Priest shortage caused by contraception

[mpi]

The Priest shortage in America is a result of the many Bisops and Priests over the years who have refused to wholeheartedly embrace the Holy See’s encyclical condemning contraception. The American church is reaping what it has sown. How can a child who was not born become a priest?

 

[Diamantina]

Makes sense, but it seems anecdotal. However, I think the priest shortage would also be true in most of Europe (also Canada, Australia and New Zealand). Has any researcher made a peer-reviewed study about that? Do countries where the birthrate is higher (and where presumably contraception is less used) have more vocations per capita to the Catholic priesthood and consecrated life? Do people entering seminaries or novitiates (in countries with higher birthrates/lower contraceptive use and lower birthrates/higher contraceptive use) persevere in their vocations and are ordained or professed in due course? A good study would investigate such matters.

 

[churchsecretary]

I would agree with that statement, but indirectly. Contraception is only part of the liberalism that changed the church. As a child of the 1960’s who can barely remember the Latin Mass, I can say, honestly, that I was harmed by the lack of faith teaching that I received. The 1970’s CCD classes I attended were basically sociology classes. My Dad ended up buying some books for kids at a local Catholic shop to teach us himself. How could kids know they had a vocation when they were taught very little about the church? And now, although we try to teach the children of these 1970’s/80’s kids, the parents know very little themselves (and as we are taught, parish religious education is supposed to only supplement what the kids learn at home!). Most of what I know about the church I taught myself later on, or from asking many questions of my boss (pastor of the church where I work & former h.s. religion teacher!).

Contraception is only one of the evils that has caused the priest shortage. Unfortunately, there are many more! :sad_yes:

 

[Lancer]

The Priest shortage in America is a result of the many Bisops and Priests over the years who have refused to wholeheartedly embrace the Holy See’s encyclical condemning contraception. The American church is reaping what it has sown. How can a child who was not born become a priest?

I agree except I would place the** blame squarely on the “shoulders”…of the husbands and wives who used/bought into “contraception”**. Sure, there were a lot of priests and bishops saying (both in private and in the confessional)…that the Church was going to change its teaching…but when the Holy Father – did not change the teaching – and kept it just as it has been for 2,000 years (~1,970 years) – which is exactly as it was found in the **Didache **(“the catechism” of Apostles). reluctant-messenger.com/didache.htm.

We blame too much on the bishops and priests…we all have the same Holy Spirit guiding us to the Truth…also…plus the official teaching of the Church was clear…it was in the news all the time as so many “experts” declared that the Pope did not know how to “pope”… so what did we do…we listened to those who told us what we wanted to hear and live by…the secular culture and the “dissident voices in the Church”…we ignored the clear teaching of Saint Peter. ( effectively we said:…“Ah…excuse me Saint Peter (Pope Paul VI)…but you are sitting in my Chair…and Ah…Lord Jesus…excuse me, but you are sitting on my throne”…(paraphrase of Peter Kreeft Boston College Prof of Philosophy).

Luke 10:16 (ESV) [Sending out the Seventy-Two disciples)
*** 16*** The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me."

Our Lord Jesus did not mean this for bishops and priests only…I believe that he meant it for each and every disciple…those baptized into the Name of Father, and into the Name of the Son and into the name of the Holy Spirit…and who were actually and really confirmed with the same Pentecost anointing/infusion of the Holy Spirit (as the apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary were in that upper room…2000+ years ago)…so that

**
CCC-1285 Baptism, the Eucharist, andthe sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized]are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength** of the Holy Spirit. Hence** they are, as** true witnesses of Christ,* more ***strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed."

I am always suspect of my conscience…it never seeks to demand/do more than what the Church teaches…it is always trying to do the minimum…or even less than the minimum…like when the Church (the Bishop of the local Church) asks for us to tithe (5% to the Church and 5% to charities)…and my conscience never says…no…I must give more…20%!..at best I will tithe (10%)…the minimum. Likewise… when my conscience says contraception is okay…because (pick any ordained voice that sounds credible and is saying that it is okay)…I know something is not right…the pieces of the spiritual puzzle don’t fit…I must seek the Truth…it ain’t the bishops or priests or theologians who will face the Lord for me at my particular judgment!

Pax Christi

 

[mpi]

I agree except I would place the** blame squarely on the “shoulders”…of the husbands and wives who used/bought into “contraception”**. Sure, there were a lot of priests and bishops saying (both in private and in the confessional)…that the Church was going to change its teaching…but when the Holy Father – did not change the teaching – and kept it just as it has been for 2,000 years (~1,970 years) – which is exactly as it was found in the Didache (“the catechism” of Apostles). reluctant-messenger.com/didache.htm.

We blame too much on the bishops and priests…we all have the same Holy Spirit guiding us to the Truth…also…plus the official teaching of the Church was clear…it was in the news all the time as so many “experts” declared that the Pope did not know how to “pope”… so what did we do…we listened to those who told us what we wanted to hear and live by…the secular culture and the “dissident voices in the Church”…we ignored the clear teaching of Saint Peter. ( effectively we said:…"Ah…excuse me Saint Peter (Pope Paul VI)…but you are sitting in my Chair…and Ah…Lord Jesus…excuse me, but you are sitting on my throne"…(paraphrase of Peter Kreeft Boston College Prof of Philosophy).

Our Lord Jesus did not mean this for bishops and priests only…I believe that he meant it for each and every disciple…those baptized into the Name of Father, and into the Name of the Son and into the name of the Holy Spirit…and who were actually and really confirmed with the same Pentecost anointing/infusion of the Holy Spirit (as the apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary were in that upper room…2000+ years ago)…so that I am always suspect of my conscience…it never seeks to demand/do more than what the Church teaches…it is always trying to do the minimum…or even less than the minimum…like when the Church (the Bishop of the local Church) asks for us to tithe (5% to the Church and 5% to charities)…and my conscience never says…no…I must give more…20%!..at best I will tithe (10%)…the minimum. Likewise… when my conscience says contraception is okay…because (pick any ordained voice that sounds credible and is saying that it is okay)…I know something is not right…the pieces of the spiritual puzzle don’t fit…I must seek the Truth…it ain’t the bishops or priests or theologians who will face the Lord for me at my particular judgment!

Pax Christi

That is fine, but I disagree. I blame the priests and Bishops.

They didn’t just deny the Church’s teaching in private or in the confessional. They denied the Church’s teaching in public. Most of those that did not deny it publicly effectively denying by not attempting to educate churchgoers.

 

[hxcCatholic413]

The 1970’s CCD classes I attended were basically sociology classes. My Dad ended up buying some books for kids at a local Catholic shop to teach us himself. How could kids know they had a vocation when they were taught very little about the church? And now, although we try to teach the children of these 1970’s/80’s kids, the parents know very little themselves (and as we are taught, parish religious education is supposed to only supplement what the kids learn at home!).

I would have to say based on my own experiences that CCD nowadays is pretty much pointless (the last time I was in CCD was 2 years ago). The teachers I’ve had were high school students who knew nothing about the Church in fact 95% of the time all we did was eat candy and play checkers. I’m sure their are very good CCD teachers, unfortunately I haven’t experienced them

God Bless

 

[churchsecretary]

I would have to say based on my own experiences that CCD nowadays is pretty much pointless (the last time I was in CCD was 2 years ago). The teachers I’ve had were high school students who knew nothing about the Church in fact 95% of the time all we did was eat candy and play checkers. I’m sure their are very good CCD teachers, unfortunately I haven’t experienced them

God Bless

I am sorry that you had this experience! I am a CCD teacher now. Our diocese has curriculum guidelines, and our pastor is very involved in making sure that our kids learn what they are supposed to at the proper times. High school students can help in our classes, never teach them. We have to take certain classes that the diocese wants us to so that we know what we should in order to teach. I had one little boy say to me last year, “this is just like school!”–because it is.

God Bless YOU!

 

[diggerdomer]

The Priest shortage in America is a result of the many Bisops and Priests over the years who have refused to wholeheartedly embrace the Holy See’s encyclical condemning contraception. The American church is reaping what it has sown. How can a child who was not born become a priest?

Do you have any facts to back this opinion? I think it seems kind of silly. If it’s just your opinion, that’s fine, and I have no objection to that. But if you’re saying it’s more than just your thoughts please provide us with some evidence. Thanks.

 

[Kaninchen]

Might not this be a good argument for allowing, even encouraging, them to marry? Obviously, they would produce big families (which would possibly increase the numbers of future priests in itself, joining the ‘family business’) and provide a great example to the faithful.

Eventually, a Vatican full of pregnant women and children would be a very positive statement about the Culture of Life - surely?

 

[budgie2]

Makes sense, but it seems anecdotal. However, I think the priest shortage would also be true in most of Europe (also Canada, Australia and New Zealand). Has any researcher made a peer-reviewed study about that? Do countries where the birthrate is higher (and where presumably contraception is less used) have more vocations per capita to the Catholic priesthood and consecrated life? Do people entering seminaries or novitiates (in countries with higher birthrates/lower contraceptive use and lower birthrates/higher contraceptive use) persevere in their vocations and are ordained or professed in due course? A good study would investigate such matters.

It’s entirely true that contraception and smaller families is reducing the number of vocations to the priesthood here in Britain. It’s harder for a couple with a small family to give up a child to the priesthood as there is also an obligation towards the Catholic population. Parents may also expect grandchildren etc. Nevertheless, Christ was an only child.

I don’t know if the current priests are to blame but certainly they don’t speak out against contraception and only abortion in Britain. It may be that their own beliefs are loose.

 

[Al_Masetti]

My opinion: priest shortage caused by gate keepers at seminaries who keep out “orthodox”, conservative, traditional candidates. And “discrimination” against late ordinations.