Being a modern day Catholic woman, the ancient teaching that bothers me the most is the tradition that states no woman is to be ordained a priest. -Erika Bussard, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio "Our Church needs to listen to the parishioners and not ignore the words they speak". -Chris Ruark, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio Pope Benedict and his advisors are not listening despite the fact the church is in crisis, says Hans Küng and a host of European theologians. Author Dr. R. John Kinkel believed that if he shared students' opinions about the state of the Catholic Church in a series of letters addressed to Pope Benedict, the pontiff just might listen. Convinced that this strategy might work where others have failed, he collected letters from college students over the last four years (2007-2010). Simply put, he asked students to tell the pope what they think. Kinkel believes time is running out; the Catholic Church is losing a whole generation of believers because they are frustrated. The Vatican, according to most students, needs reform; from the belief that woman should be ordained to the perception of antiquated teachings not based in today's reality, Letters to Pope Benedict gives these students' thoughts and vital opinions voice. Within this volume lies the key to preserving the church and bringing the vibrancy of a younger generation into the fold.

LETTERS TO Pope Benedict

College Students Speak Out

TRAFFORD PUBLISHING

Copyright © 2011 R. John Kinkel, Ph.D.
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4269-7431-1

Contents

Dedication..........................................................ViiAcknowledgments.....................................................IxIntroduction........................................................XiI. Times Have Changed...............................................3Ii. Reform Is Needed................................................5Iii. Give Gays A Break..............................................7Iv. Your Religion Is Good...........................................13V. Embrace Religious Tolerance......................................15Vi. The Catholic Church Is Strong...................................17Vii. Why No Women Priests?..........................................19Viii. Preach Religious Understanding................................23Ix. Work Toward Genuine Unity.......................................25X. Humility Is A Virtue.............................................33Xi. Return To Prayer, Renewal.......................................35Xii. Good Job, But Change...........................................37Xiii. Change Or The Church Will Die.................................39Xiv. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Change Please.....................41Xv. I'm Out, But You're Out Of Line.................................49Xvi. WOrk On Religious Understanding................................51Xvii. Expect You To Lead............................................53Xviii. Possible Convert?............................................55Xix. Why Not Innovate?..............................................57Xx. Maintain Tradition Of Celibacy?.................................59Xxi. Very Impressed With Catholic Church............................63Xxii. Keep Some Traditions, Change Others...........................65Xxiii. Show Us The Way..............................................69Xxiv. Ease Up A Bit—–Too Many Rules.....................71Xxv. Improve Youth Church Attendance................................73Xxvi. The Church And Youth..........................................75Xxvii. Jewish Christian Relations...................................77Xxviii. Lost Generation?............................................79Xxix. I Left The Church.............................................81Xxx. Seminarian Speaks Out..........................................83Xxxi. Report On Bad Experience......................................87Xxxii. Major Change Required To Save Church.........................89Xxxiii. Learn To Respect Women Leaders..............................97Xxxiv. Do What You Think Is Right...................................103Conclusion And Comment..............................................105

Chapter One

I. TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

Dear Pope Benedict:

The Roman Catholic Church is one of the largest religious denominations in the world and I respect it a lot. However, one of my major concerns is the fact that the younger generation is not attending church on a regular basis. The Catholic Church has not done a good job in drawing the younger generation into the fold. Times have changed and tradition is not a high priority for young people. I believe you must move away from some traditions and find new ways of getting your message out.

Adina Derecichei Madison Heights, Michigan, December 2007

II. REFORM IS NEEDED.

Dear Pope Benedict:

The hour has arrived for change and reform. Gone are the days when we could sit back and let the hand play itself out. The fruit is now ripe for picking and the Papacy can no longer ignore the growing evidence that mass attendance on college campuses is way down and the decline in vocations to the priesthood is well documented. The answers to these problems rest on the same plane of opportunity: the college campus. It is here that religion is explored more personally and developed in a way that is quite different from when we were living in our parents' house. For here more than anywhere else, young people make decisions about their lifestyle that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. The fact that church attendance among the college demographic is low, does not bode well for church leaders looking for young men to join the priesthood. The general consensus regarding this problem is that the church is no longer meeting the needs of its congregation.

The fundamental problem is in the church service. While I am aware that it is the church's tendency to adhere to ancient tradition, it is becoming an issue of more concern with significant consequences if not addressed thoroughly and quickly. For many students like me searching for our own path of spirituality, it is discouraging to attend liturgy services which appear to be putting the main emphasis on the ritual rather than the message. College students like myself like to believe that something has changed from the time I started going to mass as an infant with my family to now when I am responsible for my own attendance. Haven't we matured enough to hear a new message, or experience the revitalization of the church? College students are in a transition period where we are realizing there is more to our routine than studying, eating, sleeping, and partying. There is something missing, but we are afraid to admit it.

It is in this regard that the Church can provide a solution, but officials must change their routine because it is no longer effective on the college campus. Many of us may believe that since we may not have the healthiest and most moral lifestyle, it would be hypocritical for us to attend a place where everyone on the surface seems perfect. History illustrated the fact that when the church service was converted into the vernacular, the church prospered and provided generously for its congregation. We ask you to make the message much clearer for us, for being on our own, sometimes the message and guidance of our parents is lost or unavailable to us.

It is time to shed the misconception that priests are there to condemn the student for their lifestyle from the pulpit. If this goal is ever to be realized, then perhaps there won't be such difference between attendance at the Christmas masses and regular masses. Furthermore, the more we see ourselves in the priest, the more likely we can see ourselves as the priest, and increase vocations. It is time to break the barrier between church and college, but this can only be realized through satisfying communication.

Sincerely, Josh Buchanan, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 2007

III. GIVE GAYS A BREAK.

Dear Pope Benedict:

I was raised a Catholic and attended Catholic schools through high school. I have always been a supporter of the Catholic faith and its beliefs regarding various social issues. However, I am a firm believer in giving homosexuals the right to wed in holy matrimony if they choose to do so. I was taught that God is a loving God and accepts all who come to Him as sinners seeking forgiveness. Doesn't He love all people? Homosexuals, whether they have freely chosen their sexual lifestyle or believe they are born with this orientation, need to be treated fairly by the church. Everyone is a sinner and needs to be forgiven for what they have done. Homosexuals should not be excluded from the church because of their different sexual needs. I have grown up and attended school with people who came...