VATICAN CITY — The Vatican reaffirmed celibacy for priests Saturday, rejecting arguments that the Roman Catholic Church could resolve the “crisis” of decreasing numbers of clergy by opening the priesthood to married men.
Instead, the Vatican said, current priests should dedicate themselves to attracting more candidates by better explaining the priesthood to lay Catholics and encouraging families and children to consider religious vocations.
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The shortage of vocations is largely a failure in catechesis. The majority of young men have no concept of what a priest is because they have no concept of what it means to be Catholic.
Secondary problems are small family sizes, discouragement of vocations by dissenters in positions of power, and the poisonous atmosphere of many seminaries.
What shortage of vocations? The Vatican has stated over and over that there is an increase in vocations on a global scale. How silly we North Americans are to think that it is all about us. We have become a destination for missionaries to bring the gospel.
With the help of the Holy Spirit the country will be filled with holy priests from Africa, Asia and South America.Maybe then the North American churches will expierence new birth and the society will be saved from it errors.
The Lord works in mysterious ways.