Why is there a decline in the number of aspirants to the priesthood? What is going to be done to halt the trend?

These questions have been asked in Atlanta, in St. Louis and Rome and in articles in Catholic publications.

In Atlanta, Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin told the Serra Club that several reasons have been given for the decline in vocations -- secularization of society, the belief that there is a lack of self-fulfillment in the priesthood, excessive criticism of authority and a resulting anticlericalism, fear of making a permanent commitment and a changing attitude toward celibacy.

The bishop said, “I strongly favor celibacy for spiritual and practical reasons. Frequently those who argue against celibacy have a negative and inadequate understanding of the spiritual meaning and function of celibacy.”

“However, if a priest feels that he cannot live up to the obligations of celibacy, I think that it should be possible for him to be dispensed so that he can live honorably as a layman. this is a problem which we must begin to face realistically.”

Bishop Bernardin said, “It would be an understatement to say that the shortage of priests in the Archdiocese of Atlanta is acute. In every diocese the story is the same... there are not enough priests to meet the needs of the Church. Fewer young men are entering the seminary and more are dropping out.” “With this year’s ordinations we have 51 diocesan priests in an archdiocese with a Catholic population of 45,000. But by projecting figures on the basis of expected growth, we anticipate there will be 165,000 Catholics in the Archdiocese by 1980.”

The bishop said that perhaps the statistic which brings the problem into clearest focus is that only one Catholic high school graduate in both Catholic and public schools is entering the seminary in September.

“No matter how much the role of the layman is upgraded in the Church the need for priests will increase because laymen cannot carry out certain roles which ordination alone makes possible,” he said.

Bishop Bernardin asked the club which is made up of business and professional men who seek to promote vocations to the priesthood, “What are we going to do?”

“First of all, you yourselves must believe that a religious vocation for your child is a good thing,” the bishop said. “When parents are not convinced of the value of a vocation, it is much more difficult for a child to develop an appreciation of it. As members of the Serra Club, I am sure you appreciate the priesthood. It is your task, therefore to help convince others of its value. This is something which you can do much better than priests.” “You must also talk with your child about the priesthood. His choice must certainly be free. This does not mean, however, that a parent should not talk with his son about being a priest for fear of prejudicing him. Complete silence is in no way necessary to ensure freedom.” “Parents must also give good example. In your lives, therefore, you must show that God and religion are considered important. You must also give practical evidence that you have a real respect for the priesthood.”

It was also announced that Father Jerry Hardy, newly appointed archdiocesan director of priestly vocations in the United States, will become chaplain of the club. He replaces Father R. Donald Kiernan who has been chaplain for 13 years.

In St. Louis, Joseph Cardinal Ritter told Serra International that delay in renewing the Church and a failure to show a dynamic and meaningful Church are reasons for the current shortage of priestly vocations.

The whole Church, the cardinal said, must work to bring about the renewal “so urgently needed to make the Church and all its institutions meaningful to the modern world, meaningful to modern youth, a youth living in a rapidly changing world, revolutionized by man’s scientific advances.” And in Rome, Pope Paul VI referred to the decline in the number of aspirants to the priesthood. He said, “Is it perhaps that the Lord is calling not so frequently or that His voice has become less effective? Certainly not.” “It is rather a question of creating conditions, always with great respect for the liberty of souls, in which the divine call can be heard and followed...”

“To youths, generous and strong by nature, the ideal of the priestly life should be presented in all its completeness: not concealing the renunciations and abnegations that it entails, but also throwing lights on its significance and value,” the pope said.