But this is absurd, especially in light of the priest shortage
There is also a shortage of nuns....
Yes, there is. Why do you think so few women are interested in becoming nuns?
Be sure to tell the Missionaries of Charity. And the Sisters of Life. And the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. And the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecelia. And the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal. I'm sure they'd be interested to know that.
Funny thing: orthodox, traditional orders grow. "Relevant" orders that follow the ways of the world die.
To the extent that there is a shortage of priests, nuns, and brothers, it is manufactured by folks who deliberately abandoned orthodoxy for "relevance".