What about minor seminaries?

[cathbethdebate]

Could anyone point me to some good resources reguarding the debate over minor seminaries. I’ve heard SEVERAL really solid, orthodox Catholic leaders say that the rebirth of minor seminaries would really help ‘save’ the church with a resurgence of vocations. We used to get Catholic Familyland TV, and I definately got the idea that the leadership there felt that minor seminaries could be a huge blessing to protecting young vocations in this sex saturated culture. I’ve also heard that a third of priestly vocations are lost to pornography addiction.
I’ve heard all this great stuff and also heard lots of negative opinions of minor seminaries being ‘dangerous’ and ‘not psychologically sound’. The quote about minor seminaries that sticks out to me is that,“Great battleships are not built out on stormy oceans; they are built in safe harbors.”
Can anyone share some solid sources with me? I certainly have the impression that the Holy Father is in favor of them.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

The Church has always taught that the best preparation for all vocations is growing up in a solid Catholic family. Children are not grown up when they are in high school. No institution is an adequate substitution for the family. IT is the safest of harbors.

There are instances when living in a Catholic institution is needed. But the norm should be the family–as the Church teaches.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.