The Tide Is Turning Toward Catholicism: The Clergy

Catholic Exchange ^ | July 9, 2007 | David J. Hartline

[NYer]

We are told by the mainstream media that there is a priest shortage which will cripple the Church and that empty convents will never be occupied again. These same media organizations float that idea that only non-celibacy can save the day. Increasingly, the numbers of young men entering the seminary to become priests and young women entering religious life are telling these media gatekeepers that they are wrong. In my book, The Tide Is Turning Toward Catholicism, the facts are clear: those dioceses that are orthodox in nature and taht defend the teachings of the Church generally find themselves with a number of young men entering the seminary; those dioceses which are not and do not, find increasingly empty seminaries. Why this phenomena? Perhaps Archbishop Edwin O'Brien said it best, "A man may give his life for a mystery, but not for a question mark."

The newly ordained and those discerning a vocation are embracing the teachings and traditions of the 2,000 year-old Church. Many have commented that seminaries have a much more orthodox look and feel than was evident even ten or twenty years ago. The numbers of ordinations and seminarians from dioceses whose shepherds have upheld the teachings and traditions of the Church speak for themselves. For example, in 2005 the Diocese of Rochester, New York, one of America's more heterodox or liberal dioceses, had six men preparing for the priesthood in the seminary. However, the orthodox Archdiocese of Omaha and the Diocese of Lincoln, which combined are only half the size of Rochester, had sixty four men studying in the seminary. What a difference firm teachings make.

Many have lamented at the lack of nuns or those young women contemplating a vocation. While some orders haven't added more than a handful of sisters in years, others are bursting at the seams. Yet, in those newer orders (or older orders where orthodoxy is embraced), they too have seen numbers jump. One particular order, the Sisters of Mary of the Eucharist, located near Ann Arbor, Michigan, has simply run out of room in their convent as more and more young women enter. 

As indicated earlier in the quote from Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, young people discerning a vocation want some certainty. They have seen all the uncertainty that the world offers. In the Church they see a 2,000 year-old body established by Christ with clear teaching and clear succession (Matthew 16:16-19.) The Church offers hope to a world that is being increasingly narcissistic. The call to a religious vocation is not limited to the young. Many men and women in middle age and even older are entering into the priesthood and religious life. The world didn't answer their hunger so they are taking that hunger and feeding the world with the truth of the Church that was established by Christ (Matthew 16:16-19.) In their young lives, those newly ordained or those who have recently entered religious life have read about and even seen other churches come and go. They are following the advice of St Paul who told the early faithful about the Church being the "pillar and foundation of truth." Increasingly, they understand the words of Christ: the best way to build your foundation is on a rock. Indeed, the tide is turning.

[NYer]

David J. Hartline was a Catholic school teacher, coach, principal and diocesan administrator.  He founded the CatholicReport.org website in 2005.

[NYer]

For example, in 2005 the Diocese of Rochester, New York, one of America's more heterodox or liberal dioceses, had six men preparing for the priesthood in the seminary. However, the orthodox Archdiocese of Omaha and the Diocese of Lincoln, which combined are only half the size of Rochester, had sixty four men studying in the seminary. What a difference firm teachings make.

[TaxachusettsMan]

Well, I’m all for new and traditional, conservative vocations!

But I was just over at Fr. Z’s WDTPRS blog.

Is it just me, or is anyone else just a little disturbed at multiple pictures of (mostly obese) young clergymen, raising glasses full of expensive wine and puffing on what Fr. Z calls “celebratory cigars” or cutting gigantic cakes?

Is this an IMPROVEMENT on the Novus Ordo party boys?

If some demons can only be cast out by prayer and fasting, pardon me, but it looks as if even the newer batch of traditionalist clergy, while they may be into prayer (and in Latin at last) are not much into fasting.

While I’m neither a Puritan (despite my location) or a prude, I somehow don’t picture the Cure of Ars completing a successful exorcism by breaking out either the (chilled, no doubt) Veuve Cliquot, a 16 year Lagavulin, or a 1989 Barros Colheita Port and lighting up a Cubano.

[narses]

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[tioga]

For example, in 2005 the Diocese of Rochester, New York, one of America's more heterodox or liberal dioceses, had six men preparing for the priesthood in the seminary. However, the orthodox Archdiocese of Omaha and the Diocese of Lincoln, which combined are only half the size of Rochester, had sixty four men studying in the seminary. What a difference firm teachings make.

LOL, I am sitting here in the Diocese of Rochester right NOW.

[AliVeritas]

BTTT

[tioga]

For example, in 2005 the Diocese of Rochester, New York, one of America's more heterodox or liberal dioceses, had six men preparing for the priesthood in the seminary. However, the orthodox Archdiocese of Omaha and the Diocese of Lincoln, which combined are only half the size of Rochester, had sixty four men studying in the seminary. What a difference firm teachings make.

We made the news again! LOL

[trisham]

This is wonderful news.

[Scotswife]

I always wondered why anyone would think they would recruit more young men by telling them that Rome doesn’t know anything.

[tioga]

I get the Rochester Speaks pronouncements all the time - if you mention Rome or the Pope they roll their eyes.

[Scotswife]

“I get the Rochester Speaks pronouncements all the time - if you mention Rome or the Pope they roll their eyes.”

Oh I’ve seen it many times! It’s such a prevalent attitude.

Hubby saw it all the time during RCIA.

At one time he dropped out of the program because of that.
He realized he was the only one in the room who had any respect for the pope.

[Huber]

Ping

[sneakers]

Jesus celebrated at the wedding feast at Cana with wine. The return of the TLM is a cause for celebration, and there is no indication that these priests were ‘partying’ like a bunch of drunken college boys. As to their weight - well, what they look like interiorly is what I’m looking at - and I’m happy at what I see! :-)

[jrny]

It’s a time to celebrate, and I was there (not pictured personally) in that cigar photo. It’s not like my pastor is smoking cigars and drinking fine spirits every day. This was a joyful day. For the same reason, there are fancy meals for major holidays, we made use of natural elements for this joyous occasion.

[Alex Murphy]

The scum also rises.

[baa39]

I’ve had the same impression. I think some of the fun joking about opening a bottle of champagne was suitable, but this looks a bit too much like the out-of-touch, old-boys-club, self-indulgent image of the priesthood that I thought was considered no longer appropriate. Of course, these photos are probably not “representative” of seminarians or the priesthood, but Fr. Z in his enthusiasm maybe is lacking a bit of discretion.

[guinnessman]

Exactly.

I had a friend who thought that he might have a vocation to the priesthood. The first thing that he did was search out seminaries that were loyal to the teachings of the Church.

Christ Himself said that if you are faithful to Him, you will bear much fruit:

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

[TASMANIANRED]

I used to work with a nurse that had a teen aged son. When he became self sufficient. She entered the convent..

[NYer]

I used to work with a nurse that had a teen aged son. When he became self sufficient. She entered the convent.

Do you recall her age at that time? This is most interesting to me.

[NYer]

LOL, I am sitting here in the Diocese of Rochester right NOW.

I had you in mind when I posted that comment :-) So how many priests did Clark ordain this year? Hubbard ordained 3.

We are both looking at 5 more years until mandatory retirement. Meanwhile, the rank of Catholics in our mutual dioceses conitnues to shrivel ... not from relocation ... but from the actions of the local ordinaries.