Posted on 09/28/2005 7:37:34 AM PDT by marshmallow
(KSDK) - A local seminary is the first in the country to face special scrutiny by the Vatican. The review will not only evaluate how well seminaries prepare students to become priests, but it will also look into sexual behavior on campus.
There are currently 300 students at Aquinas Institute of Theology, but only 25 are studying to become priests.
As part of their admission, students are questioned in detail about their sexual history, but the seminary does not have a policy against gays.
Father Charles Bouchard is president of Aquinas Institute of Theology, "Some people do feel homosexuality would disqualify a student. I hope we can provide evidence that should not be the case."
Father Bouchard said the key is celibacy not sexual orientation, "We don't want to make it look like it's just a question if someone is gay or straight. But whether they have the ability to live celibate and be effective ministers."
An inspection ordered by the Vatican will examine how the school prepares candidates for priesthood, academically and morally. There are more than 50 questions the inspectors will ask faculty and students. One of the mandatory questions inquires about evidence of homosexuality in the seminary.
Father Bouchard, "I think it might be relevant in as much as that it answers some people's question that possibly there is a link between homosexuality and pedophilea. I don't think that link exists, so I'm not afraid of that question."
Barbara Dorris agreed. She is with the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or S.N.A.P., "They are mixing apples and oranges. A homosexual is not a pedophile. To make this a homosexual issue is just wrong."
Barabara said half the victims of abuse by priests are females, "A homosexual is no more likely to abuse a child than a heterosexual. This is a smokescreen, a diversion of blame. A way to change the subject. This is not about homosexuality."
The reason Aquinas Institute of Theology was chosen first was because the seminary itself asked to be selected earlier than later. Father Bouchard said they will be busy with its accreditation process in the Spring.
Am I wrong?
This is despicable.
Or rather, she's lying.
Barabara said half the victims of abuse by priests are females, "A homosexual is no more likely to abuse a child than a heterosexual. This is a smokescreen, a diversion of blame. A way to change the subject. This is not about homosexuality."
Here in The Philadelphia Diocese for, children weren't the victims. It was almost exclusively teenage boys. In fact, throw out the two Priests who were caught in possession of child porn, and the three that had sex with 17 year old girls, and it's all men screwing around with teenaged boys.
I guess that all the perpetrators were men and all the victims were boys, that's just one of those astronomical coincidences (like the fact that the only men of the cloth involved in pederasty are Catholic).
The smokescreen is on the part of people like Barabara who's real agenda has nothing to do with stopping pederasty (the refusal to call the problem by it's proper name or even describe it accurately speaks volumes), it's just a handy tool to attack The Church because it's at odds with their "enlightened", "progressive" agenda.
Owl_Eagle(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,
Apparently he's not fond of the Ten Commandments schema of the new Catechism and.........lookee here.........he saw no problem with the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube (scroll down to March 24 date on blog).
For those who can't be bothered scrolling, he's the relevant part of the blog.....
A commentary article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch March 24, 2005 by Charles E. Bouchard, a Catholic Dominican friar.
For Christians, the Easter season is an ironic mix. The stark solemnity of Good Friday and its bare wooden cross contrast with the light, music and full-throated “Alleluia” of Easter Sunday. Like no other season of the year, it reminds us of both the pain of human existence and its glorious possibility.
Easter may be a Christian feast, but it is also a reflection of the human condition. It expresses the human longing for a full view of the spiritual fulfillment we usually only glimpse.
Generations of Catholics who studied the Baltimore Catechism recall question No. 6: “Why did God make me?” The answer, as every grade-school child knew: “To know Him, love Him and serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.” This makes two important points:
To know, love and serve in this world
The first point is that physical life is the means by which we know and love God (and our neighbor). This life is lived out in relationship with those we love. In other words, our ability to relate with others is central to the purpose of life.
And be happy in the next
The second point is that, as important as this physical life is, it’s not the ultimate reason for which we were created. Christians believe that in the last analysis, we were created to be with God. Our physical lives are a prelude, a confused and clumsy dress rehearsal, a reception that prepares us for the ultimate banquet. This means that death is not to be feared as the end, but rather embraced as the final step in a process of life.
For most of us, the transition from this life to the next will be relatively peaceful and quick. We used to call this “a happy death,” a moment of equanimity when we knew we had completed our earthly tasks and were now about to see them brought to perfection. For others, that passage is painful, traumatic and prolonged. This is especially true when we – or those around us – refuse to acknowledge the real purpose of life and instead cling desperately to physical life as though there were nothing else.
In his book “The Troubled Dream of Life: In Search of Peaceful Death,” ethicist Daniel Callahan says there is an alternative view: “it is our capacity to learn how to accept what life puts before us, to be open to that which we cannot control, and to embrace the virtues of courage and endurance in the face of evil.” The problem with a life dedicated to control and fear, he says, “is that no degree of vigilance can ever be sufficient to assure its success.”
Is it possible that removal of Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube is euthanasia? Yes, but it is more likely that it is the legitimate withdrawal of a medical intervention that no longer serves her spiritual or medical good.
Is it possible that Congress acted in her best interests when it permitted yet another legal review - this time, in the federal courts – of the case? Yes, but it is more likely that they are really fighting another battle or, worse, just trying to get re-elected.
Is it possible that Schiavo would want to be maintained in this medical and spiritual limbo for more than 15 years? Yes, but it is more likely that as a Christian she would forgo the very limited benefits of tube feeding and embrace God’s promise of eternal life with hope.
For Christians, Easter is an invitation to walk through death, to embrace it, to meditate upon it and then, finally, to emerge on the other side, triumphant. Christian or not, all of us must take the same journey, over and over again. We must feel the real pain of human existence, indulge the hope of consolation and dare to believe there is something more. My hope is that Terri Schiavo, her family and her friends will make that journey, too.
Inspector.....inspector....I believe we've found one!!
Bump for later!
...
Father Charles Bouchard is president of Aquinas Institute of Theology, "Some people do feel homosexuality would disqualify a student. I hope we can provide evidence that should not be the case."
I'm confused. Does the Vatican directive say that there should be no homosexuals among the 275 students who aren't in preparation for the priesthood, as well as the 25 who are? Or is Mr. Bouchard deliberately trying to muddle things?
All the Vatican information I've seen relates specifically to the priesthood and I'd say that Fr. Bouchard knows this and is deliberately trying to blur the line between candidates for the priesthood and the remainder of the students in order to make his point.
It should also be pointed out that the apostolic visitation will examine a number of things, of which the homosexual question is only one, including course material, spiritual formation etc., and this will involve all the students at the institute.
Good emphasis - that is also very important.
Pederasty is adult homosexual men raping teenage boys. The vast majority of The Scandal involved pederasty. It's a homosexual problem, folks, and continuing to obfuscate that fact starts to look less and less like ignorance and increasingly like deliberate malice.
Adding to the confusion could be the reporting itself. See this response from an earlier thread.
You mean the problem hasn't been middle-aged ladies or grandfathers running amok in the 6th grade classes? I'm shocked, SHOCKED! Homosexual men ... who'da thunkit?
I saw that earlier article, which was why the numbers on "students" vs. "seminarians" stood out in this one.
It brought to mind an article earlier this month about women taking theology courses, who were identified by a reporter as "attending the seminary" because there were also seminarians in the classes.
Bullcrap! Gay's have excused their sexual escapades by proclaiming they have been celibate (not married) meanwhile buttplugging each other and young boys. This is a question of chastity. First and foremost. Secondly, it involves a severe personality disorder, which in all prudence should exclude a man from orders. Thirdly, married men have been ordained from the beginning. Even to the episcopate, as evidenced from scripture and in particular from the eastern churches. I am angered that the married/celibate waters have been muddied by this scandal and this huge and abominable problem within the hierarchy.
Deacon Francis
After the seminaries began emptying out in the late '60s, the church has been engaged in an experiment which involvinv overlooking the homosexuality of priests. The result has been this scandal which has cost the church a lot of money and much credibility. Time to end it. The best way is to get rid of the Bouchards.
What should not be forgotten is that in 1961 a Papal order went out to all the bishops of the world, from Pope John XXIII, demanding that any candidates for the seminary that showed homosexual tendencies should be forbidden from entering the seminary on that grounds. This order was not made public, but was buried deep in a series of documents intended only for the eyes of chancery offices, bishops, and those who could apply it without making a public scandal arise. If the rule had been implemented at the time as the document certainly intended, we would not be having the problem today that we are having with homosexual behavior becoming the apparent norm, judging from what comes out of the seminaries.
About 6 months ago, there were rumors that a new, revised document would be coming out in October. You can probably go back in the archives and see the discussions here on FR that touched on that topic then. Or, perhaps they have been pulled, I don't know. But the fact remains, that October is now only a week away, and lo, here we are with some announcement of Vatican "inspections" beginning. Hmm...
It would seem that inspections could at least buy some time, so as to make it appear that something is going on, and so as to quell the anxiety of "conservatives" who might be chomping at the bit over the Vaticans inaction in this grave and calamatous pederasty scandal. But inspections could also be a way for big wigs to make personal meetings with seminary officials, with no paper trail, during which the spoken word will set the stage for the new plan, whatever that is. They ought to keep in mind that if they don't get it in writing, they won't be able to prove it happened in years to come.
Anyone who expects the 1961 rules to apply today as they were intended then might as well expect that the Pope who died begging for the council to be stopped would have had that wish fulfilled pothsumously, as well.
In other words, homosexual tendencies will continue to be a welcome component of seminarians, just as the progress and effects of Vatican II continue to slash and burn at everything holy in the Church, as it were...
Very interesting comments, thanks.
This isn't a seminary. It's related to St. Louis University, a Jesuit school. I'd say do the math, except that Aquinas's reputation is actually good.
I'm confused. I thought it was a Dominican run school, but at a Jesuit run university? Dominicans now in league with the Jebbies? Oh vey!
EVIDENCE GROWS OF DIRECT DISOBEDIENCE TO VATICAN IN MAJOR AMERICAN SEMINARIES
Pope to Church: Risky Seminarians Must Go
Priests Down, Seminarians Up
U.S. Priests and seminarians survey: more vocations in orthodox dioceses
Vatican Announces Surge in Seminaries during JPII Pontificate
Seminary Reform Needed in Wake of Sex Abuse Study ["the crisis in the Church is ... homosexuality"]
Homosexuals in seminaries? The latest.....
Priests 'In Orgy' at Seminary
Bishop urges gay ban in clergy; presses for overhaul in screening priests
A New Breed of Priest
AUSTRIAN SEMINARY SHUT DOWN FOR PROBE
Seminarians Show Support For Celibacy
556 Reasons for Hope [Seminarians Support Celibacy]
No Shortage of Vocations From Conservative Parishes
Oakland seminary housing sex offender priests
Phoenix bishop to helm Priestly Formation Committee [of USCCB]
Vatican Firms up Plans for U.S. Seminary Visitation in 2005
SIBLING VOCATIONS - Early calls led two sisters to same religious order
On the admission of homosexuals to seminaries
Catholic priests demand the right to marry
New Start For Austrian Seminary
Disciples of Pope John Paul (Faculty of Gregorian University Gripe About Piety of New Seminarians)
New Priests in U.S.: Older, and More >From Abroad (Survey Tracks Trends Since 1998)
U.S. seminarians welcome Pope Benedict XVI
Vatican review of seminaries to raise issue of gay priests
Some Decry Retirement Despite Priest Shortage
The Priesthood Ordination Class of 2005 “People would be surprised to know that I…”
(Catholic) Seminarians Double In 25 Years
Pope's death inspires would-be priests
Changes Add Up for Priesthood
Irish Bishops Apologize to Seminary Whistle-Blower
SIGNAL CALLING - UB quarterback foregoes family and career to train for priesthood in Rome
Pop Culture Heros Help Recruit Priests
Small Bible-belt (Catholic) diocese sees increase in seminarians
Dashing young priests turn heads at Youth Day
Vatican to Start U.S. Seminary Evaluations
Apostolic Seminary Visitation To Begin This Fall
U.S. Bishops to Begin Inspecting Seminaries
Prelate Says Gays Shouldn't Be Ordained
American overseeing Vatican evaluation of US seminaries says gays should not be ordained
Vatican to Check U.S. Seminaries on Gay Presence
POPE APPROVES BARRING GAY SEMINARIANS
Pope bans homosexuals from ordination as priests
Questions Arise Over Seminary Inspections
New Vatican Rule Said to Bar Gays as New Priests
New Vatican Rule Said to Bar Gays as New Priests (ABOUT TIME)
VATICAN: HOMOSEXUALS ARE NOT TO BE ORDAINED AS CATHOLIC PRIESTS
Homosexuals in the seminary; A Global Church in a Globalized World
Gay Men Ponder Impact of (Anti-Gay Clergy)Proposal by Vatican(Barf Alert)
Aquinas Seminary is First for Scrutiny
Vatican Begins Inspections At St. Louis Seminary (Rector: No homosexuality-pedophilia link)
The Sins of the Seminaries
Notre Dame Experts React to Potential Seminary Rules
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.