Mark Dooley article in Daily Mail.

Joe1919

Hi. I'm just wondering if anyone read the Dr. Mark Dooley (Maynooth) article in the daily mail on May 17.
He seems to be suggesting that potential priests get the boot for being 'too devout' or believing in 'transubstantiation' and 'rosaries'.
http://www.metamedia.ie/Haggai/sin_within_the_church.pdf.

What are we to make of it?

Coriolanus

I'd be looking for some on-record testaments before considering the above too deeply tbh.
He's suggesting these things sure, but has done nothing to show they are true or even establish in the clear light of day that they are true.
Imo he's either lazy in his writings, or is operating on an agenda.

philologos

Mark Dooley was one of my philosophy lecturers during my first year at Maynooth. He's very interesting, but is a controversial figure to say the least. His criticisms as welcome I think if only to stir debate.

As for the retention rate on the seminary course, I've heard very similar to Dr. Dooley.

Nevore: The article isn't about showing that transubstantiation is true. He's interested in keeping the training level of Catholic priests high, and that Catholic teaching will be kept to which is understandable from his Catholic viewpoint one which I don't share personally. Whether or not it is true is for another debate.

Onesimus

Nevore wrote: »

I'd be looking for some on-record testaments before considering the above too deeply tbh.
He's suggesting these things sure, but has done nothing to show they are true or even establish in the clear light of day that they are true.
Imo he's either lazy in his writings, or is operating on an agenda.

As a person who went on a retreat/live-in vocational weekend to a redemptorist community I'm afraid its true, one person there whom was one year away from ordaination proclaimed to the whole group that he thinks there should be woman priests which of course as Pope John paul II said the Catholic church doctrinally can never ever do.

It's bad and we must pray for irish Catholicism at this very moment. I feel that every person who is ready and near ordaination should be called before the Local Bishop and questioned about his belief in Church doctrine.

Plowman

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StealthRolex

In reading Dr. Dooley it would appear that he is suggesting that the errors of Protestantism have crept into Maynooth, no offence intended, and if not Protestantism then certainly secularism, ironically.

It may be that those who wish to become priests should look to the monastic orders rather than a secular seminary. There are any number of monasteries that are allied to local Catholic communities and provide pastoral community care.

St Patricks would not be top of my list should anyone ask advice on how to become a priest.

Plowman

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StealthRolex

Plowman wrote: »

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Who said anything about having to study in Ireland or remain in Ireland while studying? Yes, it might be nice for their families but it is by no means a requirement.
St. Patrick didn't study in Ireland so why should new entrants have to?
We still have boats and now we have flying machines.

If Ireland has problems within Catholicism and its priesthood that are traceable to Maynooth then those interested should be advised to seek their training elsewhere.

Plowman

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smurfhousing

Joe1919 wrote: »

Hi. I'm just wondering if anyone read the Dr. Mark Dooley (Maynooth) article in the daily mail on May 17.
He seems to be suggesting that potential priests get the boot for being 'too devout' or believing in 'transubstantiation' and 'rosaries'.
http://www.metamedia.ie/Haggai/sin_within_the_church.pdf.

What are we to make of it?

There is nothing extraordinary in what he is saying. Maynooth is in a very bad state. And I agree with the writer that a MAJOR problem with the RCC in this country is the seminary, since that is where our priests were and are being formed. Heck, I see the results of mal-formation in my own parish. I have friends in Maynooth, as both students and seminarians. I can therefore confirm that the article is accurate. The Visitation couldn't come soon enough.

And yes, it is true: the seminarians can't kneel for the Consecration. There are no kneelers and the powers that be want them to stand, as well as banning Holy Communion on the tongue during the swine flu scare, which was not lawful for them to do, yet they did it. And so it goes.

StealthRolex

Of course, apologies if it came over badly...

There are cost implications no doubt which would preclude some parishes from doing so. However if one was to enter a monastary the costs would be reduced. The problem then is getting them back as priests in the parish.

However, if Maynooth is a problem, or part of the problem, it needs fixing and if it should be closed while the issues are fixed the overseas option is not such a bad one.

Let me put is this way Plowman, when I was of an age Maynooth as a seminary was distinctly off putting for a number of reasons. At the time I was not aware of the options I am now presenting.

smurfhousing

There's more recent comment re: Maynooth from a couple different blogs here: http://wdtprs.com/blog/2010/05/problems-in-the-seminary-at-maynooth-ireland/