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The good news in this is obviously that the conservative "true" Catholic dioceses are ordaining far more priests, percentage wise, to the liberal dioceses, but do you know what the actual number of priests ordained from these dioceses are? For instance, it's very telling that the Atlantic diocese saw a 123% increase in 2001 from 1991, and the Rochester diocese saw a 72% drop for that same time period. But how many priests does that equal in real numbers? IOW, gains or loses in percentages are even more impressive if we knew that, say, Atlanta had been ordaining large numbers of priests, even in 1991, and 123% was a really whopping increase.

While more and accurate information is always to our benefit,the important numbers are less in the actual numbers unless you know the population,the population increases,the no.of Catholics in each year studied,the dates of the appointment of the present bishop and so on.

For those of us interested,the fact that the top dioceses regards ordination are orthodox and the floundering ones are headed up by pretty heterodox bishops is key.

Keep that in mind when you observe what's going on in the Catholic Church. It may help you in having your church hold the line.You are Southern Baptist,aren't you?

But how many priests does that equal in real numbers? IOW, gains or loses in percentages are even more impressive if we knew that, say, Atlanta had been ordaining large numbers of priests, even in 1991, and 123% was a really whopping increase.

Good point, however.... the (for instance) Atlanta diocese could indeed have been ordaining few priests in 1991 and I would posit that we should look at the bishop of the diocese at that time in addition to the numbers - you know what I mean? The point of the article is the relationship between the numbers and the leaders. It seems that orthodox leaders beget larger numbers of priest/seminarians.

As an aside, the diocese of Atlanta has welcomed the Legionaries of Christ and I presume they add to the percentage. It's interesting that even in the dioceses with a priest shortage, the Legionaries are not embraced to help with the shortage.