text: There no is question there have been ups & down in the Church"s history, as with any human institution. 
  
  But looking at the CARA data, the number of priests ordained in the  past 6-7 years has increased 25%, with more seminary students in the pipeline.
  
  Not enough to fill the retiring priests yet, but a very positive trend, not indicative of a failing Church..
   
  As far as those leaving the Church. Pew research notes that the Catholic Church has a retention rate of 59%. Just behind the Evangelical & Mormons, but greater then the Orthodox & mainline Protestant. 
  
  But looking at history, the Church has always emerged stronger.