Paderborn, Germany, Jan 5, 2006 / 22:00 pm
The great majority of German Catholics believe it is important that children and young people be given a more active and intense presentation of the faith, according to a poll carried out among some three thousand German Catholics.
The results of the poll, revealed by the Work of St. Boniface, show 86% consider instruction in the faith to be urgently needed, and 71% complained about the lack of formation in the faith.
Asked about the persons most responsible for their faith, 97% said credited their parents or some relative, 73% credited a priest or religious, 43% said a religion teacher, and 18% credited others.
64% said society makes it difficult for young people to become interested in the faith. Asked about the message they would send to people today, 68% said, “God welcomes you without buts or conditions,” 33% said, “Seek peace among people,” and 62% said, “Life after death.”
The majority of those surveyed said passing on the faith to one’s children is extremely important.