.- Earlier
today, the Holy See’s Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences concluded
its 12th Plenary Session, discussing “Vanishing Youth? Solidarity with
Children and Young People in an age of Turbulence,” concluding that no
society can afford the loss of its young people, through neglect, abuse
or abortion.
During a press
conference this morning, the group said that the session included “over
30 presentations from scholars from every part of the world, meeting
for more than 30 hours over five days.”
Professor Mary
Ann Glendon, president of the Academy, said that the session’s “theme
is part of a multi-year project of the Academy which is examining the
broad implications of the demographic changes of the last few decades.
Two years ago, the Academy’s plenary session looked at the aging
population, with specific reference to social security and health
systems.”
Therefore, she
said “This year we looked at those same changes and their impact on
children and young people worldwide. This opens a new possibility for
Catholic social teaching, which to date has not focused as explicitly
on the situation of young people as it has, for example, on labor, or
women, or those living in poverty.”
The group, she
said discussed the dire situations many children of the world live in,
including those of neglect, abuse, oppression and sexual exploitation.
Among the
discussions, Professor Gérard-François Dumont, Rector of the University
of Paris-Sorbonne, recalled that while most of the world is familiar
with China’s one-child policy many of these one-child families are now
dominating Europe – “without government coercion.”
According to
Glendon, This, he said “involves a certain ‘refusal of the future’ that
will lead to a culture without brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles or
cousins.”
In his message
to the Academy, Pope Benedict wrote that "By nature, love looks to the
eternal…Perhaps the lack of such creative and forward-looking love is
the reason why many couples today choose not to marry, why so many
marriages fail, and why birth rates have significantly diminished."
Delegates also
discussed the discrepancies of children in some cultures who are forced
to grow up too quickly while others--mainly in the western
world--suffer from an “endless adolescence.”
The latter,
Glendon said, is “marked by an avoidance of responsibilities, a desire
to maintain all available options instead of permanent commitments, and
a refusal of moral limitations in the sphere of human sexuality, such a
syndrome makes it almost impossible for young people to assume the
enduring sacrifices on which stable marriages and families are built.”
"No society, no
culture", she concluded, "can afford to suffer a 'vanishing youth', for
with them would also vanish the real hope and noble ideals of every
nation".
Vatican Social Scientists warn: no society can afford ‘vanishing youth’
Related news
Related articles
* The number of messages that can be online is limited. CNA reserves the right to edit messages for content and tone. Comments and opinions expressed by users do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of CNA. CNA will not publish comments with abusive language, insults or links to other pages
Featured Videos
Jun
18
Liturgical Calendar
June 18, 2013
Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary TimeAll readings:
Today »This year »
Catholic Daily
Gospel of the Day
Mt 5,43-48
Gospel
Date
06/18/13
06/17/13
06/16/13
Homily of the Day
Mateo 5,43-48
Homily
Date
06/18/13
06/17/13
06/16/13
Most Popular
Ads by AdsLiveMedia.com
