Abstract
A survey of southwestern American Catholics attending church services revealed their reactions to the ministerial changes brought about by the declining number of Catholic priests. Their responses showed 1) what they considered their essential ministerial needs, 2) their disinclination for communion services on priestless Sundays, 3) their acceptance of non-ordained presiders at such services if inevitable, and 4) their personal views on the current needs of their church. The findings revealed that the Hispanics in this sample differed little from Anglo respondents in their reactions to proposed alternatives to priestly ministry. This suggests that they are unlike the thousands of Hispanics who leave Catholicism each year for other denominations. Rather, they would appear to be among those for whom exit is not an option even when they experience a decline in the quality of service that they receive from their church.
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