Is there a way to inquire about seminary teaching?

[Teelynn]

Just yesterday I received a request in the mail to contribute financially to the local seminary. I would love to do this but am still skeptical about what they are teaching. I have heard that a number of seminaries are going back to traditional Church teachings, but don’t know that for sure. It seems like the younger priests coming out of seminary are more traditional than the liberal days of the 70’s thru early 90’s when they were teaching “relative theology”. I have the feeling that Catholic Laity is not privy to any information about content of teachings or concepts of instructors being put forth, but am reluctant to contribute unless I am sure of what’s going on behind closed doors. I am almost afraid to even approach this subject as I perceive it as being a “taboo” to the laity. Thoughts?

 

[Epsilon_Omega]

You could call up the seminary and see if you could do any auditing. Meaning you go to the class, but you don’t get credit, or have to pay for it. You can call up the seminary and say that you are interested to know what the seminarians are learning and then ask if you could sit in for a class or two.

 

[PhilipCal]

I like the “audit” idea, and I’d certainly check into doing it. I listened to a great talk last night by Father John Corapi. In his talk, Father mentioned the much improved quality of instruction now being rendered by our seminaries. Needless to say, he was painting with a pretty broad brush. Any seminary properly teaching the Sacred Sciences, and properly forming and preparing our prospective Priests is worthy of our support. I heartily agree with your idea of an “audit”.

 

[Teelynn]

Thanks for the ideas. I will pursue this idea. Let you know of the outcome. I personally believe the laity has a right to know what is being presented in our seminaries. Especially when they ask us for financial support. Or at least to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that heretical ideology is not being presented. You can probably guess that I have read “Good Bye Good Men” thus the reason I am questioning this. There are numerous examples, however, in the book that give accounts of the Bishop and sometimes the Cardinal coming to visit when the material presented was miraculously changed to a much more sound Church doctrine…and then back to relativism as usual upon their leaving.

 

[baltobetsy]

You can go to the seminary’s website and request a print catalog, or possibly download a PDF of the catalog. This will have a list and description of all the course offerings. It’s a start.

Betsy

 

[Teelynn]

Never thought of that either. Great ideas here. Don’t know what I’d do without you guys!

 

[scylla]

Most of the seminaries have open houses, except that probably isn’t the best time because they would probably put on their best behavior for the public.

I visited our seminary and took a look around the library, the Priest there was praising Fr Raymond Brown and they had Hans Kung in the library. The personal chapel looked like one of those spinning disks from the carnival where all the seats are along the circular walls. I am not to confident of the orthodoxy of the seminary in my diocese as there are numerous other problems visible in liturgical abuse.

It just takes some looking around and you can eventually get a nose for dissent or for orthodoxy.

God Bless
Scylla