America the Traditional

A formative, family-friendly factoid from a survey or study in the news.

What do Americans want? Traditional values, if a new Barna Group survey of 1,000 randomly selected adults gives a good indication. Asked what elements their “ideal life” would include, 85% named “living with a high degree of integrity.” This was followed closely by having one marriage partner for life (80%), having a clear purpose for living (77%), having a close relationship with God (75%) and having close, personal friendships (74%). “Stability rules,” George Barna, who has been conducting similar surveys since 1991, told the Christian Post. “Out of 19 factors, only two have seen even a 10-point shift in nearly two decades. That’s rather remarkable consistency.” Times change but, in their hearts, he added, Americans “have retained some pretty basic and traditional hopes and dreams. Leaders might take note of this and compare their own vision and plans for the future with the ideal life that Americans hope to experience.” Kevin Bedan illustration

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis