In Seminaries, New Ways for a New Generation

The New York Times ^ | March 25, 2002 | LAURIE GOODSTEIN

[PadreL]

An interesting article. It may have been posted already, if so, I am sorry.

Pray for priests.

[patent]

Bumping. Let me know if you want on or off the list. Click my screen name for a description.

patent

[patent]

I meant to post this earlier but didn't get to it. I don't think its been posted yet.

patent

[WriteOn]

A good tone.

[grumpster-dumpster]

Thanks for a breath of fresh air! It's really good to know that these future priests seem prepared and unafraid to tackle the problems.

[jwalsh07]

Bump

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Good article. Thanks for posting.

[Judith Anne]

Thanks for the ping, this really looks interesting! ;-D

[saradippity]

This looks like a good start on the basis of a quick read but does cause a concern.In this era of poor catechesis,conflicting theories of the genesis of homosexuality and this huge scandal I think it poor practice to admit persons with homosexual proclivities into the seminaries.

When the Church has cleansed itself which will take ten years at least,then in the light of truth the whole issue can be reconsidered. Until then it is not fair to the laity and even less to the priest,especially if his proclivity is known(and a two year history of chastity means that past relationships may be revealed by others). I feel ugly and mean saying this and I do believe the ones who are to be ordained probably should be but no more for ten years.

[Cicero]

I'm somewhat familiar with St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, because the religious orders of monks and nuns who are faithful to the Church--as opposed to the more liberal orders that are shriveling away because they have betrayed the spirit of their founders--meet there annually and have their headquarters there, I believe. I have been getting their newsletter for many years as a small way of showing support for them. I think it's a good place.

For those who are interested, the seminary's web page is at http://www.vocations.org/.

[father_elijah]

Thank you, Padre L. This is a fine article.

[sinkspur]

I feel ugly and mean saying this and I do believe the ones who are to be ordained probably should be but no more for ten years.

Then you'll be encouraging lying.

Ten years? You won't have any seminarians under 40.

[Mr. Thorne]

One of the best priests I know (now he's in Chicago) was like this. He was a Financial Advisor, made good money, etc., for years. But he said he also felt the call. Finally, medicine got good enough (he has a heart condition) that he could join a seminary.

He's in his mid-40's. Just got ordained about 3 or 4 years ago. His sermons are phenomenal, he made my wife cry on a constant basis with them.

And yeah, when we had him over for dinner one time, he made the same comment I see in this article. "They're spoiling it for the rest of us." They being the homosexuals.

Go figure.

[Salvation]

Wonderful article. I pray that this comes true.

[Travis McGee]

Please put me on your ping list. Thanks.

(T.M., graduate of a Jesuit high school in 1975.)

[SuziQ]

Thanks so much for posting this article Padre! I read it this morning and e-mailed it to myself so I can send it to my brother in law when he gets his new cable internet connection! He has been saying for years that one big problem with celibacy in the Church has been that it has not been TAUGHT properly! Even when he was in the seminary in the late 60's, some of the professors were telling these young men not to worry about celibacy because the Church would probably be changing the rule soon. So a lot of young men were ordained believing something that was not true! HE knew it wouldn't be changed, but there were some who wanted desperately to believe it!

We have had several seminarians at our Parish during the past few summers, and most have been 'late' vocations. I like it that these men have some idea of how the real world works before they entered the priesthood. They have been professionals, but felt something missing and opened themselves to God's call. And they tend to be more Orthodox as well, which is a REAL bonus! Pray for vocations, folks, and for the priests we have now!

[.45MAN]

((((ping)))))

[.45MAN]

Homosexual orientation is not grounds for rejection, but participation in a gay lifestyle or gay sex is. Catholic teaching holds that homosexual orientation is not a sin, but homosexual behavior is. All priest candidates, no matter their sexual orientation, must convince the admissions interviewers that they have remained celibate for two years before they applied to seminary.

Celibacey is the issue here not homosexual orientation, a non celibate priest is the same either way. The lay people need to force the churches back to the straight and narrow, without the help of the conservative lay people the church will not be able to repair itself.

We are to blame as well as the nuns and priests. We have not made ourselves heard! It's always ,"well someone will do something" and then we sit back and complain when things go bad. Pointing your finger does nothing but point three fingers back at yourself. It's time to show yourselves to the church and to the world, being a real Roman Catholic is harder than you think it's something that needs to be lived everyday.

[saradippity]

There is a new breed of young orthodox priests and they are not homosexual.They follow the teachings of the Magisterium and are in union with the Holy Father.They will attract like men.They were aware of the sacrifices they were making and they will save the Church. That is as long as we don't make a couple of end runs introducing new "disciplines" or removing old ones.