In a fascinating final document from a weeklong Vatican-initiated conference, 300 young people from around the world joined by 15,000 young people online gave the older men who run the 1.2-billion strong church a piece of their collective mind. “We, the young church, ask that our leaders speak in practical terms about subjects such as homosexuality and gender issues, about which young people are already freely discussing,” they said. Among the participants, however, there was no consensus on hot-button issues such as church teaching on contraception, homosexuality, abortion or cohabitation. They called for the Vatican to issue a teaching document about technology, and use it better to spread the faith. Church leaders, they say, are too focused on administration than community, and use words like “vocation” and “discernment” that young people often don’t understand.

Source: National Post March 24, 2018 14:03 UTC