11% of never-married Catholics have considered priesthood or religious life

October 10, 2012

12% of never-married Catholic men have considered a priestly or religious vocation “at least a little seriously,” and 10% of never-married Catholic women have considered a religious vocation, according to a survey conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The 144-page survey found that “among women, being of a race and ethnicity other than non-Hispanic white or Hispanic does make one more than twice as likely to consider a vocation compared to those who are non-Hispanic white or Hispanic.”

“Encouragement from others is also important,” the study also found. “Respondents who have one person encouraging them are nearly twice as likely to consider a vocation as those who are not encouraged. Each additional person encouraging these respondents increases the likelihood of consideration. The effect is additive.”

 

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Further information:

• Study Finds Abundance Of Potential Priests, Sisters, Brothers (USCCB)
• Full text of study (USCCB)