A new vocations drive in the Diocese of Kerry is aimed at "nurturing" vocations rather than "recruiting" candidates.

"Traditionally, persons who have been engaged in promoting vocations have been known as recruiters," said Father Pat O'Donnell, vocations director, at the launch in Siamsa Tire, Tralee, of a campaign called "Some white collar jobs are more challenging than others".

"It is important for us to understand our role in terms of ministry rather than recruitment. Recruitment focuses on convincing. Ministry focuses on nurturing," Father O' Donnell said.

A tight screening programme in Kerry means few of those who apply for the priesthood are actually accepted.

"If we were in the numbers game, and if we accepted everyone who applied, then there would not be a problem with candidates for the priesthood. But we have a tight screening programme," said Dr Bill Murphy, Bishop of Kerry.

There are just four men from the Diocese of Kerry, which extends into west Cork, now studying for the priesthood.

"There would have been 25 plus 30 years ago," Bishop Murphy said. A high number - not as many as in the past - still apply for the priesthood. But the three-tiered screening system means few go forward.

Candidates are interviewed first by the vocations director, then by a panel of three which comprises one priest and two lay persons, one of whom must be an experienced counsellor. Depending on the results of that interview, further psychological testing then takes place.

And that is before entrants get to seminary level which has its own set of interviews, Bishop Murphy explained.

Within 10 years the church in Kerry (the diocese now has 110 priests) will face a scarcity of priests, if current trends continue.

Asked if Kerry people would be open to being ministered to by African priests, given what appears to be an element of racial tension in the county, Bishop Murphy said: "If African people were open to us going to them as priests, then we should have no difficulty with African priests coming to us."

On the question of women priests, however, Bishop Murphy said there were "theological difficulties" which would not be easy to overcome.

He said the decision by the Anglican Church and the Church of Ireland to ordain women was "a stumbling block" on the road to church unity, with both the Catholic Church and particularly with the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The new vocations campaign in Kerry includes a website at www.dioceseofkerry.ie