My theory on declining priest enrollment

I read an article in the Washington Post today about US Catholics and the declining number of priests. I want to write why I think there are fewer priests joining the Catholic church.

While our society becomes more open and liberal, shame, and also guilt, become less powerful. Years ago, when it was [more] unacceptable for a young woman to have a lover whom she did not marry, she might run off to the convent to hide from the shame of a failed relationship. A youth who committed some socially unacceptable act may join the priesthood or become a nun to hide from their guilt. Most significant in my opinion; a GAY or LESBIAN could find solace, companionship, and intimacy with another priest or nun while avoiding the social pressures to marry and have children. Whether a priest remains celibate or not is independent of their sexual orientation.

Today, it is becoming less likely that certain human behaviors will bring about such shame and guilt. People are more free to act in ways (which some may judge to be immoral) that historically were taboo. The result is that fewer people flock to become priests or nuns in an attempt to hide from their shame and guilt. Why join the priesthood when there are plenty of gay men in the laity?

Some suggest that the way for the Catholic church to increase the number of priests is to become more conservative and orthodox. This may well be true because it will cast all the gays back in the closet out of fear and homophobia from the Church!


Humm....what do you think?