By Sarah Mac Donald - 16 December, 2013
Tackling youth unemployment must be a priority for the Government in the immediate future Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin has said.
In a homily given on the day the Taoiseach addressed the nation about the exit from the bailout and the Government’s future economic strategy, the Primate of Ireland starkly warned, “Bailouts can come and go, but our future is in our young people and we are failing them.”
Speaking at a Mass in Cabra West to mark the 60th anniversary of the Church of the Most Precious Blood, Archbishop Martin referred to the very high rate of youth unemployment in Ireland and across Europe.
“One of the great social challenges of our country and of Western Europe today is the serious problem of youth unemployment. It is estimated that the rate of youth unemployment in Ireland is almost 30%. In some other European countries it is indeed higher,” he said.
In a strongly worded homily, he said Ireland needs “a crusade for the creation of sustainable youth employment as an immediate post-bail-out social goal.”
He underlined that work opens out hope, otherwise “Young people who for years are unable to attain employment easily begin to give up hope and feel that their personal value and their contribution to society are somehow disregarded.”
Describing youth unemployment as one of the great social challenges of our country and of Western Europe today, Archbishop Martin said life is not easy for young people.
The leader of the Catholic Church in Dublin also acknowledged that belief is not easy for young people.
But he said the faithful must remember that the Christian message has the ability to fascinate and challenge in every age.
“Our young people need to hear Christ’s message in its clarity and in all its demands.”
He encouraged parents to keep with their children in the ‘Do this in memory’ programme which the parish in Cabra has been hosting and urged the winners of the John Paul II awards to continue in their commitment.
“I firmly believe that if we bring the challenge of following Jesus Christ to young people they will not fail us in the generosity of their response.”
He concluded by stating that the Church needs to help young people to see that the true foundation of meaning and hope in their lives comes in the message of Jesus.
