Sex scandals, celibacy blamed for fall in vocations

SEX scandals and celibacy are the two main reasons why people are not entering the priesthood, according to the preliminary findings of a survey.

Churchgoers in the 10 Dublin parishes also cited a belief that God has been forgotten and a desire for economic prosperity as a reason for a fall in vocations.

Respondents to the survey, carried out by the Dublin diocese vocations office, believed celibacy did not “make sense to people”.