"Evaporating for years," yes certainly. "Good reason," no, absolutely not.
It has to do with basic economics since most parishes simply do not have (and would not have) the money to educate these very much wanted children.
Parishes seem to find money for more and more "lay ministries," "social justice offices," etc. But they can't afford their primary duty. Our local parish wants to spend well over a million dollars to build a new "worship space." This goes beyond criminal. I have seen the same thing in many other parishes we have attended.
"Very much wanted" by whom? By the parents, no doubt. But not by the parish. I have known many pastors who look askance at large families as a potential burden. Also as a rebuke to their consciences since they never preach against birth control.
Very true...
Yes, It seems evident that the percentage of money, of total available to the typical parish, is increasingly going to areas of little spiritual value (as you say)...But...The amount of money flowing into parish coffers is very rapidly declining for a wide range of reasons, not the least of which is a Church leadership essentially adrift from theological truths and accepting instead avenue which are leading to the destruction of civility if not humanity...To name a few: increasing acceptance of (1)abortion...(2)homosexuality-sodomy....(3) divorce.
It is also "grinds" on many Catholics that Church leadership is taking stands in the secular world for which it has absolutelu no information...e.g. Vigorous public proclamations against attacking Iraq by a totally unimformed clergy which lacks the strategic and tactical information and intelligence essential to understanding global threats.
I see most of this reflected by changes so evident at the University of Notre Dame, of which I am an alumni.