C
Carl
Guest
I am interested in anyone’s thoughts on the formation of priests.
The reason for my interest is that I have begun to think that some priests are ordained at too early an age. Some enter seminary straight out of high school. They tend to live cloistered lives and are not ready for the real world just when the real world is ready for them. Some grow out of that condition, of course. But too many do not. Many of the clergy develop friendships with each other that tend to intensify this cloistered mentality, while at the same time remaining aloof from real friendships with the laity. The aloofness of priests has been noted by some of my own Catholic friends.
More recently, I’ve had the opportunity to develop interesting relationships with priests who were ordained in mid-life. It’s not true in every case, no doubt, but they seem to me more well rounded types. This is even more true of permanent deacons, usually ordained later in life, who tend not to hold themselves aloof from the laity. Some priests are even so remote they seem to regard deacons as rival mini-priests.
I begin to wonder if the selection process for priestly candidates
has not been partly to blame for this condition. I think in the past some dioceses took anyone who applied just to get a body at the altar. Character and aptitude were secondary considerations?
Does anyone know how the Church now screens seminarians for their likelihood to be good and serviceable priests?
The reason for my interest is that I have begun to think that some priests are ordained at too early an age. Some enter seminary straight out of high school. They tend to live cloistered lives and are not ready for the real world just when the real world is ready for them. Some grow out of that condition, of course. But too many do not. Many of the clergy develop friendships with each other that tend to intensify this cloistered mentality, while at the same time remaining aloof from real friendships with the laity. The aloofness of priests has been noted by some of my own Catholic friends.
More recently, I’ve had the opportunity to develop interesting relationships with priests who were ordained in mid-life. It’s not true in every case, no doubt, but they seem to me more well rounded types. This is even more true of permanent deacons, usually ordained later in life, who tend not to hold themselves aloof from the laity. Some priests are even so remote they seem to regard deacons as rival mini-priests.
I begin to wonder if the selection process for priestly candidates
has not been partly to blame for this condition. I think in the past some dioceses took anyone who applied just to get a body at the altar. Character and aptitude were secondary considerations?
Does anyone know how the Church now screens seminarians for their likelihood to be good and serviceable priests?