Not enough priests for last rites

Catholics are being denied their last rites while other churchgoers are having to forsake Sunday Mass because of a critical shortage of priests.

With an ageing clergy and falling priest numbers, the situation has reached crisis point with some rural areas no longer offering Sunday Mass and funerals being carried out by lay deacons.

The shortage also means last rites are offered before people reach their deathbed.

"We are moving away from the idea that [last rites] is just for the dying," said Hamilton Diocese spokesman Monsignor David Bennett.

"We now try and find out who is sick in the parish and visit when we can."

A third of all Catholic priests are over the age of 70 and currently there are only 10 men undergoing the seven-year Catholic training programme to become diocesan priests - down from about 140 in the 1960s.

"The status quo cannot continue," said Auckland Bishop Pat Dunn.

"We have no spare priests to fill the gaps if a priest falls ill or passes away."

The church had tried to respond to the crisis by ordaining lay deacons who could assist with duties such as funerals and baptisms, but they were not entitled to conduct Sunday Mass or give last rites to the dying.

Towns like Turangi have lost Sunday Mass altogether because of the country's priest shortage, while towns just 30 minutes from Auckland are only offering Sunday Mass every alternate weekend - a move that has angered some parishioners who say the church is no longer meeting its religious obligations.

Churchgoers also reacted angrily to suggestions of "mega" churches - where one church serves a number of surrounding parishes - as most people want to continue worshipping locally.
In response, the Catholic Church was considering grouping parishes into pastoral zones with one leader and a mix of clergy; some fully active, and some older ones seeking less responsibility.

The Hamilton diocese is considering these measures as nearly half its 30 priests are over the age of 60. The diocese covers the area from south of the Bombay Hills across to Paeroa, the Waikato, King Country, down to Gisborne.

Said Monsignor Bennett: "There's not much we can do about this, and we know that it is hard, especially for older Catholics.

"But when there are only 10 priests in the seminary, compared to around 140 when I went through in the 1960s, you can see the problem."

The Catholic Archbishop, John Dew, who is based in Wellington, said with 14 active priests aged over 70 in his diocese, the church was promoting more lay involvement, including ordained deacons.

The diocese runs a formal four-year programme for lay people, enabling them to help with apostolic service.

"It is true that a number of older people have a concern that there are not the number of Masses available as there used to be. The Church is aware of the concerns of older people and keeps trying to educate people as to the role of the ordained and the role of the laity," he said.

But one older, long-time churchgoer said it feels "like a sin" not to be able to go to Mass - even if it is because you cannot drive at night when the Saturday vigil Mass is held.

"And then to think that when you die there will be no last rites and no priest doing the funeral, you do feel let down after a lifetime of Catholicism," he said.

An expert in Catholic canon law and church history, Father Humphrey O'Leary, sympathised with churchgoers who felt let down. However, the former theology lecturer at Auckland University warned the shortage of priests was going to get more extreme as older clergy die, and fewer men were attracted to a monastic life.

"I'm 80 so I'm one of the problem people. It's just lucky I'm still well enough to be useful," he said.

He believed the church should follow the example of some of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic faiths and allow clergy to marry.

"There does seem to be evidence that the Lord is calling married men to the priesthood," he said.

-HERALD ON SUNDAY