Hugh Lagan Introduction Formazione comunitaria

Introduction (Hugh Lagan)

A meta-analysis of international studies involving diocesan Catholic priests identified that the singular and defining difference between diocesan Catholic priests who remain in ministry and those who leave is the presence or absence of healthy interpersonal relationships

Protective factors for diocesan clergy who remained in priesthood were friendships with brother priests, a meaningful spiritual life, a supportive relationship with their bishop and strong connections with family, friends and parishioners (note the presence of supporting relationships)

Risk factors for diocesan clergy who have left priesthood were conflict with their bishop, clergy disunity in the diocese and chronic loneliness (note the absence of supporting relationships).

In October 2022, the Catholic University of America’s ‘Catholic Project’ published the findings of the largest survey of American Catholic priests conducted in over 50 years. The findings help us understand how priests are flourishing and how they are struggling.

There is good news. Individually, priests are doing well, reporting high levels of personal well-being and fulfilment in their vocations, significantly high levels of work satisfaction when compared to other helping occupations and  a strong sense of their personal calling as priests.

Three concerning findings deserve further investigation:

A growing mistrust by diocesan priests in their bishops (linked to fears of being falsely accused of sexual abuse and being abandoned and the bishop being perceived more as a distant CEO / administrator than a spiritual father)

A generational gap of mistrust between younger and older priests along differing theological and ecclesial worldviews

A trend towards work overload and early burnout in priests under 10 years of ordination (linked to lack of support)

The authors of the study commented that the consistent learning of this survey has been the need to prioritize personal relationships over structures and a listening presence over distant oversight.