Confirmation Pledge amended to include vaping and cigarettes
Temperance Sunday took place on February 15; this day of prayer is celebrated throughout the Catholic church in Ireland.
This day of prayer is to invite discussions and reflection on our relationship with alcohol, drugs and any other addictions.
Temperance Sunday aims to pray for anyone who struggles with addiction, while supporting families and communities that have been affected by drugs and alcohol.
Another central element of this day of prayer is to renew the church's commitment to promoting a healthier culture of care and moderation.
As time passes, addictions change, as many different avenues for addiction open up, so with this, the church has officially reworded its Confirmation Pledge.
The pledge has been reworded to explicitly include cigarettes and vaping, and will continue to include illegal drugs and alcohol.
Bishop Michael Router, Liaison Bishop with the Irish Bishops’ Drug Initiative, released a statement about this on Temperance Sunday.
He said: “The renewed Confirmation Pledge ensures that this long-standing tradition remains relevant and meaningful.
“It offers young people a moral framework and spiritual support as they navigate adolescence, while situating personal choice within the wider context of family, faith and community.
“Addiction thrives in isolation. By involving families, schools, parishes and the wider faith community, the pledge becomes a shared commitment to support and hope.”
Taking the pledge can happen during the Confirmation ceremony or at the Ceremony of Light, which may depend on local practices.
In his statement, Bishop Router concluded: “The church’s response must always be rooted in mercy, meeting people where they are, affirming their dignity and speaking honestly about harm while challenging the social and cultural norms that contribute to it.
“As a society, Ireland continues to suffer the far reaching consequesnces of drug and alcohol abuse, with costs felt across health services, workplaces, communities and public life. These realities call for a collective response that will be honest and effective.”