“We need to dig into the data and find those reasons, but I think this will be a wake-up call for many bishops,” Berg told CNA. “It seems that our newly ordained priests are landing in unexpected adverse environments in their respective dioceses. The report tells us in no uncertain terms that we need to do a much better job of accompanying and supporting our newly ordained priests in their first years of ministry.”
Although the study did not explicitly ask priests about many personal issues, according to Berg, a “small but consistent” percentage of newly ordained priests in all dioceses are experiencing major crisis such as depression, drug addiction alcohol or other addiction, or entering into a sexual relationship. Such a crisis could lead them to abandon the priesthood.
“It was the desire to address the causes of this phenomenon that motivated the study,” Berg told CNA.
Reports say that when new priests are asked daily about their biggest issues, they “express their greatest frustration with their diocese and fellow priests.”
For 20% of respondents, the differences between different age cohorts of priests are “very” a problem, with a further 26% saying it was “somewhat” a problem. Another 20% cited theological differences in the concept of priesthood among other priests as a significant issue, with another 24% saying it was somewhat of an issue. About 17% of respondents indicated that the lack of participation in decision-making processes at the diocesan level was a significant problem.
A significant minority of respondents felt that they had been given too many ministries and functions or that they were so busy that they could not meet the pastoral needs of the people. Ministry in more than one parish was a problem for some. They said there was not as much brotherly support among the priests as they would like, and that the “loneliness of priestly life” was a problem. Some 30% of respondents thought that “unrealistic demands and expectations of lay people” were a problem, although about half of them said that actual conflicts with parishioners or lay people were problematic.
About 4% said living a life of celibacy or chastity was “very” a problem, and about 14% said it was “somewhat” a problem. About 2% said “resolving any personal psychosexual issues” was really a problem, and 9% said it was a bit of a problem.
About 10% of respondents said “differences between priests with different sexual orientations in your diocese” were really a problem, while about 13% said it was a bit of a problem.
“Being expected to represent Church teachings you struggle with” was “very” a problem for 2% of respondents, and “somewhat” a problem for about 5%.
About one percent said feeling comfortable serving women was really a problem for them.
The new priests were asked if they would choose the same path, knowing what they know now, and they were overwhelmingly positive. 80% of respondents said they would “definitely” enter the priesthood again. Another 16% said they “probably” would. One percent said they would definitely not enter the priesthood again if given the choice, and 4% said they were unlikely to.
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The survey asked new priests to reflect on their own future in the priesthood. A large majority, 76%, said they would definitely not leave the priesthood, and 18% said they were unlikely to. However, 5% expressed uncertainty as to whether they would continue to exercise their priesthood.
When asked if they had ever thought about leaving the priesthood, about 40% cited “the celibacy and loneliness of priestly life” as the reason they had considered leaving.
“The next most frequently cited reasons are frustration with their diocese, religious institute, bishop or superior and disappointment they feel with their current ministries,” the report said.
Some 79% know someone who left active ministry or priesthood within five years of ordination. Respondents speculated that the reasons for this were “disillusionment with the real life of the ministry, loneliness, meeting someone they would like to be their love partner or marry, and their desire to seek a partner lover”.
Among all survey respondents, priests tend to report being very satisfied with the respect they receive as clergy from lay people, their current financial situation, and their current living situation. They were the least likely to say they were satisfied with balancing work, personal and spiritual life and with their training in administrative matters such as budgeting and personnel management.
Clergy sex abuse scandals “significantly” hampered the ministry of about 16% of those surveyed, while 64% said the scandals “slightly” hampered their ministry.
