Wisconsin churches see more men enter priesthood
STEVENS POINT, Wis. (AP) — Some Catholic churches in Wisconsin are having unusual success in attracting new priests.
The number of priests in the U.S. has dropped from about 59,000 in 1975 to about 40,600 last year.
But pastoral ministries director Dwaine Habrat says St. Bronislava Catholic Church in Plover in central Wisconsin recently ordained one member and has about five others studying to enter the priesthood.
Vocations director Joseph Hirsch says the Diocese of La Crosse has about six men enter the seminary each year and that's beginning to increase.
Researcher Mary Gautier of the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University says some men responded to the priest sex abuse scandal by going into the church because they felt it needed them.
Apr 7, 2009 at 12:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
In the old days, a man would go into the priesthood because his older brother inherited the family farm. These days, a man goes into the priesthood because his younger brother, the banker, took back the family farm.
Apr 7, 2009 at 9:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
rookie: your misspelling is inappropriately hilarious! Thanks.
Apr 6, 2009 at 8:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
Numbers are probably down because pedophiles have the internet now.
Apr 6, 2009 at 12:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
sure hope they do good backround checks
Apr 6, 2009 at 11:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
Sorry girls, those handsome devils are in the priesthood!
Apr 6, 2009 at 9:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
Higher unemployment means more priests and boxers.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.