Priestly vocations plummet in Ireland
August 27, 2010
Only 16 men are entering the seminary in Ireland this year-- down from 39 in 2009, and over 150 during the average year in the 1980s. Ireland currently has 99 seminarians, while England and Wales have 150.
“The recent difficulties with Church scandals mean that those thinking tentatively about priesthood... are not going to be launching themselves forward,” says Father Patrick Rushe, national coordinator for diocesan vocation directors.
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Posted by: sorbonnetoga -
Aug. 29, 2010 10:09 AM ET USA
Hmmm ... using the (London) Independent as a source for Irish news? Not quite an epic fail but close enough. The figure for vocations to the secular priesthood last year was 12 NOT 39. 12 up to 16 is an increase, incidentally. It's still disastrous but the catastophic crash in vocations happened 10 or more years ago. Do some fact checking next time, OK?
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Posted by: Quadratus -
Aug. 27, 2010 11:39 AM ET USA
Are we surprised? Sexual abuse and now a priest terrorist scandal.
