Washington D.C. (Roto Reuters) Belleville Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued the following statement today:
Because of the crisis in vocations across the United States and the severe lack of personnel needed to provide the sacraments of the Church we have come up with a bold new plan. Following the business model of successful companies in the Unites States we have decided to outsource for our religious personnel.
Historically we have done something similar in the past which is why there are so many priest currently serving from Ireland. Unfortunately outsourcing from European countries that we have relied on before is no longer possible.
We have decided to go to India and outsource for Hindus to become Catholic priests and religious. They are already use to the use of statues in churches so their crossover training should not be too difficult. Some would argue that there is no way that Hindus can perform the services needed in the Catholic Church. But I assure you that these men believe as much in the teachings of the Catholic Church as many of those men we brought in from domestic sources in the 70s and 80s.
7 comments
Zing! Of course, we’re already outsourcing. My parish–as well as a few others I know of in the Archdiocese of New York–has had a rotating array of Indian priests for years.
If Our churches were more “orthodox”, we wouldnt need te “outsources”.
Amen to what JH said. If we here in the US would get with the program and actually follow what the church asks of us liturgically and morally then we wouldnt need to import priests. Just look around. Those dioceses who are orthodox are busting at the seams with vocations. We should take our lead from them.
If USA is importing priest from Hindu country that wouldn’t be the first country. Germany already import some Indian born Catholic Priest, I saw a documentary of it.
I agree with JH. And I also don’t mind with outsourcing priest. Asia, Africa has had influx of priests from other countries it’s time they reciprocate.
And when I was in Jamaica Hospital, the Catholic chaplain (who came in looking the roommate who had already been discharged) was an Indian Carmelite.
Got an Indian Carmelite here this year at our suburban NY parish. They seem to be pretty prevalent in the Diocese of Rockville Center. We have a very multi-cultural rectory with a native Chinese, Nigerian, and an Indian priest along with our three regular American born priests.
On the whole, it’s been a good thing so far. Gives the kids a broader view of the world, I think.
We have a couple of Indian priests of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate order. They are excellent homilists and very reverential.
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