A start would be to let them marry! Celibacy should not be mandatory, I’d say there are many potential priests who are totally put off by this. Having said all of that, I personally have no time for the catholic church, but everyone is entitled to their own beliefs!

Just wondering if women could do this job?

I don’t understand why the church still doesn’t allow women and married priests its pretty obvious that if it doesn’t change soon it will die.

“He’s not supposed to see his reflection Ted, he doesn’t know he’s a priest!”

I’m not in anyway religious and I’m very upfront about it, I don’t believe in any religious faith…however I will say that if it helps to get somebody through life and hard times then so be it as long as their faith does not infringe the rights and well being of others.

A few years back I went to a friends kids christening in a protestant church, after years of attending events at a catholic church I will say it was a interesting experience,

When the minister said it can be difficult raising a child you knew he was speaking from actual experience because he had kids, later in my friends home I got talking to the two ministers that attended the service.

One a women who wasn’t married yet and the other who was a man who was married with two kids. It was refreshing to be able to just talk to both of them like normal down to earth people.

They didn’t have any nonsense airs or graces about them and infact like any other married man the minister was having abit of a laugh about how he’ll have to do something special for valentines day to make up for it for his wife wife as he has an event to attend thats already booked. All normal everyday conversations that anybody would have.,

I remembering commenting to them at the time that I thought it was such a shame and it was so sad that catholic priests will often tell people how hard it can be to raise a child or how difficult it can be to go through lifes experiences such as relationships and marriage yet they will never ever be able to talk from any experience so they actually haven’t a clue.

Its clear and evident that the church has made alot of massive mistakes and not having priests that can be normal everyday people that can choose to be in relationships or not is certainly one of them, that and without a doubt women should be allowed be priests,.

The whole celibacy thing goes against every natural instinct of every single species on the planet earth and it is in no way normal, at the young age many people joined the priesthood years ago they didn’t know their arse from there elbow (who does at say 18-19!!).

But it was made so hard for them to leave and such crap would have been caused about it if they did that they ended up in a twisted unnatural existence even if they didn’t want to be in it anymore.

This created a very very unnatural situation for so many and its clear that this may have even attracted some very twisted f*cked up people into the priesthood, between the power and it gave and the access to children etc.

I guess it’s not easy for many to leave the priesthood. I’m sure the Roman Catholic church doesn’t provide a voluntary redundancy package . What can they do when they leave? Especially if they’ve been priests , nuns and brothers for many years and have no specialised skills ? These people must need a lot of support from families and friends. Thats if their left with any . I admire anyone who has held such a position in the RCC and has recognised the corruption and crimes committed against children by that institution and and have the courage to leave. For those that stay however there will always be the stigma that they are still supporting an organisation that protects and facilitates the rape . Torture and abuse of children. Having said all that I’m sure there are many who left the organisation because they were involved in these crimes too for those I hope that they will pay severely for their crimes.

I’d say that’s being optimistic…

Like other posters have said its time to change things let them marry if they wish to and celibacy should not be mandatory..

Only 450 priests in 30 years? I don’t think that is too optimistic. In the 1980’s there were three priests for every church, today there is one priest for every three church’s, they only have themselves to blame, the way they handled the abuse of so many children for decades, their narrow-minded views on contraception, their opposition to gay marriage, are just a few things that they have gotten wrong.

And on the issue of people attending church, is this not hypocritical because as it is written in the bible( you know that book that Catholics are supposed to read ), it states the following: Matthew 6:6 “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” What is the point in going to church if you are instructed to pray in private?

The idea that a group of celibate fundamentalists can provide a moral compass for the people of Ireland is slowly being behind left in the dark corridors of its own disgusting history……..

I wonder what the rate of pay is? They should advertise more don’t they know there’s a job shortage!!

Self fulfilling prophecy and entirely their own doing… I can’t imagine men are lining up to join a profession that’s gathered a reputation for molesting and abusing boys and covering it up?

People sometimes talk about the good priests and all the work they do.
I often wonder what exactly do they do.
I heard from a friend whose mother was in an old peoples home and the priest would visit the patients regularly. She was not a believer and no matter what she said he would not leave her alone.
The priests and members of the active laity are given the freedom to come and go to old peoples homes and pester the residents even if they are not practising catholics.

Good riddance. Don’t let the door hit your arse on the way out of our country.

Instead of we sending missionaries to Africa they will be sending missionaries here.

There must have been an awful lot of Mammies around the country filling in the census form for you lot!

While I’m sure this may upset some people, this does not bother me at all. Wouldn’t bother me if the number was 1,000 or just 5. I just don’t care at all. I have never taken an intrest in religion and never will. The constant disgusting scandals cannot be helping. Don’t tar all with the same brush though.

I think most of the country will have the same thought as myself…. We don’t care.

If the RCC wants to survive then it should fall on its own sword name and shame all those who perpetrated violent sexual crimes on children and those that covered it up. So long as they remain anonymous then all clergy are suspect. Name and shame like some victims have done stateside . see the following website which lists clergy and includes a miniature dossier on those who have been accused of sex crimes http://www.bishopaccountability.com how else can you know if your local RCC PP is not a threat to children

Still too many.

That’s generous

The sooner that poisonous organization perishes, the better.

That’s 450 too many

As things stand right now Catholicism brings nothing but disgust to my mind. If it is to survive, there would have to be a complete shake up from the top down. Why is anyone surprised by the low level of young men entering the priesthood? I’d go as far to say that if we didn’t have the unemployment levels that we have, there would be even less interest. Until the church is completely rid of the perverts, and the hierarchy that protect them, I for one will never let my children get within 100 yards of a priest.

Sounds optimistic to me ! And oh no ! Not lay people leading the services … The sky will fall down !

“Dat would be an ecumenical mattur”

i think its time to let them marry id they want to i believe then there would be many more priests

450 too many!

That must be almost cult status

This is awful news! The catholic church has done so much for our country….. Oh no wait… They protected evil men and women that raped and abused children…

The church is dying in this country- from a self inflicted wound. I new age of truth and rationality is upon us. If I could twist the knife, I would.

I was hoping for a smaller figure. Thousands have left the priesthood obviously many of them have been enlightened to the corruption of the institution.

Wonderful photograph attached to article. How seriously can you take grown men dressed in female attire wearing party hats?

450 too many

Don’t worry,
the invisible sky fairies will fix it all

Still 450 too many!

Good riddance to them!

Good

The majority of the work done by priests is unseen and usually only acknowledged by those directly involved. In most parishes where a priest remains he will be on 24 hour call 7 days a week.
In parishes throughout the country where there is no priest this has caused considerable distress to the faithful and plans for services led by the laity on Sunday will not be well received.

The predatory glee with which some people greet this prospect is very unappealing.