how clerics are made

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Apr 25, 2005

Ever wonder, when reading about another diocese going bankrupt, how it was possible to breed a entire generation of boneless chickens? Ever wonder, when listening to a Sunday homily, how one learns to speak at such length and say absolutely nothing at all? The NYT has an article on the attitudes of seminarians and prospective seminarians toward the new pope. In rough terms it seems to locate both the enthusiasm and the hostility pretty accurately. But the really choice bit is the final paragraph, which beautifully and briefly illustrates the worldview that must die:

"They'll need to learn more about this pope to see if their own feelings and thoughts resonate with the Holy Father's," said the Rev. James Presta, rector and president of St. Joseph College Seminary for undergraduate students who may become priests, on the North Side of Chicago. "Will they want to embrace how he approaches things? They must learn who he is and become comfortable with his leadership to know whether that is something they want to be part of."

Got that? You need to be sure your feelings resonate with the Vicar of Christ and that you're comfortable with his leadership style before you elect to embark on the priesthood. And if it happens that the next pope's leadership grates on your feelings, you're free (presumably) to opt out of your commitments and jump ship, or to console yourself by resonating with a 16 19-year-old in your Oldsmobile. God help us all.