1. I think priests will be more numerous because of a normal God-given impulse of man to have an intimate mate, children, and other benefits of marriage. Years ago, I recall how Catholic families (at least French-Canadian ones with which I was most acquainted) would have 10, 12, and even more children. The parents often would encourage a son to be a priest and/or a daughter a nun. Today families usually have 2-3 children, and the average parent isn't as eager to see their children becomes celibate and rule out possible grandkids.
The world also has changed radically in other ways that make the priesthood seem less attractive. I know several priests in this area who left to marry. One actually married the principal of the parochial school of his parish. The whole concept of living a celibate life, often alone in a rectory, is forbidding to many. There are at least two ministers in this vicinity who were former priests, and several other ministers who are ex-Catholics.
2. It is my memory - and I go back decades - that the nuns in my home village were very much run by the priests, plus the Mother Superior, I suppose. But there was an obvious deference to the priests. The nuns hardly could enter the high altar except to clean, etc. The nuns taught, but when a priest came in the students all were trained to rise immediately and say "Good morning, Father whomever." You never heard about nuns with authority outside the convent and classroom. It is true that many nuns now live in the secular world, which only makes them more independent - and sometimes more rebellious.
Awhile ago I went to a dinner held to thank donors to a Catholic college and happened to sit by a nun. She was quite clear in her conversation. She saw the 'hierarchy' as a big problem and obviously resented the lack of authority and appreciation of nuns and other women within the church.
Yes, there are women saints, beginning with Mary. But when I check them over 90% or more seem to have been virgins rather than mothers who devote their lives to families. Everybody admires Mother Theresa, of course, including me. However, after reading of her 'dark years' in a spiritual desert I sometimes wonder about the sainthood thing. Plus I'm not altogether convinced that saints either perform miracles or intercede with Christ to perform miracles. Strikes me as a somewhat dubious concept.
One of the administrative leaders at a large church near here hoped the church would give women greater voice. When this didn't happen, she became an Episcopalian and is now a priest in that denomination. Yes, some Anglicans are likely to become Catholic under the new arrangement Benedict XVI announced. But in this area the Protestant churches are full of ex-Catholics. This hasn't been helped at all by continual scandals that seem to emerge. One priest was finally located - he had disappeared after embezzling over $1.3 million from parish funds, claimed to be ill and went to New York to get treatment, instead had 'male escorts' and stayed and ate at the best places, etc. Another has been accused of molesting an altar boy. I had met this last one some years back as he served a church in this city. These two scandals have broken out within the past two weeks.
As you can probably tell by now, I am having serious difficulty with the church. I am more and more inclined to think that God may not care whether we belong to a Catholic or some other church as long as we love God and one another. Isn't that the response he gave to the lawyer who asked what he must do to inherit eternal life? Nothing about a church or a creed or even a Bible. He topped that off with the parable of the Good Samaritan.
One final thing. When I was at Yankee Stadium to see Benedict XVI in 2008, it was interesting that the stage was filled with vestment-clad priests. Behind them sat, as I recall, four women, on the back row, set apart, who were readers. That spoke a volume to anyone who noticed.
I love what the Catholic Church does in feeding the hungry, educating the untutored, healing the sick, etc. It's other stuff that troubles me.
Keep happy and healthy. God bless all of his children, whatever their creed, color or country.
Now that I have spoken my mind by writing to them with a firm and serious message, I can only hope that the seeds I have thrown fall on fertil soil and flourish to reconciliation and union with the Church through the Holy Ghost…and if mine fail I’m sure others and especially the Church’s will have a positive effect on this organization.