From the Website of the Bishops of England and Wales an announcement on, "How to be a good priest in England".
"A new course specifically for foreign priests wishing to serve the Catholic Church in England and Wales has just started at the northern seminary of Ushaw in Durham. The three week induction programme, endorsed and recommended by the bishops of England and Wales, aims to provide the priests with practical advice and information that will enable them to integrate into UK life and make effective use of their pastoral skills in an alien culture. " fair enough.
But then there is this ominous paragraph: Students will look at issues affecting the Church in England and Wales in the third millennium – power, authority, the role of women, lay/diaconal ministry, ecumenism and much more. This is important preparation for future pastoral work and liturgical celebrations.
What could it mean?
I get a little worried when with special pleading for England and Wales, ever since Cardinal Hume said that the document "On the Unordained Faithful" did not apply in England and Wales.
There is something unhealthy about the way in which the Church in England and Wales cuts itself off from mainstream Catholic culture especially when talking about power and authority.
I have always assumed being a "good priest" in England was the same as being a good priest anywhere else.
"A new course specifically for foreign priests wishing to serve the Catholic Church in England and Wales has just started at the northern seminary of Ushaw in Durham. The three week induction programme, endorsed and recommended by the bishops of England and Wales, aims to provide the priests with practical advice and information that will enable them to integrate into UK life and make effective use of their pastoral skills in an alien culture. " fair enough.
But then there is this ominous paragraph: Students will look at issues affecting the Church in England and Wales in the third millennium – power, authority, the role of women, lay/diaconal ministry, ecumenism and much more. This is important preparation for future pastoral work and liturgical celebrations.
What could it mean?
I get a little worried when with special pleading for England and Wales, ever since Cardinal Hume said that the document "On the Unordained Faithful" did not apply in England and Wales.
There is something unhealthy about the way in which the Church in England and Wales cuts itself off from mainstream Catholic culture especially when talking about power and authority.
I have always assumed being a "good priest" in England was the same as being a good priest anywhere else.
7 comments:
I saw this somewhere and picked up on that power/authority, role of women stuff too.
It's so so sad, so utterly miserable and pompous of them to behave like this.
I can't help but feel that the elderly liberals who are behind this are worried that priest from abroad may bring the Catholic Faith back to England and Wales!
fr paul harrison
This smacks of the notice last week that priests from outside certain dioceses wishing to celebrate the Extraordinary Rite would have to be CRB checked first.
We've had loads of foreign priests in our parish and they've all managed to celebrate Mass perfectly well. That includes one from Syria who arrived on a Sat evening celebrated Mass on Sun morning in English for the first time and in a different rite. This he did with great care and reverence.
It's all very controling this type of thing. Whereas I've always enjoyed the great freedom of Catholicism. You know, just turn up at any Church in the world and be completing at home, which surely should be even more true for priests.
I'm sorry... this sort of tosh makes me feel sick.
(I hasten to add that I mean the tosh put out on the role of women/power/authority guff - like the priesthood is about power for heaven's sake!!)
Sounds like political correctness checking.
Perhaps an alternative course could be provided for English priests where talks could be provided on e.g. 'how female parishioners are patronised and annoyed by ridiculous use of so-called inclusive language.' As a female I would be happy to offer my services as a 'facilitator' and could also offer the vital lay ministry of writing things on post it notes and flip charts. Alternatively perhaps I should just pray that these visiting priests will have more sense than to take on board such tosh as suggested by this course.
the home office is not to keen either, after 2 years at seminary the students can change the course they are on and stay in the uk. leaving the church(you and me) yet an other man down and two years of cost wasted.
What happen to our missionary seminaries?, there is the answer.
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