Youth survey deadline extended

An online youth survey asking young Catholics for their views ahead of a world meeting of bishops in 2018 is to be extended, the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has announced, writes Carina Murphy.

The survey, the “Mega Youth Poll”, was launched in March and will now run to the end of June, to allow students sitting exams a chance to fill it in afterwards, according to the Bishops’ Conference. Around 4,000 young people, aged 13-29, have responded to the poll so far and it is hoped that many thousands more will have replied by the new deadline.

The 2018 Synod of Bishops, over which Pope Francis will preside, has the theme “Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment”. The survey aims to be as user-friendly as possible in terms of style and tone, intending to show that the Vatican is listening to young people and trying to understand the changes in their lives in the digital age.

The Bishops’ Conference has launched a series of new measures to highlight the survey, said home mission officer, Teresa Carvalho. They include a one-minute promotional video on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter and a second, shorter questionnaire for youth leaders, teachers and lecturers. The shorter survey, with 14 rather than 45 questions, aims “to capture the wisdom and insight of those who care for, interact with, guide, teach and minister to young people in a Catholic context in England and Wales”.

The results of the two surveys will be sent to the Vatican to allow the synod office to draw up a working document for the meeting. The main points are expected to be made available to parishes.