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anon64704623
Guest
Okay…
Do you agree seminary education should be free? (excluding living expenses)
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guanophore
Guest
You see to be assuming that people cannot know God unless one has an expensive graduate / seminary education. This is a false assumption. What is irreligious is your attitude and expectations!
I agree, your attitude is definitely an abuse of religion. There is no connection between people entering heaven and the costs of a seminary education.
Who are “they” who ask for donations"?
You have a warped and inaccurate perspective of seminary education. No one has it “forced down their throat”.
One has to wonder if you are a disgruntled applicant!
The educational institution enters into a contract with the student. The Student is not “forced”, and it is not a “donation”. It is the cost of services. The bill is not “fixed” but needs to be paid. If the student is unable to pay, then other resources must be tapped. Ultimately, it is the student that benefits from the service (education) so only the student is responsible for the bill.
You are trying to create a false dichotomy. The fact that education exists in the world as a “business” does not negate that the goal of the education is religious.
Everyone has their own choice about their focus. If the student is more focused on money than God, then it is the student’s problem.
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anon64704623
Guest
Okay…
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guanophore
Guest
This is common in every field of study. I am confused why you would consider it a problem?
It seems as if you don’t really trust God to find away to pay the bill?
Perhaps you can give an example. Are you a seminarian drop out that has been required to pay the bill?
This much is abundantly clear.
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guanophore
Guest
Actually, it is not “okay”. If you want to purport these outlandish and imaginative ideas, you should really be able to support them!Okay…
You are basically saying that an adult who makes a fully informed choice to enter an educational contract should not be held responsible for his actions. You further seem to be suggesting that everyone involved in the educational system from cooks, to janitors, to librarians, to professors should volunteer.
Just for the record, I agree with you that the Church needs to support the seminarians.
In that case, it sounds like your problem is really with God. If you do not trust that where God guides, He provides, then you will be pointing the finger of blame elsewhere.
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guanophore
Guest
Yes.
The formation to become a buddist monk is considerably different than a Latin Rite priest.
Well, by all means, make a spiritual and moral judgment based on your feelings!
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YoungApologist3
Guest
I’m a bit late to this party, but…
In my diocese, the seminarian does not pay for much. If he is in college seminary, he pays for 2/3 of his college tuition (the seminary is attached to a local Catholic college). Room and board are covered. Once he enters theology, everything is covered by the diocese. I’m not sure about a pretheology seminarian who already has a college degree.
In my diocese, the seminarian does not pay for much. If he is in college seminary, he pays for 2/3 of his college tuition (the seminary is attached to a local Catholic college). Room and board are covered. Once he enters theology, everything is covered by the diocese. I’m not sure about a pretheology seminarian who already has a college degree.
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edward_george1
Guest
I’m a priest, so I should know a thing or two about how seminary works.
Seminary is just like regular college and then grad school. Seminaries are accredited just like any other school and administered in the same way. The main difference, of course, is the formational environment.
Being as it’s like any other school, it costs money to operate. It’s nice and idealistic to think that people who work there should just work for free, and give their lives to the Church, but that’s not how it works, and it’s not even what the Church expects. That said, for the broad majority of seminarians, there is no cost to attend. The diocese or religious community sponsoring the seminarian pays his way. Some Dioceses make their college seminarians pay all or part of their tuition, others foot the bill. I had already been to college and had a modest amount of debt, but those loans were deferred while I was in seminary. Apart from incidentals, I didn’t pay a penny for my seminary education and owe nothing to my diocese for it. Some Dioceses do require men who discern out before a certain point to pay back part of the tuition, but mileage may vary.
I’m sorry you feel like it’s wrong for education to cost money, but that’s just reality. Maybe your energy on this topic would be better devoted to donating money to your Diocese or nearest religious community so they can find seminary education.
-Fr ACEGC
Seminary is just like regular college and then grad school. Seminaries are accredited just like any other school and administered in the same way. The main difference, of course, is the formational environment.
Being as it’s like any other school, it costs money to operate. It’s nice and idealistic to think that people who work there should just work for free, and give their lives to the Church, but that’s not how it works, and it’s not even what the Church expects. That said, for the broad majority of seminarians, there is no cost to attend. The diocese or religious community sponsoring the seminarian pays his way. Some Dioceses make their college seminarians pay all or part of their tuition, others foot the bill. I had already been to college and had a modest amount of debt, but those loans were deferred while I was in seminary. Apart from incidentals, I didn’t pay a penny for my seminary education and owe nothing to my diocese for it. Some Dioceses do require men who discern out before a certain point to pay back part of the tuition, but mileage may vary.
I’m sorry you feel like it’s wrong for education to cost money, but that’s just reality. Maybe your energy on this topic would be better devoted to donating money to your Diocese or nearest religious community so they can find seminary education.
-Fr ACEGC
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FrancisPio
Guest
If you are saying you want to pay for all seminarians education I’m all for it. My point is simply that nothing in life is free, someone has to pay for it. Many churches are closing due to financial hardships. It makes sense to me that future priests should pay some of there dues if for know other reason than to show their true commitment to the calling. It is easiest to know if someone is genuine by action.
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Deditus_Domina
Guest
I think the bit where you say your country doesn’t have a seminary is important. Every one else is citing what happens in the US (maybe Canada and Europe). I can imagine that there would be places where seminarians do have to pay their own way still - and if it involved going to another country (especially a bigger and more expensive country) it could be onerous. I don’t imagine the dioceses in such a scenario can afford to pay for all seminarians either.
In my diocese, the seminary sends a bill for each seminarian to the Diocese and the Diocese pays out of the Annual appeal, donations from the Knights of Columbus and Sera Club, parish donations, etc. The bills are huge! We are blessed to have gone from an average of less than 30 seminarians to having 44 for next year. That is half a million extra in spending each year.
I think it is reasonable for families to pay to the seminary what they would have otherwise paid for their child to be educated for a career. And for seminarians to seek out grants/donors as long as it doesn’t distract from their studies
In my diocese, the seminary sends a bill for each seminarian to the Diocese and the Diocese pays out of the Annual appeal, donations from the Knights of Columbus and Sera Club, parish donations, etc. The bills are huge! We are blessed to have gone from an average of less than 30 seminarians to having 44 for next year. That is half a million extra in spending each year.
I think it is reasonable for families to pay to the seminary what they would have otherwise paid for their child to be educated for a career. And for seminarians to seek out grants/donors as long as it doesn’t distract from their studies
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Tis_Bearself
Patron
No.
Education costs money - the teachers must eat, the building must be paid for and maintained and heated and lit, etc.
Also, “Free” items tend not to be valued or appreciated.
As was said above, poor seminarians can receive financial assistance.
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Seagull
Guest
Yes. At this stage of the game.
But - they have to weed out all the free loaders -
If anything is free - it attracts people - like pigeons to a statue !
And all sorts of pigeons - some with evil motives - from Satan, himself !
Satan wants the downfall of the church.
But - they have to weed out all the free loaders -
If anything is free - it attracts people - like pigeons to a statue !
And all sorts of pigeons - some with evil motives - from Satan, himself !
Satan wants the downfall of the church.
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BoomBoomMancini
Guest
Nothing is really “free.” Someone still has to pay to keep the lights on.
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boldlygo
Guest
Nonsense!!
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boldlygo
Guest
Just for sake of argument,try Googling ‘tuition at Borromeo Seminary’.
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midori
Guest
I tried to think of a seminary I’d expect to be more expensive/less subsidized. I thought about the FSSP seminary in Nebraska. It’s not Diocesan, so it doesn’t have hundreds of parishes to support it; and it’s not Religious, but it’s a community of priests who work for a common goal.
But I was really impressed. $7000/year works out to $3500/semester. With that covering things like tuition/room/board (I couldn’t tell if that covered books or not), the out-of-pocket expenses are even cheaper than community college. Even the actual cost of $22k/year was completely unsubsidized, that’s still cheaper than in-state tuition for the 3 most popular state schools in my state.
Then the very next FAQ is–
And then it goes on to say debt in general doesn’t prevent you from being accepted into seminary, but they don’t ordain people with large debts, so please resolve those first. And they don’t accept people with outstanding student loans.
But I was really impressed. $7000/year works out to $3500/semester. With that covering things like tuition/room/board (I couldn’t tell if that covered books or not), the out-of-pocket expenses are even cheaper than community college. Even the actual cost of $22k/year was completely unsubsidized, that’s still cheaper than in-state tuition for the 3 most popular state schools in my state.
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Kei
Guest
Seminary is not necessary for salvation, so it’s not at all like you’re buying your way to Heaven.
That said, they have ways to help those who cannot pay to get into Seminary. Tell your priest and maybe they’ll apply some of the donations to help you go.
That said, they have ways to help those who cannot pay to get into Seminary. Tell your priest and maybe they’ll apply some of the donations to help you go.
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LittleFlower
Guest
I am, again, a bit late to this post.
This addresses some early-mid thread postings on how parishes, dioceses and archdioceses deal with having different numbers of priests—they can pool resources together and only have one seminary, therefore cutting costs.
Also, it mentions sponsoring, therefore it could be assumed the dioceses and archdioceses carry the costs for vetted candidates. This is backed up by the below paragraph:
This addresses some early-mid thread postings on how parishes, dioceses and archdioceses deal with having different numbers of priests—they can pool resources together and only have one seminary, therefore cutting costs.
Also, it mentions sponsoring, therefore it could be assumed the dioceses and archdioceses carry the costs for vetted candidates. This is backed up by the below paragraph:
Lastly, there is requirement that you can undertake tertiary studies, which I would assume the Church would pay for in some capacity. In Australia, we have deferred government funding for tertiary studies. The government pays for, if you want, your tertiary studies and you pay it back with no interest and only if you earn above a certain threshold.
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LittleFlower
Guest
Yes, a lot of religious orders have the same initiative—finding benefactors—for those with student loans.
If I remember correctly, this organisation helps aspiring religious sisters and brothers (and perhaps priests?) pay off their student loans:
If I remember correctly, this organisation helps aspiring religious sisters and brothers (and perhaps priests?) pay off their student loans:
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Aulef
Guest
I think not.
Btw, I’m financing one. I strongly suggest catholics to do the same. Help the Church. Be part of the Church.
Btw, I’m financing one. I strongly suggest catholics to do the same. Help the Church. Be part of the Church.
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