International Priests in America: Challenges and Opportunities

Foreign-born priests have always played a significant role in America. Only from 1940 to 1960 did the church produce enough native-born priests to serve its parishes. In the past, those priests usually came from Europe, most notably Ireland. In the future, most of the world will be served by priests from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, particularly India and Nigeria.

Sixteen percent of the priests serving in the United States since 1985 are foreign-born and the number is rising. But many Americans prefer not to have them in their churches, saying the language and cultural differences are too great, and the screening isn’t sufficient. International Priests in America studies this phenomenon from the perspective of parishioners, lay ministers, diocesan leaders, and priests.

This groundbreaking book is guided by two questions: Should the Catholic Church in the United States bring in more international priests? If so, how should this be done?