When Lumen Gentium (11) describes the family as “the domestic church,” it isn’t presenting a choice. The family is a domestic church, whether parents acknowledge it or not. And so they have an obligation to be careful and intentional about what they pass on to their children. Because they’re going to pass on something. And what children seem to be inheriting today is a lot of angst.
A recent Pew Research Center study reports that what parents want above all for their children is financial independence and a satisfying job. Graduating from college came in a distant third, and getting married and having children of their own pulled up the rear for a marginal few. Being moral, finding meaning in life, or practicing a religion did not appear on the list of priorities. With such external and materialistic aspirations for their children, it’s not surprising (though it’s a sad irony) that these same parents reported they are most worried about their children’s mental health. It’s also no wonder, at least according to a 2024 Surgeon General’s report, that parental anxiety is at a breaking point.
Read Full Article »