Posted on 05/05/2014 9:48:04 AM PDT by BlatherNaut
VATICAN CITY - The number of Catholics in the world and the number of priests, permanent deacons and religious men all increased in 2012, while the number of women in religious orders continued to decline, according to Vatican statistics. The number of candidates for the priesthood also showed its first global downturn in recent years. The statistics come from a recently published Statistical Yearbook of the Church, which reported worldwide Church figures as of Dec. 31, 2012.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicregister.org ...
It said the number of bishops of the world stayed essentially the same at 5,133.
The total number of priests — diocesan and religious order — around the world grew from 413,418 to 414,313, with a modest increase in Africa, a larger rise in Asia, and slight decreases in the Americas, Europe and Oceania. Asia saw a 13.7 per cent growth in the number of priests between 2007 and the end of 2012.
The number of permanent deacons reported — 42,104 — was an increase of more than 1,100 over the previous year and a 17-per-cent increase since 2007. The vast majority — more than 97 per cent — of the world’s permanent deacons live in the Americas or in Europe.
The number of religious brothers showed 0.4 per cent growth worldwide. The number of religious brothers totaled 55,314 at the end of 2012. Slight growth was seen everywhere except the Americas.
The number of women in religious orders continued its downward trend. The total of 702, 529 temporarily and permanently professed sisters and nuns in 2012 was a 1.5-per-cent decrease from the previous year and a 5.9-per-cent decrease since 2007.
PFL
Interesting to note that the number of deacons is increasing rather significantly while the number of ordained priests continue to decline in the West. Deacons are permitted to be married. Surely the Church should re-examine its policy of mandatory clerical celibacy-—there is no basis for such a policy in the Bible.
Unless one ignores the obvious one - Jesus Christ was not married, and priests act in persona Christi.
Jesus never insisted that you cannot be married to serve. In fact, He glorifies and praises the institution of marriage in His ministry. His first reported miracle was performed at a wedding feast. Jesus cherished and celebrated marriage.
Good to see the Church growing.
Don’t try to use logic with em. It won’t work.
Should the deacon’s wife die, then the deacon may not remarry. At that time, I wonder how many will become priests?
Also, some of those deacons are transitional deacons — on their way to becoming a priest the next year.
Fact remains there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING wrong with married priests. There is NOTHING in the Bible requiring mandatory clerical celibacy. This something that was made up in the Middle Ages, largely to combat corruption and nepotism in the Church. The early popes, bishops, and priests were married men, for at least the first ten centuries of Church history.
“...while the number of women in religious orders continued to decline...”
I wonder if the decline is of the “women religious” who have suddenly discovered that the doctrines of the church don’t mesh with their “lifestyle choices”?
I know that a few of the newer religious orders are having close to explosive growth, but even so this growth is likely concealed by those “free range sisters” who have gone feral.
(So much for the idea that the Catholic Church does not have married clergy.)
Jesus also ever insisted you have to be a priest to serve. " In fact, He glorifies and praises the institution of marriage in His ministry. His first reported miracle was performed at a wedding feast. Jesus cherished and celebrated marriage."
And of course, there are tens of thousands of married clergy in the Catholic Church both deacons and priests. That's what Matrimony is a Sacrament in the Catholic Church.
I’ve wondered the same. I don’t think there’s any canonical reason why they wouldn’t, yet I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a “permanant” deacon-widower pursuing further studies and transitioning to priestly ordination.
I don’t see anything to argue with here. The Church has never taught that clerical celibacy is inherent to the sacrament of Holy Orders. It’s not a doctrine of the Church: which is one reason why we have so many married deacons in Holy Orders.
Yet another thread about the Catholic Church devolves into arguments about the celibacy of the priesthood.
::yawn::
“Surely the Church should re-examine its policy of mandatory clerical celibacy-—there is no basis for such a policy in the Bible.”
The Catholic Church is a religion; the Bible is not (a religion).
Can. 277 §1. Clerics are obliged to observe perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and therefore are bound to celibacy which is a special gift of God by which sacred ministers can adhere more easily to Christ with an undivided heart and are able to dedicate themselves more freely to the service of God and humanity.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__PY.HTM
Priests are called to serve God and His Church with an “undivided heart”, a virtual impossibility when one has a wife and kids to consider. Exceptions have obviously been made, but priestly celibacy remains the ideal, for both spiritual and practical reasons.
A permanent deacon has a different goal than a transitional deacon.
I can understand the permanent deacon numbers not changing significantly.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3152377/posts?page=18#18
It is much easier and more focused with a celibate lifestyle.
**There is NOTHING in the Bible requiring mandatory clerical celibacy.**
True, but we have the model of Jesus for men to imitate. Not too shabby in my estimation.
You may want to provide sources for your statement about married priests for 1000 years.
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