{"id":1329,"date":"2026-06-18T09:26:03","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T13:26:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bibleforcatholics.com\/faith-family\/?p=1329"},"modified":"2026-07-14T12:34:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T16:34:45","slug":"why-i-wrote-pope-benedict-the-case-for-catholic-fatherhood-june-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bibleforcatholics.com\/faith-family\/blog\/2026\/06\/18\/why-i-wrote-pope-benedict-the-case-for-catholic-fatherhood-june-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"Why I Wrote Pope Benedict: The Case for Catholic Fatherhood | June 2026 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the June newsletter, Steve shares the remarkable story of why he felt compelled to write personally to Pope Benedict XVI after the Holy Father’s warnings about the growing “educational emergency” facing Christian families. Drawing on decades of ministry experience, research on faith transmission, and insights from his books Legacy<\/a> and Transforming Grace<\/a>, Steve makes the case that fathers play a uniquely critical role in passing on the Catholic faith to the next generation. He challenges parishes, priests, and parents to renew their focus on equipping fathers for spiritual leadership and explains why strengthening Catholic fatherhood may be one of the most effective responses to today\u2019s crisis of faith among young people.<\/em><\/p>\n

Why I Wrote Pope Benedict<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In June of 2007 and again in January of 2009, Pope Benedict XVI warned of an \u201ceducational emergency\u201d in passing on the faith to the coming generation. He emphasized that parents have \u201cprimary importance\u201d in the spiritual formation of their children.<\/p>\n

These statements prompted me to write to the Holy Father. It\u2019s the only time in my thirty-five years as a Catholic that I felt moved to write to a pope. Here\u2019s the letter I sent (which prompted a kind reply from Pope Benedict XVI):<\/p>\n

Dear Most Holy Father:<\/em><\/p>\n

With heartfelt agreement, I read of your recent pointed remarks concerning the \u201ceducational emergency\u201d that exists in passing on the faith and true Christian values to new generations.<\/em><\/p>\n

I believe that a substantial part of the solution to this crisis is Christian fathers re-discovering their role as family catechists and moral leaders. It is my experience that fathers require an explicit and specific challenge in order to respond to this responsibility<\/strong>. When contemporary men hear it mentioned that catechesis is a \u201cparent\u2019s responsibility,\u201d most men will assume this exhortation is directed to their wives.<\/u><\/em><\/p>\n

For your reflection, on pages 125\u2013132 of the enclosed book, Legacy, I attempt to make the case why fathers are so critical in the cultural situation in which we find ourselves.<\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you for your gracious consideration and your efforts on behalf of the family and the next generation.<\/em><\/p>\n

Very respectfully yours,<\/em><\/p>\n

Stephen Wood<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Just how important are fathers to the spiritual development of their children? Here are two paragraphs from my book Legacy: A Father\u2019s Handbook for Raising Godly Children<\/em>, the book I sent to Pope Benedict:<\/p>\n

Research shows that if a father attends church regularly, he conveys a lasting lesson to his children. A Swiss study asked the question, \u201cWhat causes a person\u2019s faith to carry through from childhood to adult religious belief and practice?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The study found that the one overwhelming critical factor is the father’s religious practice. Dads determine the church habits of their children, and thus, to a significant degree, their eternal destiny.<\/em><\/p>\n

Can\u2019t moms also do this? Shockingly, the study reported that \u201cif a father does not go to church, no matter how faithful his wife\u2019s devotions, only one child in fifty will become a regular worshipper.\u201d Yet, \u201cif a father does go regularly, regardless of the practice of the mother, between two-thirds and three-quarters of their children will become churchgoers (regular and irregular).\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

These are rather astonishing statistics that should guide and motivate anyone wishing to see a lasting faith transmitted to the next generation. Focus on fathers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fathers and the New Evangelization<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The New Evangelization is a desperately needed initiative directed at secularized Catholics distant from the faith. Here again, fathers are of greatest importance in evangelizing families.<\/p>\n

Key to the long-term success of any evangelistic effort is targeting specific \u201cpeople groups\u201d (a term used in missions and evangelistic planning) who can aid in the conversion of others. In other words, instead of trying to evangelize everyone at once, we focus on those who will be instrumental in converting others. The key \u201cpeople group\u201d for the New Evangelization of families is fathers with children still in the home.<\/p>\n

Yes, it\u2019s encouraging that we now have annual Catholic men\u2019s conferences in many places, but too often there\u2019s a significant absence of younger dads<\/strong>. What\u2019s needed is a full-court, yearlong, multifaceted effort to evangelize, catechize, and disciple fathers with children in the home<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Southern Baptists, who are effective evangelizers, published these remarkable results from research done by their church resource division:<\/p>\n