Actress Silvia Abril’s recent remarks on the red carpet at the 2026 Goya Awards, while discussing the film ”  Los domingos  ” (winner of the Goya for Best Film), have sparked intense debate in Spanish society. In her comments, she expressed a preference for another film and voiced her disagreement with what she perceives as a return of young people to the Christian faith, stating things like: ” It saddens me that they need to believe in something and cling to the Christian faith ” and ” I feel sorry for the Church, what a racket you’ve got going on .”

The Church teaches us that faith is a free gift from God (CCC 153-155), not a “lack” or a weakness, but the personal encounter with the living Jesus Christ, which gives full meaning to human existence.

Faith is not a pathological need, but a response to God’s love.

The Catechism explains that man, created in the image and likeness of God, has in his heart a thirst for the infinite that only God can quench (CCC 27). When a young person discovers Christ and responds to his call—as portrayed in  The Sundays —he is not clinging to something out of weakness, but freely responding to the love that precedes him. Saint John Paul II reminded us in his encyclical  Fides et Ratio  that faith and reason illuminate each other, and that the search for truth leads man to God, not to an illusion.

Silvia Abril’s words reflect a secularized view common in certain cultural circles: the idea that religion is a “side hustle” or a refuge for those who find no meaning elsewhere. However, the history of the Church—with its saints, its works of mercy, its universities, and its contribution to human dignity—proves otherwise. The Church is not a human business, but the Mystical Body of Christ (CCC 787-796), sustained by divine grace for two thousand years.

Our attitude: gentleness, prayer, and joyful witness

The Gospel gives us the key to answer: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Mt 5:5) and “Be perfect in love” (Mt 5:48). St. Peter exhorts us: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet 3:15).

Therefore, the constructive Catholic attitude should be:

1. Pray for Silvia Abril and for all who share her vision . Prayer is the most powerful weapon of the Christian. We ask the Lord to touch her heart and the hearts of many others, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) teaches on intercession (2634-2636).
2. Bearing witness through one’s life . Young people who embrace the faith do not need to defend themselves with angry words, but rather to show with joy and consistency how Christ transforms existence: in the family, at work, and in solidarity. As Pope Francis says in  Evangelii Gaudium  (n. 14), “the joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus.”
3. Explain the truth calmly, without attacking the person . When the opportunity arises, we can remind everyone that the Church is not a “business,” but the custodian of divine Revelation, which has produced countless fruits of holiness and service (CCC 748-750). But always with respect, avoiding insults or the polarization that causes so much harm.
4. Reject hatred and promote dialogue . Extreme reactions or online shaming contradict the commandment of love (Jn 13:34-35). Jaime Lorente, in his public response, recalled the importance of not building from destruction: a valuable echo of the Gospel call to peace (Mt 5:9).

Ultimately, these statements are an opportunity for Catholics to renew our commitment: not to controversy, but to patient and humble love. May the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church and model of serene faith, help us to always respond from the heart of the Gospel, sowing seeds of hope in a world that sometimes fails to grasp the beauty of believing.