Member-only story
Why the Priesthood Must Change
A shortage of Catholic Priests
After 1,500 years of consecutive church services, a Catholic parish in Ireland canceled Mass for its parishioners.
The Church of the Sacred Heart, in Boho, Co. Fermanagh, canceled a regularly scheduled service because of a shortage of priests.
This is a serious concern in Ireland and around the world. According to The Catholic News Agency; The Catholic Church is experiencing a global crisis with a shortage of priests.
The number of Catholics per priest increased from 1,895 in 1980 to 3,126 in 2012.
In a study by Georgetown University, they reported; The Catholic Church in many parts of the world is facing a “priest shortage” or a “priest crisis.”
This crisis is not new. The U.S. data confirmed that in the last 50 years the priesthood has decreased by 33%.
In 1970, the U.S. reported 37,300 priests in the church. According to Georgetown University, the most recent number is 25,800.
In America, in 1970 there was one priest for every 800 Catholics. Today, that estimate is one priest for every 1,800. This is alarming.
