[sinkspur]

The reasons for the decline in the priesthood are a point for discussion, for another day.

I'm more interested in the solution to a shortage of priests and to the enrichment of the oriesthood.

[Grey Ghost II]

Not many people respect priests anymore. If priests were stronger and more authoritative than the average wimpy dudes the seminaries are putting out, more people would respect the profession. Seriously, what kind of man wants to sign up for a life time of parish council meetings run by menopausal women and effeminate men who have no power in their day jobs so they exercise it on Wednesday evenings in the local parish pastoral center?

Many priests don't even respect themselves. Many are afraid to tell people what they need to hear. Many are afraid to stand up for the Church and Her teachings. Many have as their main goal, to be popular and well liked. For many, salvation of souls is secondary.

Please note, I said many priests, not all priests. Unlike the ICEL, I can distinguish between many and all.

[AAABEST]

Poverty, chastity and obedience is still thankfully the unwavering postition of our church.

Let's go straight to the source.

Matthew 19 10-12;29
His disciples say unto him: If the case of a man with his wife be so, it is not expedient to marry. Who said to them: All men take not this word, but they to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mothers womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it.

And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.

[Mark in the Old South]

Re: "I'm more interested in the solution to a shortage of priests and to the enrichment of the oriesthood"

A good thing to be interested in I must say. Have you considered the possibility that young men are not given something to believe in? Please consider the following positions:

1) There is no salvation outside the Church. One must believe in Catholic dogma in total not in part or in bits and pieces. Truth and half truth are never equal.

2) The Catholic faith is one of many and there are different paths to get to heaven. They are equally valid but the Catholic faith is the path with the fullest revelation of truth.

Which of the two reflect direction and discipline and requires an effort to mold your life and which one is an option that is in competition with a doobie in one hand and a Britney Spears look-a-like in the other?

[Conservative til I die]

The reasons for the decline in the priesthood are a point for discussion, for another day.

Are you kidding me? It's the ENTIRE issue!!!

Could you imagine businesses making decisions of strategy without consulting the reasons why something in the past succeeded or failed?