This comparison can also be applicable to the situation of the training of priests in seminaries, although it is very difficult to make general statements about the overall situation. In almost all Western European countries the numbers of people coming forward to be ordained as priests are very low, and they decreased dramatically in the recent past. In France the figures remained stable during this time period, and the same for the Netherlands and Belgium, but the figures are still very low even in these countries. The situation is quite different in Italy. But if you look at how our clergy are increasing in age, you can see that the situation in many dioceses is critical.
Seminarians have very individual paths to the seminary.
It sometimes takes them a long time to get there. There is no longer a normal path. Everyone has his own vocation path and system of beliefs. In our dioceses many still come from very Christianoriented families, but in many other situations the seminarians come from families that are not intensely religious. Quite often the seminarians' families do not understand why anyone would want to enter a seminary or they try to prevent their children from entering a seminary.