A study of over 3,500 priests in the US was conducted by The Catholic Project research group at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C..

They found “concerning indications of burnout among younger priests, a lack of confidence in existing due process protections for priests accused of misconduct, and a corresponding lack of trust in bishops who have come to be seen less as fathers and brothers than as administrators.”

45% of priests surveyed reported at least one symptom of burnout, while 9% of priests reported symptoms of severe burnout. In general, younger priests were significantly more likely to experience burnout than older priests.

“Among priests’ very real professions of contentment and fulfillment in our interviews, we found ample evidence of their challenges and stresses. Some of these stressors contribute to burnout in priestly ministry.”

An overwhelming majority, 82% of priests surveyed also said they regularly fear false allegations. An anonymous diocesan priest is quoted in the study saying:

“Living in constant fear of a life-ending accusation definitely puts a cloud over the priesthood. And honestly, I think most priests have that. Because the life-ending accusation doesn’t have to be based in any reality. You know, it can just come out of somebody’s three years of recovered memory, therapy, and have no ground in anything that ever really happened, but you’re still doomed when it happens. And everybody knows that.”

They also found that “diocesan priests report significantly lower levels of trust in their bishops than religious priests do in their major superiors.”

“Trust in the U.S. bishops as a whole is low among priests overall, with only 24% expressing confidence in the leadership and decision-making of the bishops in general.”

In general, priests surveyed said they rely more on their parishioners and lay friends for support than their bishops.

“A trusting relationship with one’s bishop is robustly associated with every dimension of priests’ well-being … priests who have greater trust in their bishops are doing far better than any others.”

🙏 Pray for our priests!

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1 COMMENT

  1. We lay people also have some of the same feelings. Comparing our Bishops to our elected people, I usually get no more satisfaction from our government I more than likely will trust my Bible study group from Omaha, Christ Community Church called “Men of God”. I am Catholic and have seen the attendance drop at least 75 % at Mass on Sunday and even more on weekdays. Why? Why are Gods children not believing in Him and Jesus? We are having the same problems as our priest, why and how do we correct it.
    All in the Glory of God.

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