Religion
Compton, CA – It is a well-known fact that many young people in the inner-city view the Catholic Church as old, outdated, and boring. These urban youths feel that the church lacks a common ground of communication, leaving a gap that nowadays seems impossible to cross. It is because of this generation gap the the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is looking into revamping some of the liturgical practices specifically focused on reaching out to teens in the inner-city. The new liturgy, would embrace the growing and ever-changing language of modern urban areas while still maintaining the overall spirit of the mass.
“The changes will be noticeable, but that is the point,” said Archbishop Thomas Hedering, “the youth will see that the Church hears their concerns, and will adapt accordingly.”
Some of the proposed changes to the liturgy will include the following:
The entrance hymn can be played by either traditional instrumentation, or by a drum machine or beat box. Beats must be “fresh,” which the USCCB defines as lively or energetic.
If deemed necessary, “Amen” can be replaced by “Sho' nuff!” after short prayers during the liturgy.The homily may now consist of spoken word poetry.
“Gangsta Leans” are not necessary, but are encouraged when moving to and from the altar.
- Priests may wear up to 3 gold or platinum chains during Mass, and up to 5 outside of Mass depending on whether they are physically capable of bearing that much weight on their neck without significant damage to their spinal column.
In addition to the change in liturgy, the USCCB is looking to encourage parishes to offer RCIA and other catechetical programs that are geared toward the younger urban audience. Among these proposed programs are "The Lil' Homies of St. Francis,” a club reminiscent of the boy scouts that focuses on charitable giving and evangelization.
It is important to note that all of these proposed changes are still in their beginning stages, and it is not likely that we will see any of them within the next few years. However, as the Spirit of Vatican II continues to move, it should not be surprising that many in the Church leaders will seek to adapt the liturgy to pop culture.
After 3 years of requesting permission, Agnus Daily was able to get exclusive access to view and record the spiritual life of the French Carthusian monks. The abbot of the monastery, Ab. Jacques Tailliez, hoped that if enough young Catholics were able to experience the peace and joy that the monks immerse themselves in on a daily basis through prayer, more of the youth might desire to live the monastic life. Because of that wish, we were given the opportunity to film Ab. Tailliez during his morning and evening prayers. This rare and special opportunity is one that we at the staff are very honored and pleased to present to our readers. 
Aspen, MN - Sam Harris, celebrity Atheist and author of best selling books such as Letter to a Christian Nation
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