IRELAND
Irish Times

John Weafer

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…