[Prolifeconservative]

Great News!!!

I have this sneaky suspicion the "Passion" is going to generate many callings to this vocation as well. Time will tell........

[dangus]

The data is both better and worse than it appears.
THE GOOD NEWS
The population of priests did not hold steady over the past 40 years at all; it precipitously dropped until around 1980, and has climbed rapidly since, so the trend is good.
THE BAD NEWS
Most of the growth has been in 3rd-world countries, where it is less an issue of the faith taking hold, and more of an expectation that priests aren't necessarily white missionaries. This is good, but the trend will not likely hold.
The stablilization of priests in the Western world does not mean a stabilization in religious vocations. The numbers of religious sisters and brothers has continued to plunge with no signs of abatement. What may have happened is simply that of those who feel called to religious life, more feel the need to act as parish priests rather than, say, contemplitives. Parish priests don't tend to bevome saints.