Irish bishops reject plan to ask 'conservative' students to leave national seminary [CC]
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O
outremer
Guest
Not shocked this occurred! They should crave to have such faithful students. As with all former Catholic countries, Ireland has experiences a colossal decline in seminarians.
From my understanding, Maynooth is the sole seminary in Ireland.
From my understanding, Maynooth is the sole seminary in Ireland.
C
commenter
Guest
It makes me wonder about the other seminarians, the ones the seminary perceived no problems with. In the attached link, one of the “problems” with the conservative students was that they insisted on kneeling at the consecration.
"This is not the first time the issue has provoked controversy. Some years ago, seminarians were reportedly suspended for wanting to kneel during the consecration at Mass. In 2012, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said “it is not just that the number of candidates is low; it is also that many of those who present are fragile and some are much more traditional than those who went before them”. - See more at: irishcatholic.ie/article/bishops-rebel-over-maynooth-seminary-
It’s a health sign that now, at least some of the bishops are taking action. Unfortunately, the seminary staff are probably entrenched by academic tenure, etc. In my own US diocese, the seminary was a nightmare in the 1970s, according to men who either were forced out or managed to be ordained. But later bishops gradually corrected most, not all, those problems. Sometimes they had to wait until a liberal prof left to find a new job before they could replace them with an orthodox, doctrinal instructor.
Unfortunately the bishops of 2015, in Ireland, the US, and other countries, are getting blamed by some for the lack of corrective action and direction by their predecessors. (In Ireland the current bishops are being blamed for other things their predecessors failed to respond to).
This Irish seminary situation reinforces the need to support our current bishops and pray for seminarians and those who train them - most of whom are very good.
"This is not the first time the issue has provoked controversy. Some years ago, seminarians were reportedly suspended for wanting to kneel during the consecration at Mass. In 2012, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said “it is not just that the number of candidates is low; it is also that many of those who present are fragile and some are much more traditional than those who went before them”. - See more at: irishcatholic.ie/article/bishops-rebel-over-maynooth-seminary-
It’s a health sign that now, at least some of the bishops are taking action. Unfortunately, the seminary staff are probably entrenched by academic tenure, etc. In my own US diocese, the seminary was a nightmare in the 1970s, according to men who either were forced out or managed to be ordained. But later bishops gradually corrected most, not all, those problems. Sometimes they had to wait until a liberal prof left to find a new job before they could replace them with an orthodox, doctrinal instructor.
Unfortunately the bishops of 2015, in Ireland, the US, and other countries, are getting blamed by some for the lack of corrective action and direction by their predecessors. (In Ireland the current bishops are being blamed for other things their predecessors failed to respond to).
This Irish seminary situation reinforces the need to support our current bishops and pray for seminarians and those who train them - most of whom are very good.
F
FollowChrist34
Guest
Well, this is something to cheer about…I guess…
Y
Yeoman
Guest
And according to something I read, they only have 72 seminarians in preparation. Not anywhere near enough.
Perhaps the Irish Church needs to begin its focus on rebuilding right here.
Y
Yeoman
Guest
Just looking at it, it appears that Ireland once had a lot of seminaries but moved towards a central national seminary starting some time ago.
I have to wonder if consolidation like that is a good idea. That may make sense if all is well, but if things aren’t, it concentrates things going wrong.
I have to wonder if consolidation like that is a good idea. That may make sense if all is well, but if things aren’t, it concentrates things going wrong.
C
commenter
Guest
I don’t know Ireland, but in the US it seems when things were moved from the diocesan level, to the national level, there was far less accountability. The USCCB, or the National Catholic Education Association, come to mind. The Church seems to work best when there is a strong bishop as ordinary of the diocese, who is in direct cooperation with the Holy See. National initiatives often spend lots of the Church’s money, and constantly draw on the Church’s credibility, but are not responsive to any one ordinary or to the Holy See.
I can imagine that happening with seminaries, too.
T
twf
Guest
Yes, my Archbishop (Vancouver) entrusts his seminarians to the Benedictine Abbey with incredible results. Strong, faithful priests with a focus on the liturgy.
Z
zz912
Guest
Seminarians nearly kicked out of seminary because they are TOO Catholic.
I’m beginning to see how some of the problems in Ireland have arose.
I’m beginning to see how some of the problems in Ireland have arose.
C
commenter
Guest
Prayer is something we can all do to help the situation, in all countries.
F
FollowChrist34
Guest
Yes, I always thought Father Ted was just a comedy…
R
ringil
Guest
I don’t understand.
In Ireland; do folks not kneel at the Consecration? Do they have some kind of exemption. Could someone from Ireland explain this?
In Ireland; do folks not kneel at the Consecration? Do they have some kind of exemption. Could someone from Ireland explain this?
T
twf
Guest
Back in the 70s/80s there were certain priests / religious who encouraged the faithful to stand during the consecration as we are to be a people “of the resurrection”. Thankfully this trend died out in many places but it is still going strong in some areas. I can’t speak for Ireland, but in the Dominican Republic I have seen that the majority stand during the consecration. When I asked a local priest who I know quite well, he said it was definitely not correct but priests didn’t seem to want to correct their congregations.
J
JimG
Guest
“The investigation, which was headed by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, found “a certain tendency, not dominant but nevertheless fairly widespread among priests, religious and laity, to hold theological opinions at variance with the teachings of the magisterium.””
So, “too conservative,” in this case really meant “too Catholic.”
So, “too conservative,” in this case really meant “too Catholic.”
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