But as these seminarians in Africa proceed to get their education and formation, and are then ordained, shouldn’t this imbalance start coming down?
I deplore the “poaching” of priests from the Global South to bring them to the West, when they are needed at home. I am optimistic that, as it becomes more and more difficult for many Western males to make a decent living and to have a solid future to which to look forward in the secular world, they might take a look at the priesthood and see it as a viable option. The Lord often calls us to this state of life, or that one, in subtle ways that don’t necessarily match up with our “life plan” or even our wishes. The sacrifice of celibacy aside, the priesthood can be a very attractive life.
