Roman Catholic priesthood 'is for real men', NY recruitment drive says

[emad]

By Philip Sherwell in New York
19/04/2008

The Roman Catholic Church in New York has launched a slick recruitment drive, drawing on modern advertising techniques, catchy slogans and the power of the internet, in an effort to halt the dramatic drop in young men joining the priesthood.

Posters and commercials bearing such robust messages as “The World Needs Heroes” and “You Have to be a Real Man if you want to become a Priest” have been distributed at college sports games and in cinemas.

Senior clergy hope that some old-fashioned holy star power will bolster the campaign when Pope Benedict XVI visits St Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, just outside New York City, for a prayer service and youth rally.

Hundreds once studied to become priests at the seminary, but nowadays its hallways and classrooms can be a lonely place.

Just 60 men are currently studying there and only six will be ordained this year. But today St Joseph’s will host more than 20,000 young Catholics.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/19/wpope119.xml

[Tektonik]

1. real men who love real boys

[Captain Angry]

7. It's like they say, they're all pink on the inside.

From South Park. When Big Gay Al was fired as a scout master for being gay, and the "Marine" type that came in to replace him took naked pictures of the kids. The gay man was never a threat. The one who looked manly was the molester. I love how they did that.

[cliffordu]

8. DAMMITT!!! you beat me to it!!

[izquierdista]

2. Real Men?

Like the men's men who hang out in gay bars? Should be a real successful recruitment drive.

[Mojambo]

3. Man, talk about an uphill battle... n/t

[htuttle]

4. "It's a Man's Life in the British Navy..."

"That's it. I'm shutting this reply down. It's too silly!"

[MichiganVote]

5. A priesthood of one?

[nomorenomore08]

6. Reminds me of that preacher ranting about how "It takes a REAL man to love the Lord!

I'm not talkin' about no sissy!"

Yeah, that's right, the Lord needs a real man to give him some lovin'! Jeez, I wonder if these guys ever think about how they sound to the non-Kool-aid-drinkers... :rofl:

[madrchsod]

9. yup! real men cause regular guys get distracted by women!

it`s all eve`s fault! ya know if was`t for her men would`t be in the mess they are in now...

the church can`t have any distractions in fulfilling the lords work here on earth

so the clergymen who are married are`t real men?

[Beregond2]

10. By "real men"

they mean "straight men," continuing their slander that gay men are child molesters. It's incredible how they still don't get it. All they need to do is make celibacy optional for priests instead of a requirement; problem solved. For hundreds of years priests were allowed to marry, and they still are in the Orthodox church. So why shouldn't RC priests? The arguement that marriage is a distraction from their calling could be made about any profession. It's ridiculous. I don't know one Catholic who doesn't think priests should be allowed to marry. It is just these weird old freaks in the Vatican that cling to this crazy idea.

[mitchtv]

11. the church ain't about to pay no alimony

to ex wives

[moggie]

12. But why shouldn't gay men be priests?

In the Anglican church, clergy are allowed to marry, and yet word is that a large proportion are gay. It doesn't appear to make them any less (or any more!) capable to fill the role. (I ought to add that I don't really know what a "real man" is, but, if such a thing exists, I think a gay man is just as eligible as a straight to be "real").

I can't see empty slogans like this doing any good. Men will laugh; women will be reminded that the church thinks they're not good enough to serve. It smells like desperation, I'm glad to say.

[skepticscott]

15. Gay men ARE priests

and usually when they are, everyone in their local parish knows it and has no problem with it, as long as the person does a good job. The only folks who get their knickers in a knot are the red-robed old farts from the Congregation of the Mystery of Deluded Faithmongers.

[rurallib]

13. fighting off the altar boys can be tough - takes a real man

[rug]

14. If they can succeed in convincing people to join the army, they can succeed here.

[ZombieHorde]

16. Why does the Catholic Church hate androids?

Android hate is vile and inexcusable.

[dmallind]

17. They've almost got me

I actually wouldn't mind the life and job of a priest. I could handle the celibacy and all that.

Once they start making belief in and preaching of deities optional I'm right there ;)