The Pillar occasionally posts good things of interest, depending on the writer. In this case, Luke Coppen, my former (excellent) editor at the UK’s Catholic Herald posts about priests. Some excerpts with some emphases and comments.
Study sheds light on generational divide among US priests
The National Study of Catholic Priests found younger clergy more likely to be theologically orthodox and politically moderate
[…]
The 2025 National Study of Catholic Priests, the results of which were released Oct. 14, found that younger clergy were more likely to describe themselves as theologically orthodox and politically moderate, to think access to the Traditional Latin Mass should be a priority, to feel lonely, and to believe they are expected to do too many things beyond their priestly calling. [Fr. McTeigue… paging Fr. McTeigue… please pick up a white Hospitality Phone…]
Younger priests were also less likely to think that synodality should be prioritized and less concerned about the question of women’s influence in the Church than their older peers, according to the study. [Not sure what that means. Perhaps they will spin it out.]
The 2025 report follows the groundbreaking 2022 National Study of Catholic Priests, the largest study of U.S. priests for more than 50 years, which concluded that clergy were largely flourishing, despite a deep mistrust of bishops and fears of being falsely accused of abuse. [Serious and real, given the massive evidence of how bishops have mistreated priests by not following procedures laid down in canon law and in many other ways. Priests are justified.]
Further analysis of the results in 2023 found that the share of new U.S. Catholic priests identifying as theologically “progressive” had declined dramatically compared with preceding generations. [There’s hope. This probably means also that the newer men are smarter.]
[…]
Some interesting stats between these chunks.
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Only 11% of priests ordained before 1980 said access to the Traditional Latin Mass should be a priority, compared with 20% among those ordained between 1980 and 1999, and 39% among those ordained in the 21st century. [Factors. They didn’t grow up in the halcyon days of Vatican II’s “spirit” hurricaning through the Church. Now they have to remodel sanctuaries which were wreckovated. They grew up with good sense from and virility from John Paul II and theological and liturgical depth from Benedict. Vatican II was a long time ago for them.]
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Younger priests were also more likely to cite Eucharistic devotion as a priority and less likely than older clergy to emphasize climate change, immigration, the LGBT community, poverty, racism, and social justice.
[…]
After this there are stats about “walking together” and about loneliness, and about what priests are called upon to do in view of possible burn out.
Rome brightened with the rising sun at 17:17.
