Clericalism and the need for reform of the post-Tridentine model for the formation of seminarians

Abstract

One of the identified causes for clericalism – associated with the sex abuse crisis currently plaguing the Church – is the closed seminary model that prevails in many parts of the world: all four pillars of formation of seminarians occurs in the seminary. This model, which has prevailed since the Council of Trent, encourages future priests to view themselves as separate and different to the laity, indeed, even superior to the laity. Since the Second Vatican Council, there has been a change of emphasis in the language used to describe the character of the priest; his is a role of service. The priest, according to Pope Francis, needs to acquire the ‘smell of the sheep’. Continued support for the seminary model of priestly formation limits contact between the future priest and his future flock. While three of the four pillars of formation might continue within a seminary, intellectual and academic formation should occur within an institution that includes religious and lay, men and women, Catholic and non-Catholic.