The nation's moral values are headed in the wrong direction.

Who thinks so? If you guessed it is only those of us who get mail every day from AARP, guess again.

According to a recent survey commissioned by the Knights of Columbus, young American Catholic adults believe almost as strongly as other generations that the nation's moral values are declining. Among those surveyed, 67 percent of Americans said moral values were headed down the wrong path.

The percentage of those who felt that way increased with age; 72 percent of those 65 and older and 60 percent of the millennial generation (ages 18-29) saw a decline in moral values. The Generation X (ages 30-44) and baby-boomer respondents (ages 45-64) were at 65 percent and 69 percent, respectively.

An impressive eighty-two percent of Catholic millennials also felt marital commitment is not valued enough. And three-quarters of Catholic millennials said respect for a person's hard work and honesty and integrity were not valued enough.

The good news that we can glean from this survey is that young American Catholics share many of the same views as older Catholics.

It also shows that young Catholics yearn for a nation with strong moral values, just like the rest of us do.

And for the future of our Church and our nation, that is very encouraging news indeed.