Posted on 04/13/2012 12:18:00 AM PDT by Cronos
.. progressive Catholics were predicting the end of the celibate male priesthood in books like "Full Pews and Empty Altars" and "The Death of Priesthood." Yet today the number of priestly ordinations is steadily increasing.
A new seminary is to be built near Charlotte, N.C., and the archdiocese of Washington, D.C., has expanded its facilities to accommodate the surge in priestly candidates. Boston's Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley: when he arrived in 2003 to lead that archdiocese he was advised to close the seminary. Now there are 70 men in Boston studying to be priests, and the seminary has had to turn away candidates for lack of space.
.. there were more than 5,000 more Catholic priests world-wide in 2009 than there were in 1999.
..The biggest gains are not only in traditional Catholic strongholds. In Lincoln, Neb., Catholics constitute only 16% of the population yet have some of the strongest numbers of ordinations. In 2011, there were 10 men ordained as priests in Lincoln.
What explains the trend? Nearly 20 years ago, Archbishop Elden Curtiss, then leader of the Omaha, Neb., diocese, suggested that when dioceses are unambiguous and allow a minimum of dissent about the male, celibate priesthood, more candidates answer the call to the priesthood. .. dioceses with the largest numbers of new priests are led by courageous bishops with faithful and inspirational vocations offices.
Leadership and adherence to church doctrine certainly distinguish the bishop of Lincoln, the Most Rev. Fabian Bruskewitz. He made national news in 1996 when he stated that members of dissident Catholic groups including Call to Action and Catholics for Choice had automatically excommunicated themselves from the church.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Some fantasies are best kept to one’s self, son
**In Lincoln, Neb., Catholics constitute only 16% of the population yet have some of the strongest numbers of ordinations. In 2011, there were 10 men ordained as priests in Lincoln.**
I think the percentage of Catholics in Oregon is less than in the Lincoln diocese, yet there will be nine young men ordained.....not all are diocesan preists, though.
The young men first submit an application, attacked are parental interviews, several (somehow I'm thinking five) character reference interviews. If they are accepted at that point then they undergo a two day pscyhe examination. They are then interviewed by people at the monastery and people from the diocese.
Of course, there are probationary years, and men there for the wrong reason who may have slipped through all the prelims will fall out.
Were you aware of any of this?
LOL!
Traditional Catholicism Is Winning
Number of Priests Worldwide Continues Steady Increase (and other good news!)
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What the heck is a cardinal, anyway?
Catholic Word of the Day: TRANSITIONAL DIACONATE, 12-07-11
"The Dignity and Duties of the Priest" (excerpt) by St. Alphonsus Liguori [Catholic Caucus]
Charisma, Conservatism Gifts of Newest Priests
"The Dignity and Duties of the Priest" (excerpt) by St. Alphonsus Liguori [Catholic Caucus]
On the Catholic Priesthood, AD CATHOLICI SACERDOTII, Encyclical (Long) [Catholic Caucus]
Meet The U.S.’s Largest Ordination Class
The FSSP Experiences Tremendous Growth
Survey Indicates Increase in Inquiries For The Priesthood and Religious Life
Young Catholics Hear Call to Serve
US Dominican Province Welcomes Its Biggest Class of Novices in Decades
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[CATHOLIC / ORTHODOX CAUCUS] The priesthood: the love of the Heart of Jesus
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Of priests and possible priests to be
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Convert looks forward to serving God in unique way [Father Doug Piece]
Catholic Biblical Apologetics: Opportunities of Grace: [Holy] Orders
From Krishna to Christ: The Conversion Testimony of Father Jay Kythe
'Come Follow Me': Grant Desme Lays Aside Baseball Career and Responds
A's MVP Desme retires for priesthood [ Grant Desme]
THE PRIESTHOOD DEBATE
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Cardinal Arinze discusses the priestly vows of obedience, poverty and chastity (Catholic Caucus)
Pope Gives Key to Being Highly Effective Priests [Ecumenical]
Priests: Ordinary Men Made Extraordinary by Grace [Holy Orders/Chrism Mass]
7 Reasons To Be a Priest
The Nature of Priestly Ordination: Theological Background and Some Present Concerns
The Priesthood of Jesus Christ - Body and Blood (Confessional ... Consecration ... and Calvary)
What You [Catholics] Need to Know: Priesthood (Holy Orders) [Catholic-Orthodox Caucus]
What You {Catholics} Need to Know: Celibacy [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
New priest finds joy in sacrifice
No shortage of priests in Atlanta, more than 50 seminarians
Debt, the Vocation Killer [Catholic Caucus]
Identical twins become Green Bay priests
A Modern Roman Rite Priest reports on Classical Roman Rite Training
Number of new priests expected to rise in 2007
Father, Mother, Sister, Brother [Part One of a series on Celibacy] -- Catholic Caucus
It Takes a Village of Vocations [Part Two of a series on Celibacy] -- Catholic Caucus
Living Single and Celibate in God’s Service [Part Three of a series on Celibacy] -- Catholic Caucus
Brothers and Sisters in Christ [Part Four of a series on Celibacy] -- Catholic Caucus
The Adventure of the Priesthood [Part Five of a series on Celibacy] -- Catholic Caucus
This Is the Body of Christ [Part Six of a series on Celibacy and Vocations] -- Catholic Caucus
14 men are ordained into the priesthood (at St. Patrick's Cathedral NYC)
To Know, To Love, To Lead (Pope Benedict XVI ordains 22 new priests)
The Indispensable Priesthood -- Holy Thursday, [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Why Does the Catholic Church Ordain Only Men to the Priesthood? Part Three[Cath/Orth/Angl Caucus]
Why Does the Catholic Church Ordain Only Men to the Priesthood? Part Two
Why Does the Catholic Church Ordain Only Men to the Priesthood? Part One [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Vatican Said (Again!) Not Revising Celibacy Rule
Ordinatio Sacerdotalis
I see that you have a rainbow of commentary, and a certain PRIDE in your statements. I find it queer, though, that you would butt into this discussion, if you think that the topic sucks.
Salvation, I love your links! ;-0)
Salvation, I love your links! ;-0)
ROTFL!!
This is good news and good numbers, but to challenge anyone who points out the homosexual problem in the catholic seminaries and by extension the pool of American priests is disingenuous.
What is the nickname for St. Mary’s seminary in Baltimore? Are the interviews at Notre Dame seminary New Orleans looking for only orthodox applications? Will a seminary application be psychologically vetted for orthodoxy in all (if not most) American diocese?
Pope Benedict knows better, as evidenced by the Vatican’s investigations.
>>but to challenge anyone who points out the homosexual problem in the catholic seminaries and by extension the pool of American priests is disingenuous.<<
To put credence into a comment alluding to all candidates being homosexual is ludicrous.
Broad brush.
Thanks for the links
I don’t get it. Was it agreeing with my promoting conservative Catholics to fight, fight, fight?
Tha cute little baby is evidently a conservative Catholic. Love ‘im!
Thank you for the heads up,I’ll look for it.
Nice title but old thread.
Seminarians now have to undergo a two day pscyhological exam, be interviewed numerous times, have family members and acquaintances interviewed, have written documentation that they are a practicing Catholic in good standing from their pastor -- and on and on.
Yes, seminaries were in bad shape because of bad leadership on diocesan levels, but even the new Bishops are good ones! Read on"
Spanish Olympic athlete to enter seminary after London games
Fr. Robert Barron to head Mundelein Seminary
Fr. [Robert] Barron Appointed Rector of Mundelein Seminary
Rise in US Seminary Numbers Brings 'Big Smile' to Pope's Face
U.S. seminary confronts abortion mill head-on through weekly prayer invasion
Traditional Catholicism Is Winning
Atlantis rises: US seminaries are changing
VIETNAM-More Than 1500 Seminarians and 80,000 Young Catechists: The Church's Future Looks Bright
The Logos in Seminary Formation and Teaching [Catholic Caucus]
Boom Time for Westminster Seminaries [UK]
Young Catholics Hear Call to Serve
US Dominican Province Welcomes Its Biggest Class of Novices in Decades
Of priests and possible priests to be
More twins (enter priesthood)
Cardinal Arinze - "Youth will embrace religious life with right role models"
Today's seminarians reflect growing trend
Number of Seminarians Increases - Please Decipher This!!!!
In Seminaries, New Ways for a New Generation
Seminary Springtime: Father Darrin Connall s Big Success
EVIDENCE GROWS OF DIRECT DISOBEDIENCE TO VATICAN IN MAJOR AMERICAN SEMINARIES
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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
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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
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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
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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
Seminary Reviews Not Just About Homosexuality, Says Prelate
Jesuit Official Rips Expected Ban on Gays
Jesuit Official Rips Expected Ban on Gays
Jesuit official protesting expected Vatican ban on gay priests
A Catholic Moment of Truth
Gay Catholics Angry Over Seminary Searches
New Rules Affirm Pope Benedict's Stance Against Gays
New Report on Vatican Gay Priests Document Said to be Gay Lobby “Rumor Mill”
Gay men can be priests if celibate
Gay men can be Catholic priests if celibate-paper
No ban on gays expected in Vatican document; will advise 'prudential judgement'
African Cardinal Views the Vocation Shortage - With Full Seminaries, Ghana Shares Its Wealth
Keep the Ban
Today's seminarians: The Vatican survey
Lincoln diocese boasts highest number of priests to Catholics
Vatican Document on homosexuals in seminaries will be published tomorrow
Married Priests Aren’t the Answer (a seminarian states his view)
Vatican document restricts gays in priesthood: paper
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Why I Thank God I Couldn’t Be A Priest
A look inside the Denver seminaries
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Vatican teams checking seminary effectiveness (in all, 229 US seminaries to be reviewed)
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Seminaries Full in Southern India (despite new anti-conversion law)
Ordination Class of 2006 - New Catholic Priests include twins, converts and some surprises
Twin ordinands, youngest of 13, credit parents for priestly vocations
Eleven new priests for Denver, largest ordination class in 40 years
Religious vocations can come from anyplace
Coordinator of U.S. seminary visitations expects report this fall
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