Find new ways to reach 'religiously illiterate' generation: Vatican prefect
August 27, 2012
Christian evangelizers must find new ways to deliver the Gospel message to a “religiously illiterate” generation, the prefect of the Congregation for Religious told an audience in Madrid.
Cardinal João Braz de Aviz recommended that evangelization efforts should “show God tangibly and clearly in ways that do not demand an expensive and difficult initiation.” The witness of religious life is an excellent example of this approach, he said, because the willingness of some people to consecrate their lives forces others to think anew about the reality of God.
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Posted by: rosemariedoyle9560 -
Aug. 28, 2012 5:56 PM ET USA
Ignorance of Scripture has been the downfall of the Church. Rebelious religious and lay alike have rejected Church teaching which they consider to be merely man's teaching, not knowing it comes from Sacred Scripture. Ironically, they disrespect Scripture because of man's teaching which distorts and discredits it. If we are to be good evangelizers, we must first truly know Christ through His Word. Then, through the Holy Spirit, love will inspire our imaginations as to how to share the message.
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Posted by: WBSM -
Aug. 27, 2012 5:47 PM ET USA
We need some more martyrs.
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Posted by: joancollins507161 -
Aug. 27, 2012 5:30 PM ET USA
I believe we can reach students and adults alike if we focus on Bible teaching. I have led several studies using the Jeff Cavins Bible Timeline. People are amazed at how exciting and interesting he makes the Bible. I think the Church has missed the mark by not providing more instruction on the Bible so that Catholics understand not just what the Church teaches, but why she teaches it.
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Posted by: AgnesDay -
Aug. 27, 2012 1:13 PM ET USA
As a former religious ed. instructor, I can testify that not only are many students religiously illiterate, they are religiously anti-literate. Many of my students fought the teaching actively, and they were only there because their grandparents insisted on it. As a retired public school teacher, I hasten to add that I witnessed this behavior in discussing ideas and history.
