Speaking for myself, I didn't say that or interpret Paul's posts that way. I'll let him speak for himself as to what his meaning was.

I think the cost of seminary is forgiven upon ordination, the debt would be for the regular college they would have attended before or during seminary.

Then that would be the same situation as with us, generally speaking...

David,

As I brought up the subject, let me clarify. Most of our seminarians have earned their bachelor (or master) degrees independently, then they enter the seminary. So they have whatever debt racked up before day one.

I personally don't know how much the seminary's tuition, lodging and meals cost at the seminary. I know there is some help from the Endowment Fund. If I recall correctly, (someone correct me if I'm wrong) there is some affiliation with Duquesne Univ, so there is some cost there. One of the reasons for accreditation was to qualify for student loans and Pell grants. The seminary is old; as you know any building built in the 1950's was not built for todays requirements and it has required many upgrades. We only have perhaps one millionaire benefactor and the archeparchy has been suffering losses for quite some time.

I disagree that money is NOT a factor. As Stuart has pointed out in another topic, there is the straw that breaks the camel's back. Also, I believe that the best candidates come from financially struggling families, for they are more appreciative of God's goodness. There is much truth in Christ's teaching about the "Rich Man" and the "eye of a needle." Those who have much, give money; those who are poor give themselves.

Slightly off topic:
I wonder if the Eparchy could have an adopt a seminarian fund. In this fund you can tithe some amount towards the expenses of that seminarian. Setup a PayPal account to make it easy for credit card payments. If everyone contributed $5.00 a month there wouldn't be any expenses.

So, is there already any response from the US Eastern Catholic Bishops?

- Accept it
- Reject it
- Choose to ignore it
??

The first priest appointed to lead the Amercian Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter for former Anglican clergy, Fr. Eric Bergman, is not a celibate priest. This ordinariate is fully Western and directly under the Pope. Perhaps the Cardinal should look before he leaps.

The cardinal should be removed from office. He is incompetent!
This celibacy policy is medieval and reeks of the Latin Rite bishops' sexual hangups.
Our Eastern Catholic bishops and priests need to stand up to Rome - the married priesthood is honorable and is our rightful heritage.

:emoticon:

Most (maybe even all) of the ex-Anglican ministers in the Ordinariate are married.

Father Bergman is a wonderful, courageous, sincere priest. Happy to say he lives in nearby Scranton with his sweet wife and delightful children.

If I remember the figures in the US correctly from a couple of years ago, if one removes the UGCC married clergy from the equation there are actually more Latin married clergy (ex-Anglicans and Lutherans) than all of the rest of the non-UGCC Eastern Catholics combined.

Given the amounts involved, using PayPal instead of the Eparchy processing the payments would waste significant amounts.

hawk

Lest anyone think the process of allowing married Episcopal/Anglican priests to become ordained as priests in the Latin Church is easy, consider this: There is a vetting process that has been in place since 1980 to allow Episcopal/Anglican ministers who are married to enter into full Communion with the Latin Church and become priests. The process is known as the Pastoral Provision. In fact there is a website, http://www.pastoralprovision.org/

the following statement is embolden on the website, "Even with the establishment of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, the Pastoral Provision remains available for individuals and married former Episcopalian priests to become Catholic priests in a diocese."

WOW, talk about full press on recruitment!

In summary the process is quite thorough. The aspirant assembles a dossier and sends it to a sponsoring bishop for review. If accepted the sposoring bishop sends it to the Ecclesiastical Delegate. Upon a favorable review and examination by the ED, the dossier is sent to Rome via the Nuncio, for review by the CDF. The CDF determines whether or not the aspirant may begin Catholic theological studies, and, if so, he is assigned formation mentors by the sponsoring bishop. Upon passing a certifying exam of those studies, and postive reports from the formation mentors and the sponsoring bishop, a petition for ordination is sent to the CDF for review, and if accepted, the petition is sent to the Holy Father for approval.

There is also this statement in the process, "Men who have formally defected from the Catholic Church are not elgible for this Provision."

I found the following quite interesting,

Francis Cardinal Seper, then Prefect of the CDF, had this statement in the Document which established the Pastoral Provision (July 22, 1980), "The Congregation for the Doctine of the Faith will keep informed of any developments both the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity and the Congregation of the Oriental Churches (the latter in view of the possible influence on the particular dispositions for ecclesiastical celibacy among Eastern-rite priests in the United States.)"

Father Deacon John,

With all due respect.

The point is WHY IS THERE A HORRENDOUS PROCESS IN THE CATHOLIC WORLD - LATIN AND BYZANTINE TO ORDAIN WORTHY MEN?

DID JESUS CHRIST DENY THE APOSTLES? NO - HE LET THEM DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANTED TO FOLLOW HIM.
DOES HE RESTRICT HIS LOVE TO US - NO GIVES US FREEWILL TO FOLLOW HIM.

WHY DO WE RESERVE AND DENY ACCESS WHAT CHRIST HIMSELF GAVE FREELY? IT IS CALLED LOVE! SOMETHING I FIND QUITE LACKING IN THIS PROCESS.

SO WHY DO THE CHURCHES MAKE IS SO HARD? WHY DO THEY DENY WHAT JESUS GAVE SO FREELY OF HIS SACRAMENTS?

Open the process up! Make it easy!

Christ did! Christ did all the work for our redemption!

I believe that is the reason for the uproar on this forum - and if other Byzantine Catholics knew more and knew tradition and knew whst we have lost - they too would revolt. But sadly our congregations are accepting Roman Rite dominance of The Eastern Rites.

John Haydukovich