OHIO Shortage of priests forces archdiocese to consider regions

The priest shortage has prompted parishes across the country to close.
CINCINNATI (AP) -- The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is considering a plan that would divide the archdiocese into 100 pastoral regions because it can no longer assign one priest to each parish.
The archdiocese, which serves about 512,000 Catholics in 19 western and southwestern Ohio counties, has just 205 active priests to serve its 224 parishes.
Church officials said the plan would be used if the number of priests falls to about 100 -- which could happen within 10 years. In the past 30 years, the number of priests in the archdiocese has fallen from 466 to 291.
"The plan for pastoral regions is a plan we hope we never have to implement," archdiocese spokesman Dan Andriacco said. "The alternative would be that we'd have more priests.
"But if that doesn't happen, we are going to be ready for the future."
Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk sent the plan to priests Thursday and asked for their input by year's end.
Did research
A group of priests who serve on the archdiocese's Futures Committee has spent the past year examining the impact of the loss of their colleagues on the church. The committee sought opinions from lay people through focus groups and questionnaires before making its recommendations to the archbishop.
Some of those Catholics said they hope the archdiocese never has to implement the plan, but they fear change is inevitable.
"I think it's a unique approach," said Carl Zaycosky, a member of St. Columbkille parish in Wilmington. "I guess I appreciate the archdiocese's creativity, but I don't think it's going to do anything to diminish some of the backlash, some of the pain and suffering that will result from this."
The priest shortage has prompted the closure of parishes nationwide. In Ohio, the Toledo Roman Catholic Diocese has recommended closing or merging 33 churches in northwest Ohio in a plan that would reduce the number of parishes from 157 to 131.
Possible solutions
Catholics are divided over how to solve the problem, with some wanting to open the priesthood to women and married men, while others urging a return to more orthodox teachings.
"I think we're approaching the breaking point," said Sister Christine Schenk, of FutureChurch, a Cleveland-based reform group. "This is happening in diocese after diocese."
In the Cincinnati archdiocese plan, parishioners who share priests likely would have fewer Masses to choose from and would have a harder time scheduling weddings, funerals and baptisms.
Deacons and parishioners could be asked to perform administrative and religious services traditionally conducted by a priest.
Andriacco said population and geography would play a role in determining the pastoral regions. More priests would be assigned to higher populated areas, unless excessive travel between rural parishes meant a priest couldn't cover the area alone.
It's too early in the planning to say which parishes may have to close if the plan is adopted, Andriacco said.