We hear in the news media that our generation is going to be the downfall of American society - that we are not as educated as our predecessors, we are more violent and we are less spiritual.

As archbishop of Indianapolis, Daniel Beuchlein can do only so much to help cure the problems kids face. But since his installation in September 1992, Archbishop Beuchlein has promised to dedicate much of his time to the youth of central and southern Indiana.

"I think often enough we take the needs of youth for granted, and I think we need to reach out," Archbishop Beuchlein explained. "We need to include youth as members of the church now - not simply as a church of the future. We need your dynamism - your energy.

"On the other hand, we also need to reach out to youth because in fact you are going to be the leaders of the third millennium, in society as well as in the church."

Serving needs of youths

Archbishop Beuchlein has already done a lot with the youths of the archdiocese. Soon after he became archbishop, he celebrated two youth Masses, one at the Indiana Convention Center and the other at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, for all youth who attend archdiocesan schools.

For August's World Youth Day in Denver, Archbishop Beuchlein accompanied archdiocesan youths to the gathering of young people with Pope John Paul II.

"I find the youth here open and friendly and very alive," he said. "When I met with our youth in Denver, when we had the rally here at Roncalli High School, when we had the large school Masses last fall, I was very impressed."

Archbishop Beuchlein said he is always willing to listen to the needs and concerns of Catholic young people.

Being Catholic students ourselves, we asked the archbishop several questions on the role of priests and sisters in the church and school.

Sisters serve in other areas

In recent years, students at Catholic schools have noticed fewer nuns in the educational system.

"Many of the sisters have decided that rather than wanting to teach they are wanting to do other kinds of service to the community, whether it's social service, more directly related to ministry," he explained. "Many are in religious education in our parishes and the CCD (Continuing Christian Development) programs."

Archbishop Beuchlein also mentioned that nuns aren't as recognizable now because a lot don't wear their habits.

Another concern of Catholic youth is the debate about whether married men should be allowed to become priests. Archbishop Beuchlein explained his position, which is the same as that of the church.

"I don't think marriage is the solution. Certainly if we had married clergy, priests would not be able to do all that they do - I couldn't be doing all that I do if I was married, because my responsibility would be to the family.

"Secondly," he continued, "I think we need the witness of people who live a celibate life in a culture that thinks that it is foolish, that believes that sex ought to be recreational, where . . . one out of two marriages almost now ends in divorce. We need the witness of people who are willing to live like Jesus did and are celibate."

In addition, he said that "there is no indication that if we had married clergy that there would be all that many more."

Stand on female priests

A similar concern is the idea of having female priests. For some young people, that is discrimination against women. Archbishop Beuchlein disagreed.

The archbishop said complex theological, philosophical and anthropological reasons prohibit the ordination of women in the Catholic Church. However, he emphasized this is not because the clergy believe women are not good enough to be priests, rather that they believe women have different roles.

He said society is wrong to say that women and men are equal in all ways. He added that the church upholds the dignity of women by underscoring their differences with men.

"There is a lot of teaching as to what really is the dignity of the human and the dignity of womanhood, and protecting that dignity in a society that wants to say there is no distinction," he said. "In fact, (if) we pursue that route, that would do more to hurt women than will help them."

With all this debate going on in the Catholic Church, some people are wondering what the church will be like in 20 years. Will there be married or female priests? Will there be growth? Will there be a shortage of clergy?

"The Catholic Church in 20 years will continue to grow," Archbishop Beuchlein predicted. "I think we will continue to be an advisory force in the community, as I think we already are in Indianapolis.

"We have a long-range plan that hopefully means we will have strengthened the position of our Catholic education; we will have increased the number of vocations; we will have a more substantial outlook to the poor."

As for the decline in the number of priests and sisters, Archbishop Beuchlein has high hopes.

"God always calls, and God will provide people."

EDITED BY: Eric M. Augenstein, 15, and Joe Huser, 16