Do you think the priest shortage in the Catholic church will cause some dramatic changes?
Our parish is adopting new guidelines in the next five years. This means any parish with less than 500 families will have to share a priest and those with less than 2800 families will have no associate pastor. And, with declining numbers it looks like this fits the bill for a lot of churches.
There is already much buzzing about allowing priests to marry and allowing women priests.
Do you think this could spawn new changes?
Or, do you think more people will just drift away from the Catholic church?
2006-06-05 16:36:21 · 5 answers · asked by Baby #3 due 10/13/09 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There may be new changes. God knows those who are His own. If He sees fit to allow priests to marry (as Peter was married, and as Paul had the right to marry, even if he didn't use it), it will be all right. Even if people drift away from the catholic church, it will be all right as long as they don't drift away from God. He will see to it. Sometimes he takes a man on a roundabout route, like Jonah.
2006-06-05 16:47:08 · answer #1 · answered by cdf-rom 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Actually the number of Catholics continues to grow. Attendance, however, remains flat. The priest shortage will mean changes. Some good, some bad. The priest in my parish recently had to take on another parish. He has been spending a lot of time on the transition, and even when the transition is done he will have less time for my parish because he has sacraments and masses in the other parish too. There are a lot of things he does with the parish groups and with religious education and the youth that he won't be able to do anymore. This is good because more people will have to step up and volunteer. It is also bad because he won't be as available when we need him. I hear about priests marrying too. I don't think its going to happen.
2006-06-05 16:44:08 · answer #2 · answered by cindy_enstein 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an old religion, and has been dying for some time.
But I think they're recruiting poor fellas in Africa and Phillipines and bringing them here.
I think the church may allow priests to get married in the next 100 years, but wouldn't hold my breath for them to allow women priests.
Maybe they'll also allow deacons to do more, and ease up marriage restrictions on Deacons.
2006-06-05 16:42:20 · answer #3 · answered by ThatGuy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that makes sense. To pay a priest full-time for a church with less than 500 families isn't economically smart.
2006-06-05 16:40:07 · answer #4 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes there will be some changes in the future. We will see what the future brings; hopefully all will be for the good.
2006-06-05 16:55:23 · answer #5 · answered by akknaley 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋