Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Many Catholics considering religious vocations, study finds

Many Catholics considering religious vocations, study finds

Last updated on: October 11, 2012 at 10:01 am by CNA Daily News

Many Catholics considering religious vocations, study finds 2012-10-11T10:01:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., Oct 11, 2012 / 04:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- A new report shows that while a significant number of Catholics are considering religious vocations, more education and outreach are needed to foster encouragement, especially among Latino populations.

“Although many speak of priest shortages and steep declines in the number of men and women religious, the survey reveals that there is no shortage of individuals who seriously consider these vocations among never-married Catholics in the United States,” the report said.

On Oct. 9, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced the release of a study on the consideration of vocations, conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University.

The study, entitled, “Consideration of Priesthood and Religious Life Among Never-Married U.S. Catholics,” was commissioned by the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations.

It found that among never-married Catholics, 12 percent of men and 10 percent of women have considered a vocation “at least a little seriously.”

Three percent of male respondents said they have “very seriously” considered entering the priesthood or becoming a religious brother, and two percent of female respondents said they have “very seriously” considered becoming a religious sister.

“This is equivalent to 350,000 never-married men and more than 250,000 never-married women,” the report explained.

“Shepherding more of these individuals on the path to seeking a vocation would likely require a combination of greater outreach from the Church, encouragement from others, assistance in obtaining educational prerequisites, and dealing with other issues such as student loan debt and citizenship status,” it suggested.

The report revealed “generational differences in the consideration of vocations,” with a low point falling in the Post-Vatican II Generation, those born from 1961 to 1981, and a slight increase among those born after 1981.

Catholic education also played a significant role. Male respondents who attended Catholic high school were more than six times more likely to have considered a vocation than those who did not, and female respondents who attended a Catholic elementary school were more than three times as likely to do so as those who did not.

Participation in a parish youth group was also related to higher vocational consideration.

“Encouragement from others is also important,” the survey found. Both men and women were almost twice as likely to consider a vocation if someone had encouraged them to do so.

Other positive factors in considering vocations were participation in a World Youth Day or National Catholic Youth Conference, the use of traditional media to access religious or spiritual content and knowing someone who was living a religious vocation.

Most of the adults in the survey who had considered a vocation “did so between the ages of 13 and 24,” the report said, and “one in four Catholic females who have considered becoming a religious sister did so before they were a teenager.”

The survey found “few differences related to race and ethnicity” and said that “Hispanic respondents – both male and female – are no less likely than others to say they have considered a vocation.”

However, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has warned of an “urgent” shortage in Hispanic clergy and religious. While about 35 percent of U.S. Catholics are Hispanic, “only 15 percent of the 2012 ordination class and 9 percent of the 2011 religious profession class were Hispanic,” the conference said.

The study found that citizenship requirements and educational prerequisites could be challenges facing Hispanic vocations. Hispanic respondents were the least likely to report having a college degree or being enrolled in Catholic schools at any level of education.

In addition, while Hispanic respondents were “among the most likely to participate in devotional practices and other prayer” associated with higher levels of considering a vocation, they were also “among the least likely to report that they have ever been encouraged to seek a vocation.”

“The good news is that more than 500,000 never-married men and women have seriously considered a vocation to priesthood or the religious life,” said Archbishop Robert J. Carlson of St. Louis, who chairs the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations.

“The challenge is to pastor and guide these individuals more effectively,” he continued. “This will require greater and more consistent encouragement from others, particularly within the family, and a more urgent focus on access to Catholic education for our young people.”

Previous Post

October 11, 2012

Anglican archbishop suggests contemplation for reaching post-Christian world

Next Post

October 11, 2012 Catholic bishop supports girl shot by Taliban

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does Paul say happens when we are baptized into Christ Jesus?

Select your answer to see how you score.

We are baptized into his death We become children of God We receive the Holy Spirit We are saved