Unknown commented on "Why Are So Many Young Priests Leaving Ministry?"
18 hours ago
What an outstanding article—thank you for shining a light on this painful but important reality.
I was ordained over fifty years ago, inspired by the Franciscan priests who taught at my Catholic high school, where the entire faculty consisted of dedicated clergy. Initially, I planned to attend UCLA film school and pursue a career in the movie industry, but my closest friend felt called to the priesthood, and eventually I followed his path.
My formation years—in the novitiate and eight years of study—were rich with genuine community life. Seminaries run by religious orders were thriving with vocations back then, fostering deep friendships. Diocesan seminaries were similarly vibrant and full.
After ordination, however, I encountered a very different reality. In community life, some priests were alcoholics or exhibited antisocial traits—far removed from their public personas. They were also much older than I was, so genuine peer support was scarce. My superior was a controlling figure who made life difficult. Friendships formed outside the friary became my psychological lifeline, keeping me grounded.
At least I had a community to belong to—something many diocesan priests lack entirely. As your article notes, without that support, many turned to unhealthy outlets for solace, leading to burnout and eventual resignation.
After just three years, I reached my limit. I left, married, and later was welcomed as a priest in the Episcopal Church.
I continue to follow the Catholic Church with hope that it will one day allow a married clergy. Over the decades, I've watched countless men leave—often disillusioned, as I was—to marry and seek healthier paths. Recent studies and reports confirm that this trend persists, particularly among younger priests. Burnout and profound loneliness are now cited as major drivers, with surveys showing over 60% of priests under 45 experiencing significant burnout, and many leaving within their first ten years (in some dioceses, rates approach 50%). Isolation, overwhelming workloads due to the ongoing priest shortage, premature assignments as pastors, and a lack of ongoing support after seminary formation all contribute to this "invisible crisis." These pressures echo the struggles I saw decades ago, though the scale feels even more acute today amid declining vocations and rising demands on fewer clergy.
I've also witnessed the emergence of the pedophilia crisis. I followed the important work of A.W. Richard Sipe, Ph.D., a former priest commissioned by the Church to study clerical sexuality. His landmark findings—that at any given time, roughly half of priests were not fully practicing celibacy—were controversial and largely sidelined by many bishops, yet they highlighted deeper systemic issues around mandatory celibacy and secrecy that continue to fuel debate.
Articles like this help bring these realities into the open and encourage honest reflection. Thank you again.
I was ordained over fifty years ago, inspired by the Franciscan priests who taught at my Catholic high school, where the entire faculty consisted of dedicated clergy. Initially, I planned to attend UCLA film school and pursue a career in the movie industry, but my closest friend felt called to the priesthood, and eventually I followed his path.
My formation years—in the novitiate and eight years of study—were rich with genuine community life. Seminaries run by religious orders were thriving with vocations back then, fostering deep friendships. Diocesan seminaries were similarly vibrant and full.
After ordination, however, I encountered a very different reality. In community life, some priests were alcoholics or exhibited antisocial traits—far removed from their public personas. They were also much older than I was, so genuine peer support was scarce. My superior was a controlling figure who made life difficult. Friendships formed outside the friary became my psychological lifeline, keeping me grounded.
At least I had a community to belong to—something many diocesan priests lack entirely. As your article notes, without that support, many turned to unhealthy outlets for solace, leading to burnout and eventual resignation.
After just three years, I reached my limit. I left, married, and later was welcomed as a priest in the Episcopal Church.
I continue to follow the Catholic Church with hope that it will one day allow a married clergy. Over the decades, I've watched countless men leave—often disillusioned, as I was—to marry and seek healthier paths. Recent studies and reports confirm that this trend persists, particularly among younger priests. Burnout and profound loneliness are now cited as major drivers, with surveys showing over 60% of priests under 45 experiencing significant burnout, and many leaving within their first ten years (in some dioceses, rates approach 50%). Isolation, overwhelming workloads due to the ongoing priest shortage, premature assignments as pastors, and a lack of ongoing support after seminary formation all contribute to this "invisible crisis." These pressures echo the struggles I saw decades ago, though the scale feels even more acute today amid declining vocations and rising demands on fewer clergy.
I've also witnessed the emergence of the pedophilia crisis. I followed the important work of A.W. Richard Sipe, Ph.D., a former priest commissioned by the Church to study clerical sexuality. His landmark findings—that at any given time, roughly half of priests were not fully practicing celibacy—were controversial and largely sidelined by many bishops, yet they highlighted deeper systemic issues around mandatory celibacy and secrecy that continue to fuel debate.
Articles like this help bring these realities into the open and encourage honest reflection. Thank you again.
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