A new program of priestly formation has been mandated for US seminaries. We can only pray that such reform will produce the kind of priests that lead God’s people to Him. I have my doubts as do others. From the Roman Catholic Blog:
All of these things are good, but unfortunately, it seems like too little, too late. Having two years of Theology is terrific if you are studying the right kind of Theology and have orthodox teachers. Weeding out candidates with homosexual tendencies is a wonderful idea, but why wasn’t this done in the first place, and how can we be sure that these norms will be properly implemented?
Most importantly, what about cases where the fox is guarding the hen house? What if the very people in charge of implementing these guidelines (including bishops) are of dubious orthodoxy, homosexual, or both? Catholic seminaries throughout the country have been documented to have more than their fair share of agenda-driven, dissenting liberals and homosexuals. There are also a lot of well intentioned, well meaning, but poorly formed men in some formation programs; men with lots of degrees, but a poor understanding of sound, orthodox, Catholic Theology. There are also good men, who know the truth, but remain silent. They are afraid to make waves because they know they are outnumbered or that they will pay dearly for not towing the party line.
And isn’t this true as well?
In the past, many priests were poorly schooled in philosophy, theology, Sacred Scripture, traditional spirituality and the like, and instead trained as social workers with little sense of the supernatural. With such poor formation, the liberal ideas of society quickly invade and take root in the mind, which the often well-intentioned priest or seminarian re-interprets as the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Hence, rather than discussions of personal sin, eternal salvation or damnation, grace, original sin, etc., the priest is only able to talk about the standard social “sins” of the day: racism, sexism, “homophobia”, pollution, etc.
When is the last time that you heard a priest preach on sexual sin or divorce? We are bombarded with the evils of “secular” sin but not those sins of which Jesus clearly spoke. Pray for our priests and those considering the priesthood.
