Derry youth invited to debate with the bishop

Young people from the Diocese of Derry are being given the opportunity to debate issues of concern to them with their bishops.

A series of weekly debates have been organised by Derry Youth Community in the month of March, for youths aged 16 to 21 to discuss, question and debate with Bishop Donal McKeown on faith and social issues in ‘Debate with the Bishop’.

“Bishop Donal came to us because he wanted to organise something with young people and a lot of young people were asking questions in the retreats we were organising and we thought the bishop could probably answer them,” said Seanan Cregan.

Running every Sunday in March at 7pm in St Mary’s College on Northland Road, the debates have covered the issues of sex, justice and who Jesus was.

“We give the young people a statement and they are invited to decide if they agree or disagree, and they split into groups to debate the point. Then the bishop addresses everything they said and gives his view,” Seanan explained.

“The young people are really engaged and like to fight their point. They are not shy about asking good questions to the bishop,” she said.

This Sunday the topic for debate is women in the Church and the final event will be held on Wednesday, March 25 in St Eugene’s Cathedral with music and food.