Taking Kids Seriously

July 1, 2026

When answering children’s questions about the faith, Catholic parents need to understand their point of view

By Steven R. Hemler

July 1, 2026

A father and son share a conversation. — SDI Productions / E+ via Getty Images

In today’s increasingly secularized society, it is important for parents, grandparents, confirmation sponsors, catechists, teachers, godparents and other adult role models to answer questions young people have about the Catholic faith. Surveys show that 43% of Americans raised Catholic no longer identify as such, and nearly half of those who leave cite a loss of faith in Church teaching as the reason. Against this backdrop, helping young people understand and embrace Catholic teaching is critical.

Catholic parents often struggle to answer questions about the existence of God, the relationship between science and faith, evidence for Jesus’ resurrection, why God allows suffering, the obligation to attend Sunday Mass, as well as hot-button issues such as same-sex marriage and gender ideology. Thankfully, many apologetics resources are available to help.

But more fundamentally, children need to feel loved and respected if they are to open up about their questions and struggles. They need to feel safe enough to raise concerns — even those that may seem taboo or embarrassing.

One of the most important tasks parents have is ensuring that their children feel unconditionally loved. It is not enough for parents to know they love their children; each child must feel it. This can be cultivated by taking children and their world seriously through focused attention and empathetic listening.

When children are ready to talk about faith, it is important for them to know that you are there to listen and help, not to argue or judge. As such, it is vital to understand your child’s point of view, not simply prepare your next talking point. A great way to show attentive listening is to paraphrase what your child says and ask clarifying questions, including about the reasons behind his or her beliefs. Remember, you are taking small steps toward conversion; don’t rush the process.

Sometimes the most effective thing parents can do, especially for adult children, is “plant a seed” and pray for the Holy Spirit to do the rest. Competently addressing our children’s faith questions, ensuring they feel heard and loved, and trusting in God’s guidance through prayer are all critical to helping them become — and remain — faithful Catholics.

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STEVEN R. HEMLER is president of the Catholic Apologetics Institute of North America and author of The Busy Parent’s Guide to the Catholic Faith: Short Answers to the Big Questions (Scepter, 2026). He is a member of John J. Cempre Council 6328 in Culpeper, Va.

Taking Kids Seriously

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