Peace and Justice and Young Adult Catholics. CARA presentation with no

Peace and Justice and Young Adult Catholics:

Peace and Justice and Young Adult Catholics

Peace and Justice and Young Adult Catholics:

Basic Understanding of Social Justice Respondents between the ages of 18 and 29 “Somewhat” or “Very” familiar “Very” familiar only “Catholic social teaching” is a group of principles that provide guidance on a wide variety of social, economic, and political issues. How familiar are you with Catholic social teaching? 23% 10% “Global solidarity” is a term that has been used by the Catholic bishops to emphasize the interdependence of people around the world and their responsibility for one another. How familiar are you with the concept of global solidarity? 13 3 Peace and Justice and Young Adult Catholics Source: CARA CRS Poll, 2007

Peace and Justice and Young Adult Catholics:

As a Catholic, how important to you is Church involvement in activities directed towards social justice? Pre-Vatican II Vatican II Post-Vatican II Millennial Not at all important 6% 13% 8% 13% Somewhat important 37 38 47 55 Very important 57 49 47 31 Peace and Justice and Young Adult Catholics Source: American Catholics Today, 2005 Note here that Millennials are the only group where “somewhats” outnumber the “verys”

Peace and Justice and Young Adult Catholics:

As a Catholic, how important to you helping the poor? Pre-Vatican II Vatican II Post-Vatican II Millennial Not at all important 2% 2% 2% 0% Somewhat important 14 15 14 10 Very important 84 83 84 90 Peace and Justice and Young Adult Catholics Source: American Catholics Today, 2005

Peace and Justice and Young Adult Catholics:

Basic tenants of Catholic social teaching (among respondents ages 18 to 29 years old): Two in three “strongly agree” that every person in the world, regardless of nationality, religion, or ethnicity, is a child of God and has dignity that must be respected. More than half (56 percent) “strongly agree” that workers have a right to a living wage and the right to form and join unions. One in four (25 percent) “strongly agree” that an equitable society can be achieved only if special attention is given to the needs of the poor. Three in ten (29 percent) “strongly agree” that people in rich countries have an obligation to help those around the globe, not just people in their own communities. Just 16 percent “strongly agree” that all human life, from conception to natural death, is sacred and that for this reason, the taking of a life – whether through abortion, the death penalty, or assisted suicide – is wrong. Peace and Justice and Young Adult Catholics Source: CARA CRS Poll, 2007

Peace and Justice and Young Adult Catholics:

How appealing are these ways of helping poor or needy people overseas? (respondents ages 18 to 29) “Somewhat” or “Very” Appealing “Very” Appealing Only Giving goods such as food or clothing 82 53 Agreeing to only purchase from or invest in socially responsible companies 63 40 Volunteering your time to help people directly 54 25 Giving money 51 21 Volunteering your time to influence legislation or government policy about poverty or related issues 37 12 Peace and Justice and Young Adult Catholics Source: CARA CRS Poll, 2007

Peace and Justice and Young Adult Catholics:

Peace and Justice and Young Adult Catholics Source: CARA Catholicism on Campus, 2010 Click to next slide for explanatory notes.

Notes for the Previous Slide:

Notes for the Previous Slide The previous slide provides an overview of the attitudinal changes over time for Catholic students at Catholic colleges and universities. Three issues, same-sex marriage, abortion, and affirmative action, have a net loss of students changing attitudes to be more in line with Church teachings. For example, compared to their freshmen years, 24 percent more Catholic students at Catholic colleges and universities are less supportive of the Catholic stance on abortion by their fourth year of schooling. Likewise, six issues, ranging from the broad (reducing pain and suffering in the world) to the specific (military spending) see a net increase in Catholic students at Catholic c/us being in line with Church teaching. For example, 23 percent more Catholic students at Catholic colleges and universities move toward being in agreement with the Church’s teachings on reducing pain and suffering in the world than at the beginning of their freshman year of schooling.

About CARA:

Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate CARA is a national, non-profit, Georgetown University affiliated research center that conducts social scientific studies about the Catholic Church. Founded in 1964, CARA has three major dimensions to its mission: to increase the Church's self understanding to serve the applied research needs of Church decision-makers to advance scholarly research on religion, particularly Catholicism About CARA

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Melissa Cidade Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate 2300 Wisconsin Ave., NW Suite 400 Washington, DC 20007 Phone: (202) 687-1290 Email: mac288@georgetown.edu Twitter: @CARACatholic Blog: http://nineteensixty-four.blogspot.com/ For more information…