### YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (Y.M.C.A.)
Association of young men founded in London in 1844 by George Williams, fellow of King’s College, Cambridge, deeply moved by the idea of uniting the Churches for the purpose of addressing social issues and even their solutions; he believed that social problems constituted a point of convergence and thus of union for all Christian denominations. The Y.M.C.A. may therefore be considered as the beginning of what has been called ecumenism since 1910 (see).
I. SPREAD. – The association first spread among young apprentices at the Hitchcock and Co. factory in London, with the aim of Christian renewal in the working environment through friendly gatherings and religious associations with other workers. In 1851, it extended to the United States, establishing groups in Boston and later in Montreal. Currently, the members of the Y.M.C.A. number approximately 2,000,000, belonging to 85 different associations or denominations. Two-thirds of the members are under 25 years of age. In French-speaking countries, namely France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg, the Y.M.C.A. is known as the Union chrétienne de jeunes gens and is part of the Conseil protestant de la jeunesse (C.P.J.), headquartered in Paris, alongside Scottish and student federations.
II. CURRENT ACTIVITIES. – The Y.M.C.A. exerts significant influence, particularly in the United States, with the following main objectives: promoting democratic principles of freedom and mutual understanding among men; leveraging the influence of Christianity as a means of moral character development, international rapprochement, and thus peace among peoples. To achieve these goals, groups employ educational and cultural means: scholarships are granted to poor university students; well-equipped and well-run sports centers for physical education are organized; educational programs are disseminated in schools, workers' centers, and sports facilities to guide young people in choosing a profession and in their reading. During World War II, the Y.M.C.A. greatly contributed to maintaining high morale among soldiers and organizing assistance for the wounded and prisoners, collaborating with the National Catholic Community Service, the National Jewish Welfare Board, the Salvation Army, the National Travellers Aid Association, and forming the United Service Organization.
III. ATTITUDE OF CATHOLICS. – In the United States, the Catholic Church has recently had to take a position regarding the activities of the Y.M.C.A., establishing the following points: a) most of the association’s objectives do not differ from those pursued by Catholics; b) however, the methods by which it seeks to achieve them do not meet with the Church’s approval. The association professes religious indifferentism, which the Church absolutely rejects. The way in which its members speak, write, and act suggests that all forms of Christianity are equally valid, and that practicing charity in any form is sufficient to be considered sufficiently Christian, regardless of the creed one adheres to. In this way, doctrine holds no importance, provided that Christian morality—even considered from a merely human perspective—is respected. The Y.M.C.A. is therefore in formal opposition to the Catholic Church regarding the absolute respect owed to revealed doctrine and the necessity of faith for salvation. All efforts to alleviate human suffering are undoubtedly praiseworthy, but one must not forget that Jesus Christ came to redeem mankind and open the gates of eternal life to them. The practice of charity cannot be truly Christian if it does not correspond to Christ’s primary desire, which is to lead those redeemed by His blood to the kingdom of heaven, that is, to eternal possession of God. Catholics therefore cannot collaborate with the Y.M.C.A., as this would mean forgetting or abandoning these essential truths. This does not preclude, however, limited collaboration for precise and immediate purposes with all those dedicated to the good of humanity, provided that the Catholic faith remains intact and that temporal goods sought do not cause eternal ones to be forgotten (see also Young Women’s Christian Association).
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### YOUNGSTON, DIOCESE OF
Diocese and city in the state of Ohio (U.S.A.).
It was erected by the apostolic constitution *Ad animarum bonum* of Pius XII on May 15, 1943, by separating territory from the Diocese of Cleveland; it comprises the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, Stark, and Portage; it is a suffragan of Cincinnati. It covers an area of 3,404 square miles with a total population of 935,198, of whom 200,000 are Catholic. The diocese was canonically erected on July 12, 1943, and Msgr. James Augustine McFadden, auxiliary of Cleveland, was appointed its bishop on June 2, 1943.
In the diocese, there are 201 diocesan priests, 51 religious (from 3 congregations), 96 parishes, 13 chapels, 14 missions, 105 seminarians, 21 female congregations (341 sisters), 2 scholastics, and 3 hospitals.
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### Young Women's Christian Association (Y.W.C.A.)
The female branch of the Young Men’s Christian Association (see).
The two associations share the same origins, objectives, and methods. The criteria for evaluation applied by the Catholic Church to the Y.M.C.A. also apply to the Y.W.C.A. It should be noted that in French-speaking nations, the Union chrétienne de jeunes filles was founded by Elisabeth Fuchs and has been recognized as a public utility in France. Its headquarters is in Paris. In France, there are several centers, including three in Paris, one in Bordeaux, and one in La Tronche, near Grenoble. Its primary dedication is to provide holiday and rest homes for young women.
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### YUNGSTON, DIOCESE OF
Prefecture apostolic in the western part of Hunan Province (central China).
Erected as the apostolic prefecture of Shenchow on March 13, 1925, with 16 civil subprefectures taken from the apostolic vicariate of Changtch; elevated to an apostolic vicariate on March 28, 1934; given its current name of Y. on December 10, 1934; and raised to the status of a diocese, suffragan of Changsha, on April 11, 1946. Since its inception, it has been entrusted to the Passionists of the Province of St. Paul of the Cross in the United States.
It covers an area of 29,886 sq. km. with approximately 4,500,000 inhabitants, of whom 3,279 are Catholic; there are 34 priests, 10 sisters (3 Chinese), 3 hospitals, 10 dispensaries, 5 orphanages, and 31 schools. The evangelization of Y. began in the early years of the 20th century: in 1902 at Shenchow and Souki; in 1912, the Christian community of Shenki was founded; in 1913, that of Süpu; and in 1917, that of Jungsunfu. At the time of the erection of Y., there were approximately 2,000 Catholics distributed across 27 Christian communities.
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### YUCATAN, ARCHDIOCESE OF
City and archdiocese in the homonymous state in Mexico (North America).
It has an area of 52,000 sq. km. with a population of 518,000 inhabitants, of whom 510,000 are Catholics; it has 45 parishes served by 86 diocesan priests and 22 religious; it has a seminary, 4 male religious communities and 11 female ones (Ann. Pont. 1953, p. 459).
Y. was the first region of Mexico in which the Gospel was preached (16th cent.). In 1517 Francisco Hernández de Córdoba founded there the first parish, and Pope Leo X, with the bull Sacri apostolatus ministerio, raised it to the status of a diocese on 27 Jan. 1518. The first bishop was Msgr. Francisco Toral, who took possession of the diocese on 15 Aug. 1562 and who attended the 1st and 2nd Mexican Councils.