New screening guidelines for seminarians issued

CEBU – The Vatican recently issued new screening guidelines for seminarians, with the latest issuance being that of the effort of the Roman Catholic Church to be “more selective of the candidates for priesthood.”

The document is entitled “Guidelines for the Use of Psychology in the Admission and Formation of Candidates for the Priesthood” which aims to help church leaders and institutions “filter out candidates with psychological disturbances.”

It emphasized the role of formators and bishops in identifying and orienting candidates toward a solid spiritual and psychological maturity so they may be well prepared to live a celibate life.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines affirmed the need for mandatory psychological screening of seminarians to avoid clerical abuses in the country as well as the whole world.

In its official website, CBCP said seminary candidates should really undergo tests so they may be assured of the candidate’s ability to survive celibacy.

Some theology schools in the country are already having the psychological evaluation among seminarians because it is a standard operating procedure to ensure quality products.

However, screening differs from diocese to diocese so the new guidelines from the Vatican shall bring uniformity of standards. Candidates undergo tests for years while they are still in the theology schools.

CBCP said other tests given to seminarians include emotional and intellectual examinations. These tests are given as tools for vocational discernment. CBCP said that the church is struggling now to provide enough priests especially in other countries because of decreasing applicants and graduates in this vocation.

However, Pope Benedict XVI said that it is better to have good priests than a greater number of them, yet who fail the standards. — Jessica Ann Pareja/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)