Surely Allegations and Revelations from Maynooth Could Have Been Better Handled?

By John Weafer
Irish Times
August 8, 2016

http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/surely-allegations-and-revelations-from-maynooth-could-have-been-better-handled-1.2749424?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fopinion%2Fsurely-allegations-and-revelations-from-maynooth-could-have-been-better-handled-1.2749424

Thousands of Irishmen have entered through the gates of Maynooth College with the intention of becoming diocesan priests, and while most of them subsequently decided against priesthood or left following ordination, most of them entered the seminary as idealistic young men, believing they were responding to God’s call. By the time they left the seminary, many had become disillusioned and critical of the seminary system.

For example, priests who were students before Vatican II criticise the seminary because of its regimented nature and ‘pernickety’ rules, which reflected the strictly hierarchical Church and cultic priesthood that prevailed in Irish society at the time.

While the seminary became less restrictive following Vatican II, and the servant-leader model of priesthood had effectively replaced the cultic model, nevertheless, many priests ordained following Vatican II believe that the seminary did not prepare them for the priesthood or life as an adult. Ironically, in recent years, the seminary has been criticised by younger students who perceive that it has become too liberal and that it lacks an ‘authentic faith base’.

Seminary life can be difficult at the best of times, and especially if you are a young man, struggling with your sexuality, be it heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual, and you feel that you are part of a ‘soap opera/reality show’, where people get to comment on your life and judge you without knowing you or understanding your life.