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	Fewer Men in Region Opting for Priesthood By Jim Carney Beacon Journal August 23, 2009 http://www.ohio.com/news/54255097.html Jeremy Merzweiler's decision to study for the priesthood comes as the number of priests continues to decline and the shortage reverberates throughout the Diocese of Cleveland. In 1970, there were 871 priests, but the number has fallen by two thirds to 273 by recent count, according to diocese numbers. In addition, the membership of 753,255 is migrating out of the region, officials said. To deal with the priest shortage, the diocese has raised the retirement age from 70 to 75 and announced a plan to close 50 parishes. The Rev. Thomas W. Tifft, rector and professor of church history at St. Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology near Cleveland, said the seminary ordained five priests this year — about average for recent years — but may have only two next year. Afterward, he expects a return to about five or six annually. Because Merzweiler, 25, has a bachelor's degree in construction engineering technology but no formal religious training, he must first complete two years of philosophy and religious undergraduate classes. Afterward, he must complete four years of graduate courses and two internships before ordination. He is one of three first-year pre-theology students who will join two students in their second year. Six others are entering St. Mary Seminary from the diocese's undergraduate program at Borromeo Seminary. Tifft said the new seminary students won't resolve the shortage, but "believe it or not, for a diocese the size of Cleveland, that is pretty good." Still, the diocese is selective, he said, looking for candidates who already exhibit a strong relationship with God. "We like to see someone who already has a basic prayer life. Somebody who attends weekly liturgy, who is academically capable, who is living a good moral life." The Cleveland diocese will pick up the cost of Merzweiler's tuition but he must raise about $3,000 a year for room and board, books and personal expenses. Once he gets into the graduate seminary, tuition and room and board will be paid by the diocese. Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.
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