The next big Catholic church scandal

I mentioned in an earlier post that the third world is one of the few places where significant numbers of young men are still entering the priesthood. That is true and there is a huge scandal just waiting to happen here.

We had a visit from a bishop from India recently that really drove the point home. Speaking to the congregation at the Basilica, his Grace made a clear and obvious connection between the money Catholics in North America send to his diocese and the number of Indian priests he sends to serve in the west.

The financial temptations here are significant and they will have their effect. At the very least, we will see an influx of young men to the west who are attracted by the chance to improve their economic situation rather than any genuine vocation. Once here, they will yield to other temptations. That's the best case scenario. It's not hard to imagine young men being pressured and perhaps forced into the priesthood for the financial betterment of their family or home diocese.

I know the notion that the third world might supply the west with the priests we no longer produce ourselves is tempting but that temptation opens the door to horrible abuses.