Although Catholic young adults are not as attached to the church as young adults were in the 1940s and 1950s, they are hardly a generation that has lost its faith, according to speakers at a two-day forum at Fordham University.

More than 700 people participated in the Jan. 28-29 "Lost? Twenty-Somethings in the Church" conference cosponsored by the Francis and Ann Curran Center for American Catholic Studies and the Fordham Center on Religion and Culture. Participants included young adults, campus ministers, youth ministers, and others.

Sociologist James Davidson, professor emeritus at Purdue University, said young Catholics "distinguish between the Catholic faith, which they identify with and respect, and the Catholic Church, which they are less attached to."

Quoting a wide body of research, including his own, Davidson said eight of 10 young Catholics believe there are many ways to interpret Catholicism and they grant more authority to their individual experience than they do to the church itself.

"They stress the importance of thinking for themselves more than obeying church leaders," he said. "Instead of simply embracing church traditions and teachings, they tinker with them. They distinguish between abstract beliefs and principles that they think are at the core of the Catholic faith, and more concrete norms and codes of conduct that they consider optional or peripheral," Davidson said.

"They believe that doctrines such as the Trinity, the Incarnation, Mary as the Mother of God, Christ's real presence in the Eucharist, and the need to be concerned about the poor are more important than teachings such as the need to limit the priesthood to men, the need for priestly celibacy, the church's opposition to artificial birth control, and its opposition to the death penalty," he said.

Tami Schmitz, assistant director of spirituality in campus ministry at the University of Notre Dame, said young adults yearn for good catechesis, a connection with God, and a place in a community. Many of the students she sees have a weak understanding of the basics but are eager, open, and curious to learn about the faith.

"We owe it to them to develop ways to feed this precious hunger in them. Catechizing them in ways that are creative and exciting and answering their questions is a good start," she said. "If we don't do it, where else are they going to get their answers? And how long will they keep searching?"

Schmitz said those in their 20s seek community. "They want someone to know, listen to, and treasure their story. They want to know that being a part of a faith community makes a difference in their lives. When you are part of a true faith community, you can't be lost: Someone will come looking for you because they will miss you if you are not there."