Fully 61 percent of the dioceses report that they expect to do so within 10 years. Closing parishes is a strategy for addressing the situation of fewer priests for 13 percent of dioceses. The Impact Priests report frustration that the administrative responsibilities and the sometimes unrealistic expectations of parishioners give them little time for the sacramental and interpersonal aspects of ministry that they find so fulfilling. These same demands lead to increased isolation and less mentoring from brother priests. The rapid growth of the Catholic population in some areas and the decline in other areas, combined with the increased ethnic diversity and an evolving sense of parish life and organization means that parish ministry is far more complex for priests today.
Deacons report being well utilized.
They also express some anxiety, however, about losing some of their ministry to charity because of increased sacramental and liturgical ministry. Lay Ecclesial Ministers report that they stand ready to assist their pastors and the Church in any way they can be of assistance. Another way of saying this is that over 75 percent of Catholics report that they have not been affected by a decline in the number of priests. Younger Catholics are least likely to say that they have noticed or been affected by the decline. Catholics most favor an increasing use of deacons and lay ministers to help meet the needs of Catholics in a time of fewer priests.