Regardless, let's focus on the reality that, in many young adult groups & even in Mass attendance, there are far more women than men. What's that about?

Could it be that women take the Faith & its demands more seriously? I'm not sure. But guys: you need to show up to stuff.

Catholics are no doubt products of the culture they live in, so this isn't a Catholic problem itself. But as Catholics, we have a special insight into the mystery of God & the vocation to holiness which we are all called to. Catholic men should be leading -not leaving -the charge

What I find from my female Catholic friends is that they are honestly looking for solid, orthodox, Catholic men. But what they oftentimes find are boys in arrested development. They often report that the Catholic guys they know are weird, creepy, and non-masculine. But why?

There are different definitions of what "weird" is, but the common thread I see in their stories is that the guy cannot communicate maturely, are fixated on childish things, and aren't able to relate on an adult level.

Some examples of what this weirdness includes: an obsession with comic books/video games/"nerd" stuff; inability to hold a conversation; severe emotional insecurity (to the point that if the girl doesn't answer a text right away they freak out), etc.

Of course, everyone has a different threshold as to what "weirdness" is tolerable and what is intolerable. It's not that video games or social awkwardness are evil things in themselves, but if they are taken to an extreme, it will not make a man look like a suitable candidate.

Another thing I CONSTANTLY (and sadly) hear of from these single Catholic women is the over-sexualized behavior of Catholic men. You'd be surprised as to how many guys get borderline creepy and suggestive about sex & physical intimacy. Chastity is hard, but decency is not.

Today's generation of young Catholic men unfortunately faced the evils of internet pornography from a young age (currently writing an article on this).

As a result, addiction has developed, and the Catholic guy has to achieve a state of mastery over one's compulsions.

Pornography addiction affects both men & women, so it's not a cross a man carries alone. That said, if one finds himself in such a predicament, he needs to find a patient confessor, good therapy, and develop good habits to counter the self-abuse of porn/masturbation.

Men who are addicted to pornography will find it difficult to avoid sexualizing women. Could it be that a lot of Catholic men shy away from women because they prefer pleasuring themselves from the comfort of their digital screens? If you're addicted, get help immediately.

Lastly, there is the issue of immaturity, which can manifest itself in excessive vocational "discernment", a fleeing away from making commitments, and a fetishization of women/marriage.

It is normal & healthy for a Catholic man to consider priesthood/religious life. However, there exists a form of perpetual "discernment" whereby the man, somehow seeking a literal sign from God, is immobilized in vocational angst and fear of "making the wrong choice".

If you're considering priesthood/religious life, go on a retreat. Get a spiritual director. Enter. If it's for you, you'll know. If not, you'll know that too. Navel-gazing & refusing to make a choice on a state of life does not prepare you for ANY vocation. So pray, & take action

Lastly, and something I have noticed recently, is the fetishization of marriage. These guys see the ideal woman as barefoot & pregnant in the kitchen. On the first date, they talk about how they want 10 kids. They treat older Catholic women as "less than". This too is immaturity.

You will often hear traditional single Catholic men cry out "Yeah? Well women need to be WOMEN." And they are absolutely right. But by virtue of his headship, a man leads the woman in loving service & self-sacrifice. So how can you expect good Catholic women without good men?

On a positive note, I found that I was able to grow in authentic masculinity & Christian holiness by living in a community with other single men. I benefited from fellowship with other men who pushed me to be a better version of myself. Catholic men cannot grow alone. Reach out.

Moreover, Catholic men need good, holy, true spiritual fatherhood from priests. I can't begin to tell you the amount of times my spiritual director kicked my butt & showed me the areas in my life I needed to pay attention to.

We need priests, fellow Catholic men, to step up too.

In short, we have to realize that the "crisis of vocations" is directly linked to a crisis of the family. The crisis of the family is a result of Catholic men & women not living up to the standard they should be living in.

What other suggestions would you add to this?