From: mjsmith@cac.washington.edu (Martha Smith )
Subject: Re: Priest shortage...
Organization: UW Computing
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 18:21:24 GMT

In article <sTwguB3w165w@mintir.new-orleans.la.us>, elendil@mintir.new-orleans.la.us (Edward J. Branley) writes:
> jocallag@darwin.helios.nd.edu (john ocallaghan) writes:
> 
> > In article <L0RFuB4w165w@mintir.new-orleans.la.us> elendil@mintir.new-orleans
> > >
> > >Now, the debate over the ordination of women aside, it seems to me that the
> > >Vatican and the American bishops should wake up and realize that just how mu
> > >of a problem situation we have here.  Is anyone aware of any research which
> > >been done to try to figure out just why the major decline in the number of
> > >priests?  Of course, instinct tells me that the celibacy requirement is
> > >probably the number one factor, but I'm wondering if there have been any rea
> > >studies on this.
> > >
> > >While the debate over women in the priesthood should continue, it's obvious
> > >that it probably won't be resolved in the RCC by the end of the century.  Th
> > >being the case, we need to initiate some drastic actions to increase the cal
> > >to vocations.  If women are administrators in 200+ parishes, the problem of
> > >priestless parishes is already a grave situation.  Rather than spending nine
> > >years bickering over an inadequate answer to the call for women priests (the
> > >Bishop's Pastoral Letter), perhaps the time would have been better spent
> > >figuring out ways to increase the number of *male* priests, before we are le
> > >with no priests at all.
> > >
> >
> > It might come as a blow to our American pride, since after all we are the Chu
> > 850000000 Catholics not present in the U.S. doesn't really matter, but I have
> > read in various publications over the last few years, that the Vatican is
> > considering sending missionaries from Africa to the U.S.  By that I do not
> > mean Westerners who have been functioning as missionaries in Africa, but nati
> > Africans, since Africa has no shortage, and in fact has an overabundance of
> > priests.
> >
> > Peace,
> > John
> >
> >
> 
> Interesting idea.  We've tried that on a local level here in New Orleans,
> 'importing' priests from Ireland, where there also appears to be no real
> shortage.  The archdiocese here would cover the expenses of the seminarian's
> last two or so years, in exchange for coming here to serve.  I think the
> program worked out on the whole, in spite of losing a few priests to the
> temptations of secular life in America.
> 
> On a side note, that 'American pride' you mention isn't what worries the
> Vatican.  It's the American pocketbooks that do make a difference.  The Vatican
> ignores the US at its peril, like the United Nations does.  If financial
> support for the RCC dwindles here in the US, the shockwave will be felt all the
> way back to the Holy See.
> 
> Wait.  Africans you say?  Won't work, at least down here.  I'll be willing to
> bet that there are many parishes which would fold before accepting a black
> priest on a regular basis.
> 
PLEASE DON'T TELL ME THIS IS A CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE - MAYBE WE NEED MISSIONARIES TO CHRISTIANIZE US!> 
> 
> 
> |Edward J. Branley         elendil@mintir.new-orleans.la.us|
> |Seashell Software, Metairie, LA            +1-504-455-5087|
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