Catholics Will do a Big Study on Why Young Priests are Leaving



It not hard to see the reasons a young priest might get discouraged. There are failing parishes. The average age of priests is rising. This inevitably loads younger ones with more work. 

While there are lots of parishes with crowded masses, the general trajectory of the denomination in the U.S. is down. There are regular stories of combining parishes and selling buildings. On top of that are the bankruptcies caused by abuse court cases. 

The Catholic hierarchy, and perhaps a large portion of Catholics in the pews, refuse to recognize that priests are part of the labor market. To attract and keep employees of any kind an employer needs to pay market wages and provide a reasonable work environment. If the salary is not high enough to finance the training necessary to apply rational prospects will not apply. They may leave the job is they don't see a good financial future. In the case of priests, celibacy is also required. Maybe evenings sitting around with some boring guys is not everyone's idea of fun.

Other denominations have also made requirements to costly to attract clergy applicants. When this happens there are always groups trying to protect their own interests. If you are an administrator in a seminary it is not in your interests to see seminary requirements reduced.

In a couple of years we will learn if changes are afoot for the priesthood. 

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