When all the priests are dead...

Fukuyama

I'll start by saying that I'm atheist. But I was wondering - priests in Ireland are getting on in their years.

I don't recall any young priests (under 50). And what priests there seem to be going long after their expiration date.

Also, can you still become a Christian brother? Never hear much about that lot these days... I went to a CBS and I think the last brother left in the 90s...

Any thoughts? Shall all the believers amongst us have to attend mass held by RoboPriest>

Biggins

In reality, priests will not die out.
And I'm not talking in regards just the Rome org.
People will always have spiritual ideas/hopes. As such they will look for or to others for guidance in these interested areas.
There is always others then for own reason/callings that then take the places of 'priests' by that name or by some other.

RachaelVO

We'll all end up being converted to Scientology and that will be the end of it!

Fukuyama

RachaelVO wrote: »

We'll all end up being converted to Scientology and that will be the end of it!

Not in this recession!!

oppenheimer1

Dean0088 wrote: »

I'll start by saying that I'm atheist. But I was wondering - priests in Ireland are getting on in their years.

I don't recall any young priests (under 50). And what priests there seem to be going long after their expiration date.

Also, can you still become a Christian brother? Never hear much about that lot these days... I went to a CBS and I think the last brother left in the 90s...

Any thoughts? Shall all the believers amongst us have to attend mass held by RoboPriest>

There aren't enough priests in Ireland to sustain the congregations so what will happen is that there will be "Missions" to Ireland from the growth areas (Africa, Latin America) and where the church is strong (eastern europe). This situation has arisen in the UK already where the parish priest is more likely to be polish than british.

There are young Irish priests too, At the moment possibly around 20 per year (could be less though)

bonerm

They'll just get a bunch in from Africa, like the French football team did when all their players died.

Biggins

Funny (well not really!) how you never really find a Scientology cult in the very poorest of countries.
Only the ones that have a possible developing economy (which they can exploit) or ones that are already based on a resemblance of a successful capitalist system!

Kojak

Biggins wrote: »

Funny (well not really!) how you never really find a Scientology cult in the very poorest of countries.
Only the ones that have a possible developing economy (which they can exploit) or ones that are already based on a resemblance of a successful capitalist system!

That's just a coincidence, nothing else......

ejmaztec

Dean0088 wrote: »

Not in this recession!!

Yes, they're not interested in barking mad poor people, only barking mad rich people.

Biggins

Kojak wrote: »

That's just a coincidence, nothing else......

I know you jest. :pac:

Terrontress

I am sure in these recessionary times that there will be several people attracted by the parochial house, housekeeper, nice car and envelopes stuffed with 20s every time someone gets married or died.

RachaelVO

Kojak wrote: »

That's just a coincidence, nothing else......

Not so sure it is! They have money up the ying yang, they didn't get it from stolen jewish art like the vatican
(I'm over doing slightly, but you get what I mean)!

ejmaztec

Terrontress wrote: »

I am sure in these recessionary times that there will be several people attracted by the parochial house, housekeeper, nice car and envelopes stuffed with 20s every time someone gets married or died.

For the career change, many prospective applicants will have to murder their wives before they can go for it.:(

RachaelVO

Dean0088 wrote: »

Not in this recession!!

Sure they need minions to do the sh1te work, wouldn't us paddys fit the bill perfectly, no money but broad backs!

Kojak

Biggins wrote: »

I know you jest. :pac:

Well, what do you expect me to do? Jump up and down on a couch on national television?

flanum

Terrontress wrote: »

I am sure in these recessionary times that there will be several people attracted by the parochial house, housekeeper, nice car and envelopes stuffed with 20s every time someone gets married or died.

yep, the current batch of priests in their 40's-50's were teens or intheir twenties the last big recession(80's) so there probably will be a sudden family renewal in all things parochial and having a son going on to become a priest will be the new derigeur!

cue all things fr. ted!

Biggins

Kojak wrote: »

Well, what do you expect me to do? Jump up and down on a couch on national television?

The least you could do is pull over on a roadside and save someones life by reaching for their cheque book before they die and then have a laying of hand upon them to cleanse the alien invaders out of their body! :pac:

Don't forget to mention Ron's name. That adds to the Hubbard roadside miracle!

Irish Guitarist

I saw a priest recently who looked like he was about forty or possibly even younger. He said hello and I said hello back.

True story.

Tipsy McSwagger

Priests will be replaced by robots in the near future.

Kojak

Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »

Priests will be replaced by robots in the near future.

Looking good...

policarp

According to St. Malachy's prophesy, there won't be much more need for them. Only one more pope before Rome falls.

Knex*

flanum wrote: »

yep, the current batch of priests in their 40's-50's were teens or intheir twenties the last big recession(80's) so there probably will be a sudden family renewal in all things parochial and having a son going on to become a priest will be the new derigeur!

cue all things fr. ted!

I'm not so sure about this. Being 20 myself I know little of my friends have any belief in the Catholic church. Most of them do believe in a "God" but I think our generation is slightly more loose when it comes to church etc.. Now, I could well be wrong on this

blogga

You are forgetting the huge amount of priests available from Africa. They'll fly them in.

blogga

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

I saw a priest recently who looked like he was about forty or possibly even younger. He said hello and I said hello back.

True story.

Neither of you took it further?

Killer Pigeon

I know someone who was in my school a year ahead of me who's decided to go into the priesthood. He's around 21 y/o now. He cites dream interpretation and angel cards as the main reasons why he was compelled to join (:rolleyes:).

In reality, I think he just wants to get into Maynooth to do some sort of degree - apparently when you're training for the priesthood you have the opinion to do a degree and you can get in without the LC - he did **** in his LC so his just using the Church.

Apparently this was actually a lot more common years ago before 'free' third level education came in because the RCC paid for the seminarians 3rd level education - when they were finished their degree they dropped out of the priesthood.

Up de Barrs

The church will cop itself on before then and end its opposition to contraception, women priests and married priests. That should get it a few more recruits.

Knex*

Up de Barrs wrote: »

The church will cop itself on before then and end its opposition to contraception, women priests and married priests. That should get it a few more recruits.

Only reason priest can't marry is because of money. They used to be able to but the church decided it was too expensive because of families and so presumably decided it was offensive to God...

Agonist

I hope the robovicars will be launched with the ChildRape add-on disabled.

tallaghtmick

Dean0088 wrote: »

I'll start by saying that I'm atheist. But I was wondering - priests in Ireland are getting on in their years.

I don't recall any young priests (under 50). And what priests there seem to be going long after their expiration date.

Also, can you still become a Christian brother? Never hear much about that lot these days... I went to a CBS and I think the last brother left in the 90s...

Any thoughts? Shall all the believers amongst us have to attend mass held by RoboPriest>

why post this in ah and not in the athiest forum.....just saying:D