In six years, Belgium has lost a third of its priests – Swiss Catholic Portal

The 2023 report from the Catholic Church in Belgium shows significant declines, notably in the number of priests and sacraments administered. Some rising figures, however, bring hints of hope.

In 2017, Belgium had 2774 diocesan priests. There were only 1,764 left in 2023. This is one of the staggering losses recorded by the Church's latest annual report. Nearly a third of the Belgian clergy therefore disappeared in the space of six years, informs Sundaythe portal's weekly Cathobel. A finding that is all the more worrying given that the country's seminaries only accommodate 40 residents.

The figures are also impressive regarding the sacraments. From 2017 to 2023, baptisms increased from 50,867 to 34,826, marriages from 7859 to 5241, and confirmations from 41,060 to 29,580. According to the report, first communions decreased from 38,394 to 33,853. Attendance at Sunday mass also saw a drop from 286,393 to 167,360.

Transition to “chosen” membership

The document shows, at the same time, an increase in the number of volunteers and adult baptisms, as well as good participation of young people in the activities offered by the Church. Young Belgians were particularly present at the World Youth Day in Lisbon and at the National Days.

A general observation which is similar to that observed in several other Western European countries, including France and Switzerland, particularly concerning the increase in adult baptisms. The number of catechumens has almost doubled in Romandy in four years. The explanations range from an increased need to belong to a group, to a more present search for meaning in the face of the disintegration of traditional benchmarks. “Since we launched this report, we have felt a change in the Church, confirms Sunday Catherine Chevalier, theologian at UCLouvain and member of the report's steering committee. We move from belonging by tradition to belonging by choice. There is therefore a lot of work to be continued to clarify the Church's offer and to continue to awaken a desire in people.” (cath.ch/cathobel/arch/rz)