[ebb tide]

Perhaps the larger metropolitan churches are witnessing the results of the relative silence of bishops and clergy when it comes to the evil of contraception.

[Parmy]

There are material explanations for the lack of vocations. First, there is the pedophilia problem that should have been addressed in the beginning. Instead of these perverts being shunted from parish to parish they should have been defrocked, excommunicated and turned over to civil authorities. Why? Because they broke civil laws and therefore are not exempt from civil punishment. Remember, Jesus said to 'give to Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar.' That doesn't just mean money, it means that one lives by the laws of the nation they live in. Jesus didn't break any civil laws, just religious ones.

Secondly, Jesus asked who would give a child a stone when the child asked for bread. These perverts gave countless children stones as payment for the child's trust and safety.

I submit that until the Church, at the highest levels, make a concerted effort to make sure this doesn't happen again, it will continue to be plagued with low vocations.

With the information coming to light about many of the hierarchy advocating abortion and homosexuality, nothing will change.

[buwaya]

My theory is that the biggest cause of the lack of vocations is the lack of children. In families with many kids, one could be “spared” for the church.

With the collapse of birthrates and family size there are no “spares”.

[Birdman]

All good points, particularly with regard to contraception. Here is a good summary of what hell the blow-back to Humanae Vitae wrought.

https://www.firstthings.com/article/2008/08/002-the-vindication-of-ihumanae-vitaei