Lack of priests may lead to collective funerals

An influential group representing Ireland’s Catholic priests has warned that ordained clerics are facing the grim prospect of having to celebrate collective funeral Masses in the near future.

The Association of Catholic Priests said the vocations crisis has become so critical that the day is looming when there will not be enough priests available in some parishes to conduct single funeral and wedding Masses.

The body, which represents more than 1,000 Irish priests, issued the warnings on the eve of its annual general meeting tomorrow.