Monday, June 10, 2024

Sample / Theory for Educating Viri Probati (2020): "So a vir probatus with a Master in Theology would have to spend probably 2-3 more years in the seminary ... or 1-2 years in a special seminary (+ 1-2 years as chaplains/vicars) if they are already Deacons respectively. Viri probati without any theological or related studies or experiences would have to do the whole 7-9 year process."



Excerpt:

In regard to your question about education, screening and formation:

In Germany every priest is a theologian, that is, he holds either a German Diplom in Katholischer Theologie (which does not equal a US/British College Diploma, but like a French Diplôme equals a Master of Arts in Catholic Theology or Master of Theology), a Licentiate in Theology from a Pontifical University (see Wikipedia: Licentiate_(degree)#Pontifical_universities) or - since the Bologna-process in the European Union, which standardized college/university degrees in the EU - indeed a Master of Arts in Katholischer Theologie. Above that, he has to spend several years in the seminary, INCLUDING university studies usually 7 years, with 2 more years as chaplains/parochial vicars, totaling 9 years until they can become pastors (with their own parish(es)), which is almost as much as the 10 years the Jesuits spend in formation (not that the Jesuits OR the German seminaries produce orthodox priests these days, but they ARE highly educated in theology, pastoral practice and so on).

So a vir probatus with a Master in Theology would have to spend probably 2-3 more years in the seminary and 2 additional years as a parochial vicar before he can become a pastor, or 1-2 years in a special seminary (+ 1-2 years as chaplains/vicars) if they are already Deacons respectively. Viri probati without any theological or related studies or experiences would have to do the whole 7-9 year process. By the way, in Germany we have so called Pastoralreferenten and Gemeindereferenten, which are lay people with a degree in Theology, working in pastoral care under the supervision of the pastor. It's a full-time job. They perform those duties of a Priest/Deacon a lay person may perform, if a consecrated person is not available. There are about maybe 3-5 of them for every consecrated priest. They sometimes have 20-30 years of experience in pastoral care and the Church has as much experience with their ethics on the job.

You would maybe have at once several thousand, but at least several hundred candidates for the married priesthood in Germany. Not every Deacon or Pastoralreferent WANTS to be a priest, though, but some do. (Which is a good thing, and a bad. It would probably solve the priest scarcitiy in Germany rather fast, but it would also rapidly [within a few years] change the form and structure of the Catholic Church in Germany, which - as you know - is already very liberal*. The Pastoralreferenten I know are - sometimes much - more worldly and liberal than the Priests I know. Maybe that disposition would disappear in the seminary, I don't know. Not everyone is called to be a priest.).






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