THAT PRE-FORCES `GAP' CAUSES LEAKAGE

Cardinal calls for co-operation to stem drift from Church
CARDINAL Griffin in his Advent letter calls upon all Catholics—but particularly parents, priests and teachers—to co-operate in saving boys and girls from drifting away from the Church.
" Some reports of the leakage amongst boys and girls in their teens are undoubtedly exaggerated," says the Cardinal, " but it would be idle to pretend that there is no cause for alarm."
Points made by the Cardinal are : The age-group principally affected comprises the 15 to 18 year olds.
So far as boys are concerned, the leakage is thought to he linked with the gap between school-leaving age and the age for entry into the Forces.
Through close contact with the chaplains. some young National Servicemen who have strayed are led hack to the fold.
But generally speaking, peacetime Military service, whilst inspiring good Catholics to great apostolic work. renders still more lax those who have already grown indifferent to their religion.
NOT TAUGHT
With the removal of home and parochial influences, this could not be otherwise.
Most of the lapsed boys and girls come from homes where the parents themselves have lapsed.
Where the parents are not wholehearted, the children begin to abandon the practice of their faith even before they leave school.
There is a growing fear lest today too much is being left to the State and to school teachers.
Many infants arrive at school who have never been taught a prayer by their parents and do not even know how to make the sign of the cross.
Mixed marriages, especially those where the mother is not a Catholic. can he a considerable factor in this sad situation.
Religion is to he taught in the schools in such a way that the children may appreciate its relevance to every aspect of their existence.
School-leavers must be shown how the principles of their faith will apply to the new conditions under which they will he working.
The leakage is particularly predominant in industrial areas.
It would be wrong to think that the casualties amongst boys are much higher than amongst girls.
COMMENDED
Many priests do great work in attempting to provide in some measure leisure activities for the youth within their care. But these efforts must be directed towards the apostolic formation of the young people, for otherwise their religious education may well cease when they leave school.
We commend especially recent efforts of certain Catholic movements to extend their activities and membership by reaching down to the Last years of school life.
Where a boy and girl can be given whilst still at school an interest in apostolic work, it will provide a lasting loyalty.