12/03/02
Younger Priests Happier, Less Progressive
America Magazine
A new sociological study of U.S. Catholic priests has found that the views of younger priests in 2001 on many church issues were similar to those held by older priests In 1970. In 1970, for example, half the priests ages 35 and under thought the idea of a priest as a ³set a part² was a barrier to realizing true Christian community, but only 14 percent of over-65 priests considered it a barrier. In 2001, only 15 percent of the priests 35 and under held that view, a smaller percentage than any group of priests over 35.
The study found that priests as a whole were happier in 2001 than in 1970, that fewer were thinking of leaving the priesthood or thought they would marry if celibacy became optional. On the other hand, it found that priests in 2001 were more concerned about overwork and unrealistic demands by lay people-a function possibly of the fact that the Catholic population increased more than 30 percent during that time while "the total number of nonretired priests declined 30 percent to 35 percent between 1970 and 200l.The new study was summarized in a 30-page report, Changing Commitments and Attitudes of Catholic Priests, 1970-2001, by Catholic University of America sociologist Dean Hoge and Jacqueline Wenger, a doctoral student.
When compared with their elders, younger priests today ³believe, more than older priests, that priests are ontologically different after ordination³ the report said. ³They are less prepared than older priests to invite resigned priests, married or not, back to active ministry. They are less in favor of making celibacy optional for diocesan priests. And they are less in favor of empowering lay ministers as parish leaders.... They are less critical of the Åpractices of governance at the international level in the church¹ and less bothered by the way Church authority is exercised.³