Decline in priest vocations - Ungodly hours

“Wanted: bright, energetic, adventurous recruit to join a global organisation. Opportunity to travel and see parts of the world where many dare to venture.

“Must be male, chaste and willing to forego pleasures of the flesh. Must pledge obedience to superiors and expect to endure hardship and loneliness.”

Not exactly the job of anyone’s dreams, is it? But that is exactly what the Catholic Bishop of Cork and Ross, John Buckley, was offering yesterday at a careers fair in the city.

Dr Buckley ran the stand himself, at the Career Options Cork 2016 event. His hands-on approach is testament to the continuing fall in vocations. There are only three men currently studying to become priests in his diocese, and only one new recruit in the past 12 months. Just nine priests are due to be ordained nationally this year.

We wish the bishop luck in his efforts, but, apart from the enforced celibacy issue, unless the Catholic Church realises that it cannot continue to bar women from the priesthood, the decline in vocations will continue.