The church needs younger deacons—and older priests

It’s no secret that the priesthood in the United States is aging,
quickly. But what if part of the solution to the priest shortage is
actually ordaining more older priests? Deacon Steve Kramer thinks
the church should get serious about late-in-life
vocations—recruiting men in the 40s, 50s or even 60s who have had
another career, who maybe have been married and lost their spouse,
for the priesthood. On the other hand, he thinks we should be
encouraging men in their 30s and 40s to consider becoming a
deacon—a vocation usually associated with more “mature” gentlemen.
During National Vocation Awareness week, we ask Deacon Steve about
the growing role of deacons in the U.S. church, his experience
joining the diaconate in his 30s (and with four young kids!) and
what questions someone discerning a call to the priesthood or
diaconate should ask themselves. In Signs of the Times, Zac and
Ashley talk with Colleen Dulle, the host of America Media’s “Inside
the Vatican” podcast, about French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, the
former head of the French bishops’ conference who admitted to
abusing a 14-year-old girl 35 years ago. They ask: Have reforms
aimed at combatting clerical sexual abuse really brought
accountability to the highest levels of the church? Links from the
show: French cardinal admits to abusing teen girl 35 years ago
Report: 330,000 child victims of sex abuse in France’s Catholic
Church Pope Francis issues new rules for accountability and
response to allegations of sexual abuse Pennsylvania report
documents over 1,000 victims of priest abuse Former Cardinal
Theodore McCarrick laicized by Pope Francis Sacred Heart Seminary
and School of Theology People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is
Changing in the United States What’s on tap? Barolo  Learn
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