Priests in the US The research revealed interesting conclusions

As emphasized, this is the most comprehensive study of the state of the American clergy conducted in the past fifty years. It focuses on polarization, generational dynamics and the impact of the sexual abuse crisis.

Part one of the survey, published in October, found that despite relatively high levels of personal well-being and satisfaction among priests as a whole, a significant percentage of priests struggle with burnout, lack of trust in their bishop and the fear of being falsely accused. of misconduct.

The new November report highlights “several themes that emerged from further analysis of the quantitative data, as well as a close examination of qualitative data collected from one-on-one interviews with priests. The study used survey responses from 3,516 priests from 191 dioceses and eparchies in the United States.

Scientists say that among priests ordained in recent years, there are almost no clergy who describe themselves as “liberal” or “progressive,” and that priests who describe themselves as “conservative/orthodox” make up more than 80 percent. among those ordained after 2020.

The new analysis also shows that the size of a diocese affects the extent to which a priest trusts his bishop, with priests in smaller dioceses more likely than clergy in larger dioceses to trust their bishop. Priests who believe they belong to the same ideological camp as their bishop – politically or theologically – also tend to trust him more.

“Progressive” clergy are dying out

The report found a significant gap between the political and theological self-identification of older and younger priests. More than half of priests ordained after 2010 describe themselves as conservative. None of the clergy surveyed who were ordained after 2020 described themselves as “very progressive.” 85 percent of the youngest priests describe themselves theologically as “conservative/orthodox” or “very conservative/orthodox,” and only 14 percent describe themselves as “somewhere in between.”

The report also noted that nearly 70 percent of priests ordained in the mid-1960s describe themselves as somewhat or very “progressive.”

The research shows that priests largely came to see themselves as “more progressive” after the Second Vatican Council and as “conservative” after 2002, when the massive child abuse scandal broke.

The Catholic Project’s findings are consistent with previous research and opinions expressed to CNA by clergy responsible for the formation of seminarians. Fr. Carter Griffin, rector of St. Martin’s Seminary. John Paul II in Washington said that most of the young men who come to his seminary want to preach the Gospel and serve the poor in total fidelity to the Church.

– They really love God and they love the Church. They believe in him. They believe He founded it. They don’t want to believe in anything other than what the Church believes… I think many of them are responding to the castaways of secular materialism, and many of them have seen the impact of this materialism, this secularism, on their peers. . They have seen people trapped in sin and they want to make a difference in the world. They want to be people who help bring back light, joy and hope to a world that seems to be losing them – said the rector of the Seminary of St. John Paul II in Washington.

Trust and polarization

On the topic of trust, the October 2022 report states that this is an average of 49 percent Today, diocesan priests express their trust in their bishop. Levels of trust varied widely between dioceses, and the data shows that the sexual abuse crisis, including the mishandling of individual cases by bishops, was a major factor.

In a new study, scientists show that the size of a diocese has a moderate influence on priests’ trust in their bishop, while trust among dioceses in the US ranges from 100 percent. to just 9 percent Scientists say one reason for this may be that priests in very large dioceses have a harder time getting to know their bishops personally, as do priests in smaller dioceses.

In addition, a priest’s perception that his bishop shares – or does not share – his theological and political views was found to be a factor in how much trust he has in that bishop. For example, if a priest describes himself as theologically conservative and believes that his bishop is also theologically conservative, he would most likely report a high level of trust in his bishop. On the other hand, if a priest has stated that he disagrees with his bishop on theological issues or political views, he will declare that he has little confidence in his bishop.

Clergy victims of abuse, priests as first responders

The researchers asked priests to respond to the statement: “I personally experienced sexual harassment or sexual abuse or sexual misconduct during my formation or seminary.” Eighty-five percent answered ‘no’, 9%. “yes” and 6 percent said they were unsure or preferred not to answer.

69 percent Priests said they felt well prepared to help victims of abuse, and 54 percent said they already do so. Seventy-one percent of priests reported knowing at least one victim of clergy sexual abuse, and 11 percent know five or more such people.

Perseverance in the priesthood

Only 4 percent of priests responded affirmatively to the statement, “I am thinking of leaving the priesthood.” According to researchers, some of the factors associated with being more likely to consider leaving include a lack of confidence in the bishop’s leadership, younger age and a perceived or actual lack of support.

Fr. Griffin noted that modern culture does not support fidelity to agreements. – This is an atmosphere that can be truly toxic for marriages, faithful couples and persistent priests – he said.

In summary, the study authors indicate that the aforementioned changes in self-perception can be a source of friction and tension, especially between younger and older priests. They hope that the data presented can help Catholics in general understand their pastors, especially bishops and priests on whom much depends.