If there is one thing that the Catholic Religion means to me, it is that it is a sacramental church where the reception of the Eucharist, Penance, Baptism, Last Rights, and Marriage are frequent and easy.  What has happened with the decreasing numbers of Priests is that these sacraments are made harder to receive. The idea that the conscience of the individual when it comes to Birth Control or views on what is and is not abortion has taken center stage and Bishops have been all too active in asserting authoritarian power.  It is purely masogynistic authoritarian to keep women away from the priesthood.  It is not following the early church practicing The Way of Christ to keep married men from the priesthood.  Holy Orders were began as an attempt to bring organization and leadership to the church, but clericalism has gone haywire.  If the leadership does not change to allow more leaders to offer frequent sacraments without condition, then the laity will be forced to take control again.