Are Priests taught about 'Scrupulosity' or 'Scruples' in Seminary?

[ArmyofTheImmaculata]

I wanted to ask are Priests taught about spiritual conditions such as Scruples (also called Scrupulosity) in the Seminaries? Some people I’ve mentioned it to have no idea what I’m talking about…

 

[TheLittleLady]

Seminaries are not monolithic in teaching. You might want to ask your priest if he was taught about this condition.

 

[Wm777]

I can’t say for sure, although I was once considering becoming a Priest, and I spoke with a lot of Priests and Formation Directors.

The sense I got was, scruples weren’t preferable, and they’d probably work against you. And, even if they were somehow covered up at first, they would eventually come out. All things come to light.

In scripture, we see scruples in the story of Martha and Mary, when Martha is complaining telling Jesus to make Mary (who is attending to Jesus Himself) get up and help her. Jesus tells Martha Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken from her.

So much for telling Jesus what to do, unless you’re his Mom.

 

[Canvas]

I wanted to ask are Priests taught about spiritual conditions such as Scruples (also called Scrupulosity) in the Seminaries? Some people I’ve mentioned it to have no idea what I’m talking about…

Some Priests are far more familiar and knowledgeable than others about it. But most Priests who have been hearing confessions for a while are familiar with scrupulants. However, not all are experienced with the best ways to address the problem pastorally (being very strict about what and how often the penitent can confess—for example, no doubtful sins, no sins from 20 years ago that they aren’t sure they confessed etc, for example and setting well defined limits, like saying penitent X can only confess to a certain Priest and no more than every two weeks or once a month or something)

 

[Wm777]

Some Priests are far more familiar and knowledgeable than others about it. But most Priests who have been hearing confessions for a while are familiar with scrupulants.

That is correct.

As I am thinking about your response to the OP’s question, it occurred to me some reading might help?

Both St Theresa of Avila and St Faustina speak about novice Priests in confessions, saying their efforts can be unintentionally counterproductive, if they themselves are scrupulous or lack experience in certain areas of our faith.

In a secular sense, I think, the net result would be like two micromanagers with different ways of working, attempting to work together on the same thing. They’d likely keep tripping each other up.

 

[phil19034]

I wanted to ask are Priests taught about spiritual conditions such as Scruples (also called Scrupulosity) in the Seminaries? Some people I’ve mentioned it to have no idea what I’m talking about…

It’s not covered in their academic studies (aka philosophy & theology). And I would imaging that each seminary differs in regards to the spiritual and pastoral formation they receive.

So I don’t think you can place a blanket statement on this one. I also think it depends on who their individual spiritual directors & confessors are.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

I would say that very, very few “modern” Catholics have any problem with scrupulosity, in that no one believes they can sin anymore, and that everyone is going to heaven. Short lines for confession, yet virtually everyone goes to communion.

CAF participants aren’t really a cross-section. I find that the readership tends to skew more traditional, and in a traditional understanding of Catholicism, moral sensitivity will be what it always has been. Some will be scrupulous. But again, it’s not really a cross-section. You have to have a certain concern for matters of faith to take the time to participate in CAF to begin with.

I don’t know what they teach in seminaries anymore, but I’d say that in the most conservative and traditional seminaries (FSSP, SSPX et al), how to deal with scrupulous penitents is taught as it always was.

 

[InThePew]

I wanted to ask are Priests taught about spiritual conditions such as Scruples (also called Scrupulosity) in the Seminaries?

We covered it as part of confession practicum (the practicalities of learning how to hear confessions) not academic formation as it’s really more of a practical problem rather than a theological question (strictly speaking).