Are young priests more orthodox than previous generations? The good news is the answer is “yes,” as proven in the below study. But this means only one of two things: Either younger priests are truly more conservative than older priests –or– the diocesan priesthood in America liberalizes many or most.>The above is a picture of the Theological College, the Catholic seminary producing priests across the street from Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington DC. One of the research groups at CUA is called The Catholic Project which recently published a study on how American Catholic priests self-identify as either orthodox or progressive. The title of the study is called “Polarization, Generational Dynamics, and the Ongoing Impact of the Abuse Crisis: Further Insights from the National Study of Catholic Priests” and it’s found here. Here’s one graph from the study:>

Most conservative commentators online have been celebrating this as “a win.” I also want to see it as “a win.” But the problem is that the above graph reveals a pattern that has been going on since the days of John Paul II: Young guys start orthodox, but move to become more unorthodox in the priesthood.

Originally published in Padre Peregrino. Read original article