Think Being a Priest is Tough? Try Advertising for the Job

The delicate task of selling celibacy

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Though it’s easy to assume the shortage of Catholic priests began with the church’s abuse scandals, seminary enrollment has actually been falling for 50 years. Indeed, from the mid 1960s to mid 1980s, it dropped 75 percent. So what’s a religion to do? Hire an ad agency, of course.

In May of 1987, Detroit’s Sacred Heart Seminary retained N.W. Ayer to try to convince men to don the Roman collar. In its May 11 issue, Adweek—which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year—took note of one of the ads.

It

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