Faith is Not Gone: Listening to the ‘Ordinary Theology’ of Roman Catholic Rural Young People

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study listens to the voices of young Roman Catholics, between the ages of 18 and 35, living in a rural diocese within the Republic of Ireland who had experienced active involvement within the Youth Pastoral Councils. These young people had been invited to write their responses to four core questions, designed to access their understanding of God, to articulate their life experiences, to identify the influence of the Youth Pastoral Councils on the formation and retention of their personal Christian values, and to respond to the three values of Pope Francis: justice, peace, and the integrity of creation. Viewed through the lens of Astley s notion of ordinary theology the responses of these young people show that their faith has not disappeared, although their confidence in the church has been eroded.