Cardinal Pell on the signs of hope among young conservative Catholics

Via Curt Jester, Cardinal Pell telling it like it is (again):

Catholicism in Australia: facing the challenges of Western secularism

A couple golden quotes:

"... the sociological evidence from Europe, the USA and Australia clearly demonstrates that the more conservative religious groups attract greater numbers of followers. It is groups which resist compromise who flourish most successfully in a climate of uncertainty."

"Generally speaking, liberal Catholicism in Australia [and, I would add, America] has been unable to inspire young people to join it. The public protest meetings following the 1998 Statement of Conclusions (issued in Rome after a meeting between the Australian archbishops and curial cardinals) were attended by few, if any, under the age of fifty. Almost as disturbing is the fact that supporters of the Pope have not done spectacularly better among the young. However, the minority of young Catholic adults who are enthusiastic participants are strongly orthodox." [More...]

Really, Really - go read it. Orthodox Catholicism in America and Australia have a common leader and shepherd in Cardinal Pell. What a gift he is for the English-speaking Church.