I run a Catholic youth group and I would love your feedback good and bad so we can make the experience better. If you are not Catholic, would you consider letting your child attend?
Thanks so much.
No. In fact all religions should be kept as far away from children as possible, and not just because the Catholics like to fuck them.
100%. Teach them about all the different religions, but don’t force any upon them. Secularism is the way to go: let people make up their own mind. Don’t shove it down their throats. Threatening children with going to the bad place for eternity is just indoctrination.
This has got to be bait. Nobody is this stupid
I went to Christian youth groups/retreats for three different churches when I was a early teen and loved them all. They had these things in common
- run by kind young adults that I admired and connected with easily
- created safe spaces for awkward age kids to connect with each other
- had an outdoor / trip component
- explored values and exposed us to stories/ideas without being heavy handed or judgmental
- also pizza 🍕
Basically they were set up to help and support us, not to judge or control. They taught kindness by example and helped us learn how to be kind to each other.
Questioning / doubting / being confused was seen a way to grow faith - not as a sin or a threat. They let kids talk to each other as we figured out for ourselves what we believed. They shared candidly appropriate stories about their own journeys.
Thank you for wanting to give kids a good experience! Obviously there are folks in the catholic faith who have abused power in the past. Parents will associate you with that so taking safety seriously and encouraging parents to ask questions = important.
It takes time to build up a good community of kids - but once you have it they recruit each other. One of the most effective things you can do is invest in recruiting and training a “jr counselor” kid leadership structure. Having good kids that are a year or two older than you to look up to is really powerful- and older kids who accept responsibility for reaching out to new kids helps create a safe space.
Have in-jokes. Be active. Be silly. Go outside. Kids are so creative and amazing- follow their lead wherever you can.
I’m so glad to hear you had such a wonderful time! We do take safety very seriously and we know we have to earn the trust of our community.
A kid leadership structure is a great idea and it will give the younger kids something to aspire to.
Kid leadership structure brings out the best in the older kids - often folks will rise to what you expect of them. Expect them to have good ideas, to be kind, to be inclusive and compassionate, to give you honest feedback, to be willing to take feedback themselves. Acknowledge and appreciate their struggles and their growth. It means so so much to get feedback from adults who aren’t your parents at that age!
Good kid leadership makes it cool to be inclusive = healthy group. If insecurity creates cliques and social hierarchy = not safe. Kids might admire and respect you, but what is “cool” will be decided by their peers… so you pretty sincerely will need help and advice from the older kids to keep the group healthy.
And don’t forget they aren’t just emotional / spiritual / intellectual - kids have bodies. Bring them outside. Play silly physical cooperative non-competitive games. Once they have had exciting shared physical experiences they will be that much more able to engage with each other on deeper levels.
It was very formative for me to be part of those groups. I deeply appreciate the people who make those experiences available - especially folks like you who are earnestly trying to do it well! 🙂
One group I was in would regularly do a white board list of “what is good / appreciate” and “what we can do better / want more or less of”. It was a very positive and egalitarian way for kids to give feedback to leadership as well as to each other. Felt great to anyone who was publicly appreciated and very positive modeling for being open to feedback / valuing improvement. Gave us a real sense of ownership. It wasn’t just the adult leaders making a program for us - it was us helping each other create a group that we wanted to be part of.
Why do you want to groom children?
No sir! I will not have my children taught idolatry.
Is this what qualifies as trolling these days? Makes me sad.
pretty sure this is a successful troll post
No. I don’t see enough christian youth groups helping the homeless or actually volunteering at shelters. I think more and more christian youth groups would succeed further if they actually do christian based things.
This is a great suggestion. I would love to create opportunities for regular volunteering. thank you.
Speaking from experience. Religion is for Sunday. Youth group is for fun. Do fun things.
Christians are the fucking worst. Go self reflect. Figure out what is wrong with yourself that you feel the need to believe that garbage.
There’s a lot of hate in here for a fairly reasonable question. I’m not religious but this thread is bordering on intolerant.
You might not like it but religion exists in our communities.
I’m not sure if this is trolling given the Cristian/catholic aspect. But that does not mean should can tell people where to go.
Op you may have a better response from dedicated communities. I hope other areas of the fedi serve you a nicer day.
No. Too rapey. And when they’re not rapey, they drive children to self-harm. Fuck them.
You can improve them by closing them down.
Why the hell would I want some religious nut indoctrinating my children? They don’t need to be threatened with hell to be decent people.
I’m sure some of the non-religious families just want someone to mind their children for free while they work but I’m happy to help.
As an atheist/agnostic with kids: very reluctantly and only if there’s no other option.
If it was about helping the poor (or even just picking up trash) maybe, but most groups I’ve seen / participated as a kid were about talking / singing about the Bible.
I will teach them when the time comes in the most neutral way I can, about all religions, how anyone is entitled to their opinion and what limits we impose regarding the freedom of other people.
LOL no
