The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1962-03-16
Editorials
Facing The Future

The growth of the Catholic Church in the United
States has been nothing short of phenomenal when we
realize that its membership has risen from $4,000 at
the time of the Revolutionary War to the present total
of ~ million.
SERVING THE CATHOLIC population are 5000
priests, III 900 Sisters and 1000 Brothers. We can
take genuine pride in the great number of Institutions
they staff and the many services they provide.
But this is only part of the American Catholic
scene. Over the past 10 years the Catholic population
has increased 1870 while the number of priests has
Increased only 1870. 1t is evident then that we are
not ordaining enough priests to keep pace with our
growth.
More seriously, many problems exist today which
would doubtless be cared for, at least in part, by an
adequate number of priests. Many laymen do not real
lie that over $4,000 Catholics fall away from the
Church each year; that 20 out of every 100 persons
in the average parish do not not attend Mass and have
little to do with the Church; that 1910 of all Catholics
who marry people of another religion do SO without
permission of the Church and consequently the Catho-
lie party as well as future children will be non-practlc-
ing at least for a time. Even one out of every six con-
verts fall by the Wayside after joining the Church.
THESE ARE NOT pleasant facts. Perhaps there
are those who would rather not face them. But they
point up the unacceptable need for more priests.
The education picture is even more overwhelming.
Today there are almost six million students in Catholic
schools and another four million in other schools who
need religious instruction. And this in the face of the
fact that in the last 10year period the number of
sisters has increased only II percent and the number
of brothers 80 percent. In these figures must also be
accounted those religious who do hospital or welfare
work, missionary endeaVors and other specialized
tasks.
The vocation shortage cannot be solved by the
clergy. II will only be met if there is a lGng-range
attempt by all segments of the Church to promote
v0cations. 1t means individuals in every parish must be
concerned and that such organizations as the Councils
of Catholic Men and Women, Catholic Youth groups
and fraternal associations must take up vocation pro-
jectS.
CARDINAL CUSHING has written somewhere
that the lack of religious cannot be attributed to divine
neglect, because God is calling enough young people
to serve Him and His Church. The defect therefore
must be in us.
We need more generous-hearted young men and
women to offer to serve Christ. We need more under
standing and cooperation from families in the en-
enlargement of Vocations. And most of all, we need
prayers that God may grant a more total response to
Our Lords call for more "laborers in the harvest"
There is no better interceSSor in this regard than st.
Joseph, protector Of the Universal Church, whose
feast day we honor on Monday.
In a parish school of our acquaintance there are
10 students in the first grade. If present levels are
maintained, this school will need 80 teachers when
these students reach the eighth grade. Even with an
increasing number of lay teachers we can see how the
shortage of sisters hits close to home.
THERE ARE MANY counties in this country
without a resident priest. There are MANY adults seek
ing information on the Church, who do not find it
easy to meet a priest; there are many converts who
need guidance as a follOWup to their conversion; there
are numerous married couples who want children and
only a priest can give; there are many children and
aged and needy who need the charity of the Church
but much of this work will remain undone because
there are not enough religious.
These are the facts. They must be faced. The
future of the Catholic Church in the United States
depends on whether the needs of her people can be
met. The role of the atty is becoming increasingly
important and necessary; but the service of dedicated
priests and religious is absolutely paramount. CAT