[hoyt-clagwell]

As long as you limit available candidates you are going to get a lesser candidates as a whole. Tell that to the Marines.

My church is praying for men to come to the priesthood each mass and there is a shortage.

The Marines are not praying for recruits nor is there a shortage.

There is no comparison between the two.

[frogjerk]

My church is praying for men to come to the priesthood each mass and there is a shortage.

Maybe your parish/diocese is too liberal. Dioceses/parishes that are more orthodox are experiencing an increase in the number of seminarians.