Conversations About Tough Issues

PUBLISH: March 11, 2019

TITLE: Conversations About Tough Issues

EXCERPT: 

Has the Catholic Church made the news in your community, for better or worse? Provide a safe space for young adults to learn about and talk through this current event by hosting a “Catholicism in the News” discussion. Rather than offering a lengthy presentation on the issue where one person does most of the talking, try a discussion format where everyone can voice her/his own opinions, and as facilitator, make sure the conversation stays well-rounded, fair, and hospitable for all those who are wrestling with the topic at hand. In other words, try to facilitate and model adult conversation. Traditional teaching or presentation formats can leave young adults feeling unengaged, unheard, and even patronized. A discussion format conveys that you trust the mature judgment and communication of all participants.