[Salvation]

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.

[Alex Murphy]

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

PFL

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

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.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

“...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.

[piusv]

Yet another thread about the Catholic Church devolves into arguments about the celibacy of the priesthood.

::yawn::