Sunday, July 18, 2004
The Right Sees the Light
Michael Rose, well known for his recent books criticizing seminaries and sacred architecture, weighs in on the Austrian seminary scandal here: http://www.cruxnews.com/rose/rose-16july04.html.
"What does come as a surprise to many is that such bacchanalia fests would take place at seminaries known to liberals as "arch-conservative" (a completely meaningless label) and directed by priests and a bishop regarded as theologically orthodox."
Surprise? Not a surprise to this liberal. The larger numbers of heinous predators were trained before Vatican II, and sheltered by bishops trained before the council. At least Michael Rose admits traditionalist-leaning groups are not free of the taint of scandal. The Society of St John in Pennsylvania seems to be going down hard these days.
I'm glad to see at least one right-leaning Catholic realizes that it is easy to compartmentalize one's life when it is burdened with sin and addiction, even sexual addictions. The outward signs of "orthodoxy" are completely irrelevant to the inner cesspool bubbling in the minds and hearts of predators.
And as for Austria, so much for the thought of instilling traditional or monastic virtues into seminarians. If boys, indeed, will be boys, maybe it's time for a change of leadership if the curia insists on continuing the seminary system. What if the "boys" in charge were just chucked out? Think about it. Put women religious and lay people in charge. We'll hire the faculty. We'll set the discipline. We'll recruit students or turn then out on their duffs when they flunk out or are found unsuitable. Women and lay people can't preside at the Eucharist, but I bet we could do a much better job than the stiffs in charge right now.
Any applicants interested? Check out this website: http://www.kirche.at/stpoelten/ and apply. Bishop Krenn might be properly loosened up to accept lay applications right now. Give it a try and tell me what happens.
