The First Five Years of the Priesthood: A Study of Newly Ordained Catholic Priests

by Dean R. Hoge

Catholic Press Association Award Winner! Reports indicate that many newly ordained men are feeling demoralized and some are resigning. The accounts raised many questions. How widespread is the problem? What difficulties are the recently ordained priests facing? Is the problem due to changes in lay attitudes or to changes in the ordained themselves? Is the situation different from what it was ten or twenty years ago? The First Five Years of the Priesthood is a collaborative work of the National Federation of Priests' Councils and the Life Cycle Institute of The Catholic University of America that considers this phenomenon. It explores the experience of early priesthood and is based on a pilot survey of two groups - recently ordained priests active in service and those who have resigned. The research team minimized interpretative work on the findings and engaged credible voices in American Catholic life to write commentaries on the implications of the findings. The First Five Years of the Priesthood includes both the research findings and commentaries. Chapters are The Setting of the Priesthood Today," "Attitudes of Newly Ordained Active and Resigned Priests," "What Makes for Satisfied Newly Ordained Priests?" "Four Types of Resigned Priests," "Life Experiences of Newly Ordained Active and Resigned Priests," and "Recommendations Made by the Priests." Dean R. Hoge is a professor in the department of sociology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He has done sociological research serving American churches for 31 years and has authored several books and articles on American religion.

200 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2002

Reviews

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

RESULTS AND COMMENTARIES ON A SOCIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW PRIESTS

Sociologist Dean Hoge (1937-2008) wrote in the Author’s Preface to this 2002 book, “Early in 1999 the National Federation of Priests’ Councils asked me if I and others … could begin a study of the problems of recently ordained Catholic priests. Reports were coming in from all sides that many newly ordained priests were feeling demoralized and many were resigning… How widespread is the problem? What difficulties are the recently ordained priests facing? Is the problem due to changes in lay attitudes or to changes in the priests themselves? Is the situation different from what it was ten or twenty years ago? The executive committee … worked with me to design new research that would elicit information…

“We researchers listened to viewpoints blaming the seminaries, the mentality of today’s seminarians, and institutional policies. It became clear that the task of the research team was not to jump into the fray but merely to gather reliable new information that would make the debates more realistic and constructive. We decided to minimize interpretative work in our research findings and to engage credible voices in American Catholic life to write commentaries on the implications of the findings. This book is the result.” (Pg. xi-xii)

In the first chapter, he explains, “Recent trends in the Catholic priesthood will help us to understand present-day conditions… we are 36 years past the close of the Second Vatican Council… In the council’s deliberations, the priesthood was more a recipient of the innovations than their wellspring… In the years after the council, the Church changed in numerous ways… One of the most consequential was a sharp decline in the number of men entering Catholic seminaries…” (Pg. 1)

He continues, “Are today’s new priests different? Many observers have said that a certain percentage of the new priests are homosexual in their orientation … persons who know the situation estimate that about ¼ to ½ of priests today have a homosexual orientation. How many are active? Everyone agrees it is a minority, but no one has exact information… One difficulty is that a separate gay subcommunity would develop in seminaries or dioceses, and that could possibly be divisive.” (Pg. 3)

Of resigned priests, he reports, “the size of the gap between active diocesan and resigned priests [was greatest for] (1) Understanding yourself as a sexual person … (2) Handling problems of loneliness… (3) developing personal support networks… (4) Understanding changes in the priesthood… In sum, the resigned priests were especially critical of their theological training in one domain, that of preparing them for the celibate life and for coping with problems of loneliness.” (Pg. 15)

Hoge concludes, “We found evidence of change over time… We found that the reasons some priests were demoralized and thinking about resigning were a bit different in 2000 than they had been in 1970. In 1970 the main two reasons for resignation were the desire to marry and a rejection of authoritative institutional Church structures. In 2000 the desire to marry was clearly in first place, with institutional criticism far behind… The issue of priestly overwork also needs more examination… And if, as I believe, the demands on newly ordained priests were intensified, someone needs to consider what changes in definitions and expectations are needed in parish life…. Several easy adjustments … have to do with improving living conditions, managing problems of overwork and burnout, and making seminary programs more practical. Difficult adjustments… will very likely be needed in face of the worsening priest shortage.” (Pg. 102-103)

Ms. Marti R. Jewell observes, “We are forming ministerial communities of ordained and lay ecclesial minsters, working together, integrally woven into the Body of Christ, called by vocation, calling forth the community of believers; a community, in turn, called to minister to the world. The bishops have begun the dialogue that is essential to the process. Seminaries and academic programs have a significant role to play.” (Pg. 130)

Katarina Schuth concludes, “The study explored numerous dimensions of the lives of priests ordained in the last five years. Most remain in the priesthood and are immensely satisfied with their ministry and with the ways they were prepared for it. At same time priests who have resigned and those who are active identified some areas for improvement… During seminary formation, awareness of their own personal needs and development and realism about their future ministry are of primary importance if they are to live as effective and dedicated priests, deeply rooted in prayer and a spiritual life that is essential to ministry.” (Pg. 144-145)

Br. Loughlan Sofield notes, “The statistics are clear. The number of priests is decreasing at between 10 and 20% per decade and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future. At the same time that the Church is experiencing a reduction in the number of priests, the number of Catholics is increasing at about 10% per decade. We can expect that the expectations on priests will increase rather than decrease as each priest finds the ratio between himself and the number of Catholics he has pastoral responsibility for increasing. As the study predicts, ‘Clearly the parish as we have known it cannot continue to be maintained in the future.’ Effective pastoral ministry will require a radical ministerial approach. That approach, I conclude, is to foster collaboration, animating the gifts of the entire Christian community… Priests who will be effective leaders in this approach must be filled with life. However, the picture that emerged was of the newly ordained experiencing more burnout than life.” (Pg. 150-151)

He concludes, “I would like to offer a few suggestions for assisting these priests to become more effective collaborative, pastoral leaders… *Pervasive attitudes that deter collaboration must be challenged… *… continuing education programs for clergy, especially young clergy, should focus on developing skills and attitudes to do this [collaboration]… *Most ministers find satisfaction in ‘doing’ for others… Help priests to see their primary role as animator of the gifts of all rather than being the ‘super-doer’ of ministries. *Provide opportunities for seminarians and priests to reflect with others to help clarify those expectations that lead to burnout… *Seminaries and clergy continuing education programs are needed to address the issue of intimacy, loneliness, celibacy, and sexual orientation in very direct ways…*There is often a profound sense of loss experienced by many young priests when they leave the seminary… [Many] individuals were surprised by the sense of loss they experienced when they left the camaraderie, and affirming climate of the seminary.” (Pg. 152-153)\

This book will be of great interest to those studying modern priests.

[Joshua Miller-Shawnee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting study on the experience of the newly ordained. Lots of data, but a surprisingly coherent narrative emerges. I hope people are listening!