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To young people, their parents, grandparents, and friends:
If you have moved on from the Church believing it to be outdated and out of touch with your needs, you have an unprecedented opportunity to turn this around. We have just sent out this press release and invite you to join in the movement for all people of all ages – and especially the younger generation – to speak up for the good of our church. To remain silent is to be complicit with whatever wrongs you see in Church teachings.To ignore the positions of the church that differ from your beliefs is to be complicit. To live your lives as if the church doesn’t concern you is to be complicit. Pope Francis has opened the door and sent a letter to young people inviting you to speak up so that he can “listen to your voice, your sensitivities and your faith; even your doubts and your criticism.” All of this will culminate at the Synod on Youth, Faith, and Vocational Discernment scheduled for October 2018 where young people will be invited to participate.
While some will be invited to attend, all are invited to complete a questionnaire specifically aimed at youth and “their expectations and their lives.” This will be available online by March 1st and will be found at www.sinodogiovane2018.va . Please spread this to your contacts and local media. Pass the website onto all the young people in your part of the world.
In addition, we invite you to join a movement urging all people of all ages to speak up and make their voices heard: www.ThePeopleSpeakOut.org . There you can make your views made known:
- By joining in the discussion on our blog.
- By gathering people together in your community and exploring the changes you want to see in the Church. Help to get you get started.
- And most importantly, by sharing the outcomes of your discussions so that they can become part of the agenda of the various Forums.
In his farewell address to the nation, President Barack Obama reminded us of this important reality: “Change only happens when ordinary people get involved an they get engaged, and they come together to demand it.” It is time for us, the People of God who are the Church, to make our voices heard.
Grateful for your continued and ongoing support .
Rene Reid
CCRI Director
