Follow the Priests -- To Follow the Money
“Churches in Chad, Sudan, and Djibouti Appeal for More Priests, Religious.” This was the title of a July 15 Catholic News Service article.
The Catholic Church is again whining about its “priest shortage,” this time in Africa. So……let’s take a look at the 2001 Statistical Year Book of the (Catholic) Church. The following numbers are Catholics per priest around the world:
Australia – 1536. Europe – 1386. US/Canada – 1420. Latin America – 7120. Africa – 4723.
The solution seems rather obvious. If Africa is suffering from a priest shortage, then Rome should move some priests from Australia, Europe, the USA, and Canada to Africa!
Comment – Fat chance!! It doesn’t appear that many priests are lining up to leave the good life in the USA for the huts, poverty, disease, and squalor of Africa or Latin America!
As a matter of fact, the opposite is happening. The USA, for example, is receiving priests from all over the world!! In 2006, 16% of priests in the USA were foreign-born, and 27% of those ordained to the priesthood were foreign-born.
Why isn’t the pope responding to Africa’s call for priests? The answer is money - this is what’s important to the pope and his church. Catholics in Africa can cry all they want about needing more priests, but rest assured the pope will keep priests where the money is – in Australia, Europe, the USA, and Canada.
Please pray daily for Catholic conversions, as only Christ can free people from the sin of - Roman Catholicism.
The Catholic Church is again whining about its “priest shortage,” this time in Africa. So……let’s take a look at the 2001 Statistical Year Book of the (Catholic) Church. The following numbers are Catholics per priest around the world:
Australia – 1536. Europe – 1386. US/Canada – 1420. Latin America – 7120. Africa – 4723.
The solution seems rather obvious. If Africa is suffering from a priest shortage, then Rome should move some priests from Australia, Europe, the USA, and Canada to Africa!
Comment – Fat chance!! It doesn’t appear that many priests are lining up to leave the good life in the USA for the huts, poverty, disease, and squalor of Africa or Latin America!
As a matter of fact, the opposite is happening. The USA, for example, is receiving priests from all over the world!! In 2006, 16% of priests in the USA were foreign-born, and 27% of those ordained to the priesthood were foreign-born.
Why isn’t the pope responding to Africa’s call for priests? The answer is money - this is what’s important to the pope and his church. Catholics in Africa can cry all they want about needing more priests, but rest assured the pope will keep priests where the money is – in Australia, Europe, the USA, and Canada.
Please pray daily for Catholic conversions, as only Christ can free people from the sin of - Roman Catholicism.
posted by Robt. B. at 4:16 AM
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