But they are not priests. They can conduct worship services, but they cannot consecrate the elements of bread and wine. Only a priest can do that. Instead, it's a worship service that includes a sermon, Scripture and prayers. It's the official intention of the diocese to distribute communion wafers at such a service wafers consecrated by a priest in advance.
Catholics routinely debate the causes and solutions to the priest shortage.
Some say the shortage is tied to the fact that Catholic families are smaller now, providing a smaller pool of candidates. Others said the anti-authoritarian attitude of the 1960s poisoned views of the priesthood. The Rev. Steve Klasek, pastor of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, said he thinks a thaw is under way among younger people who don't feel the same hostility toward church authority that many baby boomers did. Young people, kids in high school, are starting to show up with a much more positive attitude toward church and priests and religious life. . . . The priest shortage is a tough subject, but Catholicism survives.