CATHOLIC CHURCH IN BELIZE FACES SHORTAGE OF PRIESTS AND NUNS

August 06, 2007

The Catholic Church in Belize is presently facing a shortage of priests and nuns. Like around the world, the church finds itself short of religious leaders in both primary and secondary schools.  Catholic Bishop, Dorrick Wright says this problem has existed for a long time; the difference is that this time the problem seems to be getting worse.  In an interview with the Bishop this morning he told Love News that the church for some years has been holding vocations weeks for both girls and boys interested in the religious life.  Now the church is waiting to reap the fruits of those vocations.  Wright also claims that the reason why most young people do not find interest in serving in the church is because of the obscenity seen on television through movies, soap operas, and other programs.  At the same time he calls on cable television operators to find more “sensible programs’” for the benefit of Belizeans.  Bishop Wright claims that one of the main problems that the church faces, because of the shortage, is the church can no longer staff the catholic primary and secondary schools across the country and teach the religious faith.  He finds that the lay teachers have problems with faith, sacraments, and doctrines.  Wright says that it is not easy to be offering religious classes to teachers because there is not much time to do so.  However, he asks all teaching in primary and secondary catholic schools to read the catholic catechism.  Residents in Corozal have been claiming that nuns are saying mass at the Saint Francis Xavier Parish in that municipality.  Bishop Wright asks residents not to be confused since for anyone who to say mass, that person needs to be ordained and the Catholic Church does not ordained women.  He explained that what nuns in Corozal are doing is offering communion services since the parish priest is on vacation at the moment.  Bishop Wright says that religious life does not apply to everyone but to those who feel the call he asks them to come forward in serving in the church.  Presently there are thirteen catholic parishes across the country.  He asks parents not to discourage their children but encourage them when they have a feeling of serving as priests and nuns. 

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