P
Prayforus
Guest
How does a diocese decide whether to accept or decline an application for major seminary? What are the criteria for acceptance and declination?
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Cloisters
Well-known member
I think this question should be directed at your own diocesan vocation director.
Rejection letters – no clue, as I’ve never seen one, but they usually say something to the effect of “thank you for your interest, but after discernment, we feel your vocation is not the diocesan priesthood.”
There are many “causes for rejection,” the major one being whether or not there is the movement of the Holy Ghost in that direction. Other reasons might include a flag on a psychological test, just to name one.
Blessings,
Mrs Cloisters OP
Lay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/holyangels/id9.html/
Rejection letters – no clue, as I’ve never seen one, but they usually say something to the effect of “thank you for your interest, but after discernment, we feel your vocation is not the diocesan priesthood.”
There are many “causes for rejection,” the major one being whether or not there is the movement of the Holy Ghost in that direction. Other reasons might include a flag on a psychological test, just to name one.
Blessings,
Mrs Cloisters OP
Lay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/holyangels/id9.html/
S
steve-b
Guest
http://www.ncregister.com/daily-new...urch-practice-against-admitting-gay-men-to-se gives also good internal links
J
JHFamily
Guest
The answer to this can vary far and wide depending upon the ideals and philosophies of the bishop and the vocations director. One bishop may find a candidate ideal and another deny him immediately. I’ve known several men that were denied by our own bishop but accepted by another diocese or religious order.
R
runningdude
Guest
A vocation to the priesthood only exists if a bishop accepts a man for ordination. Even if one completes the seminary, until one is ordained, the vocation does not exist.
This creates great uncertainty. The years spent in seminary are a period of discernment for both the seminarian and the bishop. It is a considerable expense for the diocese to support a man for years, with no guarantee that he will be accepted for ordination at the end of the process.
Because of this risk, vocation directors must very carefully evaluate candidates. They will look at physical and mental health, debt and financial history, family obligations, past immoral behavior, criminal convictions, and numerous other factors that speak to a candidate’s fitness to serve.
A diocese may reject a candidate for any one or more of these issues.
The priesthood is a life time commitment, that can be lonely and physically arduous - traveling to multiple worship sites, early morning services, late night vigils. A man must freely accept this burden, and be free of external conflicts, such as caring for I’ll parents or disabled siblings. Very few men are capable of the challenges, while also living as an honest example of Christian piety.
This creates great uncertainty. The years spent in seminary are a period of discernment for both the seminarian and the bishop. It is a considerable expense for the diocese to support a man for years, with no guarantee that he will be accepted for ordination at the end of the process.
Because of this risk, vocation directors must very carefully evaluate candidates. They will look at physical and mental health, debt and financial history, family obligations, past immoral behavior, criminal convictions, and numerous other factors that speak to a candidate’s fitness to serve.
A diocese may reject a candidate for any one or more of these issues.
The priesthood is a life time commitment, that can be lonely and physically arduous - traveling to multiple worship sites, early morning services, late night vigils. A man must freely accept this burden, and be free of external conflicts, such as caring for I’ll parents or disabled siblings. Very few men are capable of the challenges, while also living as an honest example of Christian piety.
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