Seminary finds itself in midst of controversy once again

IRELAND
Irish Independent

Sarah MacDonald
PUBLISHED
02/08/2016

Once again, the national seminary in Maynooth, which has been educating men for the catholic priesthood since 1795, finds itself mired in scandal.

There are currently approximately 80 men studying for the priesthood at Maynooth.

For most of its recent history, Maynooth comprised three colleges in one: the national seminary; St Patrick’s College, a pontifical university; and NUI Maynooth, a secular college.

Under the 1997 Universities Act, the seminary and pontifical college formally split from NUIM, giving it greater autonomy as a secular university.

It was Monsignor Micheál Ledwith, who, in his final year as president of Maynooth, oversaw that separation.

A priest of the diocese of Ferns, Ledwith was first appointed a lecturer in theology at St Patrick’s College in 1977.

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