issues.
These paragraphs caught my eye:
"However, one paragraph mentioned that among young people there is clear disagreement on certain “controversial” Church teachings dealing with issues such as contraception, abortion, homosexuality, cohabitation, the permanency of marriage, and the priesthood.
The paragraph noted that many don't understand Church teaching on these issues, and that of those who do, not all of them are in agreement. Young people “may want the Church to change her teaching as a result, or at least have access to a better explanation,” they said, but “even so, they desire to be part of the Church.”
While they have issues with “The Church oftentimes appears as too severe and is often associated with excessive moralism," I disagree. I do not see the Church in such a way, even in my youth I did not. I believe some priests and religious and even lay people come across this way when it comes to morality but there are many (at least whom I have encountered) who do not. I will pray these young folks pray for the grace to see the beauty of truth and chasity. May St. Joseph be their guide.
Also, thanks be to God many of us old folks who are joyful cannot be manipulated either! ;) (especially when it comes to toxic websites)
I think Jordan Peterson is right on these things. Perhaps these kids do have themselves sorted out and are truly desiring justice and order. Me thinks not.
ReplyDeleteThe prayers of youth are powerful as they are punctuated by humility. The protests of youth are always ugly. I saw a comparison of this Emma Gonzalez to Joan of Arc. Give us a spell
I'm going to have agree with Joel on this one.
ReplyDelete"I think Jordan Peterson is right on these things."
ReplyDeleteI did not know who he was until Bishop Robert Barron did a YT video about him. He is very articulate and makes lots of sense in a no nonsense common sense way.