Study finds young Catholics still youthful.

Now, if my skin looks the same 20 years from now, I'll have no complaints. But I can't say the same for my soul.

Which brings me to the latest edition of our "Surveys of nothing new" file (See also my blog on a "study" of the behavior of Grandmas), a survey on young Catholics. Bill says pretty much everything that needs to be said, but as a "young" catholic, I'd like to add my own two cents on the following bit from the article:

“There’s a disconnect between them and the institutional church,” said Davidson. “And when they get older, they are not going to be like the Catholics of previous generations. They are going to be the Catholics they are now.”

Gee, Davidson, thanks for your faith in my ability to grow and change. I'm not a terrible Catholic right now, but there's plenty of room to do better. I pray to God that I'll be a better one every year of my life. I'd rather not be the Catholic I am now forever. I've spent the last twenty-some years improving myself, I'm sure as heck not going to stop now. I'm not done yet.

Seriously, people. Personal growth is supposed to be a part of life. How many of us are the same person at 40-something that we were at 20-something? Better question: Is it even healthy to be the same at 45 as you were at 25? Has my generation found the key to eternal immaturity (since eternal youth seems to be a myth), or is the article writer just hoping we won't grow up?

Sheesh. Davidson, please keep your pessimism (or is it wishful thinking?) to yourself, since you have NO DATA on which to base it---yet. Come back in 10 or 20 years. We may surprise you.