Posted June 1, 2003
Four Major Questions Confronting the Priesthood
These findings come from the study: Evolving Visions of the Priesthood: Changes from Vatican II to the Turn of the New Century by Dr. Dean R. Hoge and Jacqueline E. Wenger.
For further information please e-mail Dr. Dean Hoge at hoge@cua.edu.
In the future if you would be asked
to restrict your work to sacramental
and liturgical duties, would you be
satisfied or dissatisfied?
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Very or somewhat satisfied |
44% |
50% |
35% |
| Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied |
10% |
9% |
10% |
| Very or somewhat dissatisfied |
43% |
38% |
52% |
| I don't know |
3% |
3% |
3% |
Which of the following statements
most clearly reflects your feeling
about your future in the priesthood?
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| I will definitely not leave |
79% |
78% |
81% |
| I probably will not leave |
16% |
17% |
15% |
| I am uncertain about my future |
4% |
4% |
4% |
| I probably will leave |
1% |
1% |
1% |
| I have definitely decided to leave |
0% |
0% |
0% |
If celibacy for priests became optional,
do you think you would ever get married?
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Certainly yes |
4% |
5% |
2% |
| Probably yes |
8% |
10% |
5% |
| Uncertain |
12% |
13% |
9% |
| Probably no |
29% |
31% |
26% |
| Certainly no |
41% |
47% |
58% |
If you had your choice again, would
you enter the priesthood?
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Definitely yes |
67% |
68% |
66% |
| Probably yes |
21% |
19% |
24% |
| Uncertain |
8% |
9% |
6% |
| Probably not |
3% |
3% |
4% |
| Definitely not |
1% |
1% |
0% |
|
|
