PHILIPPINES
Rappler

Aries Rufo

Published 4:00 PM, Jan 13, 2015

AT A GLANCE:

* Sex scandals in the Church have affected the youth’s desire to enter religious life
* 13% of youth respondents said they entertained thoughts of leaving the Church
* A Church protocol on erring priests allowed ‘one-child policy’
* In recent times, two high-ranking bishops resigned due to sexual misconduct
* More priests are seeking clerical dispensation than face dismissal

MANILA, Philippines – Will the rock star Pope be able to reignite the waning attraction of the Filipino youth to religious life? Is there hope in Pope Francis?

A national youth survey has confirmed what Church leaders have known all along: there’s a yawning gap between the youth and the Church, and it’s validated by how the young are shying away from entertaining thoughts of entering religious life.

In particular, financial and…