An interesting ratio. . .

I read this and found the ratio rather startling.  According to the most recent figures found, there are 5,340 Roman Catholic bishops worldwide.   At the same time, there are some 400,000 priests worldwide (a number declining rather than growing).  Of course, some of those must be retired.  However, it is a shocking thing to think that Rome has one bishop for every 75 priests.  That is a very fat level of middle management given the governance structure of Rome.  It would seem that instead of merely closing parishes, Rome needs to close up some dioceses and to figure out where to put some of those bishops who are doing, well, who knows what.  They could be helping with the numbers of parish priests not being replaced by new ordinands.

Of course, this is probably not true only of Rome.  Lord knows, the Episcopal Church is rather top heavy as well.  If you added in those serving in some middle level bureaucracy in many church structures you would probably find a similar ratio.  Of course, most of these judicatories are not suffering as much as Rome the decline in the numbers of priests overall.  In any case, it does not bode well for Rome's future.  Maybe instead of complaining about folks who reject the papal direction today they could actually try to serve the needs of the folks whose parishes are being shuttered for lack of clergy.  

Could it be that the high numbers of clergy not serving in parishes and the high number of bishops is symptom of the common ailment of Christianity?  In other words, we value the administrative work of management over the Word and Sacrament ministry of pastor with his people?  Could it be that we also have come to depend more upon our earthly wisdom in the form of planning, marketing, and administration over the promise of God to be where two or three are gathered in His name around His Word and Supper?  At least in Rome's case, such a high proportion of bishops to priests only underscores the general incompetence of the managers in that body -- given that they have their hands full with everything from blessing same sex couples to rooting out clergy sex abuse to preventing people from either celebrating or attending the wrong mass.  It appears that permanent deacons total 541.  Well, that will help with the problem! Oh, well.  Not my problem....