There have been some public musings lately about why there are so few Roman Catholic vocations. Numbers of priests and nuns are dwindling, and the church seems perplexed about what to do.
In a March 14 letter, the commentator says he did not encourage vocations in his home because of the church’s discrimination against women. I wonder what his excuse might be if women priests were accepted. I suspect there would be another issue. Let’s face it, Roman Catholicism is not for the faint of heart. The church has set some tough standards and many people want to fit the church to their expectations.
Unfortunately none of us, clergy or lay person, is able to live up to those standards because of our original condition. Being Christlike is an ideal we should strive after. We must also understand it is not attainable. If it were, we would become God and capable of setting our own rules as many are trying to do now.
Regarding the lack of vocations, many reasons come to mind. Children set their eyes on particular occupations because they have watched an adult they admire perform in his or her occupational capacity. They look up to that person and consign him/her to hero status in their mind’s eye. It is obvious where heroes stand on an issue. He/she stands for something concrete and is both willing and able to communicate those beliefs.
Over the last 30 years more and more clergy seem wishy-washy on issues of the day. Acceptance seems to be the rule that has evolved. Do not criticize. You don’t know their hardships.
It is the rare priest who publicly speaks out against the horrors of abortion, or the dangers spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally of sex outside marriage, let alone criticizes the gay lifestyle. Where are the sermons about the evils of discrimination in our own house?
Today people are more educated. They need clear explanations of the benefits of following Catholic teaching, not justification of wrongs that make life easier. The priest or nun who has the faith and courage to do this clearly will not be liked by everyone. He or she will, however, be a hero.
An old saying says, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” Catholics have fallen for a lot in the last forty years. Vocations will increase only when the heroes return.
