In response to the advertised discussion topic of ” Are We Killing Our Priests?” at our upcoming AGM Prof. Thomas O’Loughlin, President of the Catholic Theological Association of Great Britain and Professor of Historical Theology at the University of Nottingham draws our attention to an article he has published about the number of priests that are required in church.
He raises some points well worth considering and his conclusions are challenging;”it is obvious that there has been a serious crisis of under-ordination not just since the mid-twentieth century but since the mid-sixteenth century when as an effect of the Reformation debates the full-time, professionalized, seminary-educated cleric became the norm. Bringing the number of clerics up to quota would initially be a great shock to the churches: the education system of clerics would have to be altered radically, the expectation that this particular ministry would be funded by others Christians (who, incidentally, are expected to offer their ministry to the church usually without payment) would have to be swept aside, along with discriminatory canonical restrictions on who can be appointed presbyter within a given community.”
When the Association was first founded, I wrote to one member saying I thought there would be a need for TWO Associations – one to defend falsely accused priests and another to promote the “liberal” agenda. I am pleased to see that I was very much wrong – in relation to Fr Reynolds anyway. However I have recently noted the contrast between your numerous articles AND comments on the Vatican censures etc and your minimal coverage of the Reynolds case. The Association now seems to be devoting less attention to it than are the anti-clerical media that created the atmosphere of hysteria which made “Mission to Prey” possible in the first place! No comments yet on THIS particular article but several supporting Fintan O’Toole – who is noted for his support of falsely accused priests??
The RTE decision-making process reminds me of Mr Bush and Iraq. Obviously the bottom line was at the top of the page. Note the link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/09/colin-powell-book_n_1503592.html