Confirmation pledge taken by young teens updated to include explicit references to vaping and cigarettes
The Catholic Church in Ireland has updated its confirmation pledge to include vaping and cigarettes, alongside alcohol and drugs, due to rising youth vaping rates.Summary
The confirmation pledge taken by young teens in Ireland has been updated to explicitly include a commitment to abstain from vaping and cigarette smoking until the age of 18, in addition to existing commitments regarding alcohol and illicit drugs. Bishop Michael Router of the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative (IBDI) explained that the change reflects the significant rise in vaping among young people and aims to encourage healthier lifestyle choices. He emphasized the devastating toll addiction takes on individuals, families, and communities, noting the risks associated with legal cannabis-like substances found in vapes and edibles. The pledge, originating in the 19th-century temperance movement, has evolved over time to address contemporary challenges, and the IBDI hopes the updated version will remain relevant and provide moral and spiritual support to young people navigating adolescence. While the pledge is often taken privately, a program covering the dangers of these substances and podcasts for parents will accompany it.
(Source：Independent.ie)
