New Nuns and Priests Seen Opting for Tradition

NYTimes ^ | August 10, 2009 | LAURIE GOODSTEIN

[NYer]

A new study of Roman Catholic nuns and priests in the United States shows that an aging, predominantly white generation is being succeeded by a smaller group of more racially and ethnically diverse recruits who are attracted to the religious orders that practice traditional prayer rituals and wear habits.

The study found that the graying of American nuns and priests was even more pronounced than many Catholics had realized. Ninety-one percent of nuns and 75 percent of priests are 60 or older, and most of the rest are at least 50.

They are the generation defined by the Second Vatican Council, of the 1960s, which modernized the church and many of its religious orders. Many nuns gave up their habits, moved out of convents, earned higher educational degrees and went to work in the professions and in community service. The study confirms what has long been suspected: that these more modern religious orders are attracting the fewest new members.

The study was already well under way when the Vatican announced this year that it was conducting two investigations of American nuns. One, taking up many of the same questions as the new report, is an “apostolic visitation” of all women’s religious orders in the United States. The other is a doctrinal investigation of the umbrella group that represents a majority of American nuns, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.

The new study, being released on Tuesday, was conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, for the National Religious Vocation Conference, which is looking for ways for the church to attract and retain new nuns and priests. It was financed by an anonymous donor.

“We’ve heard anecdotally that the youngest people coming to religious life are distinctive,

[NYer]

Of the new priests and nuns who recently joined religious orders, two-thirds chose orders that wear a habit all the time or regularly during prayer or ministry, the study found.

[arthurus]

The traditional orders get postulants who are looking for religious life. The Modernist orders are losing numbers as older ones die. Young folks are not attracted to Social Gospel type “orders” of community activists and social workers. Kids who want that have more exciting and more remunerative options working for government or left-wing orgs. The dying orders, especially the sisters, got Jung-ized in the 60s and most fell away. Some stayed because they didn’t want to leave what they were familiar with. But there has been no new blood.

[iowamark]

The results are revealing. The study seems to have been conducted by liberals, but the results clearly show that the traditional religious orders are the ones that are growing.

NRVC/CARA Study on Vocations:

http://www.nrvc.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=393&Itemid=74

[NYer]

The study seems to have been conducted by liberals, but the results clearly show that the traditional religious orders are the ones that are growing.

We owe a debt of gratitude to

Mother Angelica

who has been a visible and outspoken tribute to the beauty of community life for religious women.

Thanks for the link to the study. Would love to be a fly on the wall in one of the many 'contemporary' religious communities as they digest these statistics.

[iowamark]

Especially note: Best Practices in Vocation Promotion

[Lonely Bull]

Of note:

“We’ve heard anecdotally that the youngest people coming to religious life are distinctive, and they really are,” said Sister Mary Bendyna, executive director of the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. “They’re more attracted to a traditional style of religious life, where there is community living, common prayer, having Mass together, praying the Liturgy of the Hours together. They are much more likely to say fidelity to the church is important to them. And they really are looking for communities where members wear habits.”

[Salvation]

On the feast of St. Clare of Assisi this is a great post.

Bump for the Poor Clares and Mother Angelica!

[NYer]

Excellent observation!

That brings back the memory of my visit to Assisi and the visit to the Sisters of the Poor Clares.

[Melian]

Very true. One of those dying orders, the Sisters of St. Louis, was at my children’s school. You could barely tell they were nuns, they lived in an apartment off the school grounds, and they were certainly modern and not very loving. Their order’s newsletters were feminist.

I always feel sad that they are what my girls think of when they think of nuns. I had Dominicans for teachers and they were great!

[Biggirl]

There was a tv special about Mother Anglica’s order early evening last night that my season citizen’s mother had watched for the feast day of St.Clare.