Vatican committee begins scrutiny of US seminary at Aquinas
Vatican committee begins scrutiny of US seminary at Aquinas
ST. LOUIS, September 28 (CNA) - A Vatican committee began its
nine-month
evaluation process of the 229 seminaries in the United States. Its
first
stop Monday was at Aquinas Institute of Theology on the campus of St.
Louis
University.
The evaluations were called in response to the national sexual abuse
scandal
among clergy that broke three years ago.
The five-member committee includes a seminary professor, campus
chaplain,
parish pastor and director of religious studies. It is led by Bishop
Michael
Burbidge of Philadelphia.
During the committee's four-day stay in St. Louis, its members will
follow a
questionnaire that the Vatican prepared with each of the 25
seminarians, as
well as recently ordained graduates, faculty and staff, reported the
Saint
Louis Post Dispatch.
One of the questions reportedly asks about evidence of homosexuality in
the
seminary.
At a press conference Monday, seminary rector Fr. Charles Bouchard
supported
the nationwide evaluation project. Seminaries had made several changes
over
the past 25 years that needed to be evaluated, he said reported the
Post
Dispatch. Those changes include a rigorous psychological evaluation,
yearlong internship at a parish in another city for outside evaluation
and
regular assessments during study.
At Aquinas, Fr. Bouchard said admission personnel have tried to
determine
whether the seminary applicants have the capability to live a celibate
life.
The committee will submit a report to the Vatican on each seminary at
the
end of spring, after which, the Vatican will supply a written
evaluation to
each bishop or seminary rector.