Volume > Issue > There's No Priest Shortage

There’s No Priest Shortage

AN EXCESS OF DISGRUNTLED LAITY

By James E. Tynen | October 1997
James E. Tynen is an Assistant Director of Student Activities at the University of Pittsburgh.

The perceived scarcity of priests in the Catholic Church is called a crisis. Observers wring their hands and warn that the Church will fall apart if she can’t get more priests. This may, however, be less a crisis than a blessing.

Let’s examine an oft-proposed cure. Liberal Catholics say the Church will have to ordain married men (and women). This, they promise, will release a flood of eager, well-educated young professionals to become priests (and priestesses), thus saving the Church.

But does the Church want a flood of eager, well-educated young professionals? Let’s look at other areas which were visited by such floods in our recent past:

· A horde of young urban planners was released on our cities. The cities turned from centers of civilization into crime-ravaged wastelands.

Enjoyed reading this?

READ MORE! REGISTER TODAY

SUBSCRIBE

You May Also Enjoy

Baptizing a "Lonely Atheist"

Eugene Kennedy says the unbeliever is really like the believer, but just doesn't know it.

It Can't Happen Here, Can It?

Could the Catholic Church end up sliding down the same slippery slope as the Anglican Communion? Yes, if certain groups get their way.

The Great Rewards of Civilization

All of us seek prizes, rewards, and benefits from our labors, but real treasure transcends the value of money and material riches.