[Lorianne]

Well that's a good point. But being a priest is usually a well regarded vocation among Catholics. So by extension, the fact that only men can be priests would tend to make men feel validated, at least in a heirarchal sense, whether or not they wanted to be priests themselves.

But this still leaves the question ... why are more women active in the Catholic church than men?

[A. Pole]

But this still leaves the question ... why are more women active in the Catholic church than men?

Maybe because men and women are religious in a different way?

[sinkspur]

But this still leaves the question ... why are more women active in the Catholic church than men?

Women are more active in ALL churches, and synagogues, than men.

It's in the nature of women, I guess.

[nickcarraway]

Yes, being a priest is a well regarded vocation.(or should be) But, at least in Catholic teaching, everyone can have an equally valid vocation. Priests are necessary, but if you read the Catechism, the married life is a wonderful vocation as well. And, whatever society may say, being single is does not make one inferior. Does the fact that a man cannot have children, ``alienate'' him from family life?

[Desdemona]

But this still leaves the question ... why are more women active in the Catholic church than men?

Because we're busybodies and tend to spend less hours watching sports.

And because mothers pushed us to do so. I don't know if fathers pushed their sons at all.

[Aquinasfan]

So by extension, the fact that only men can be priests would tend to make men feel validated, at least in a heirarchal sense, whether or not they wanted to be priests themselves.

Maybe you should ask Jesus why He didn't choose any female apostles.