U.S. Bishops Limit Internet in Seminary – Against "Traditional-Minded" Seminarians
The seminary of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, USA, has drastically limited the online time of seminarians in their preparatory propaedeutic year. They are not allowed to have their own computers and …More
The seminary of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, USA, has drastically limited the online time of seminarians in their preparatory propaedeutic year.
They are not allowed to have their own computers and can only allowed to use their smartphones for four hours on Saturdays, AmericaMagazine.org reported (June 24).
The U.S. bishops have revised rules for priestly formation in 2002. They have been in force since 2023 and reccomend a "digital detox" in the seminary including a limited access to social media.
They also want to prevent seminarians from being influenced by Catholic websites. "Addressing the ‘parallel formation’ that can happen online is a constant struggle," explained Father Rodrigue, rector of Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.
He sees more “traditional-minded” seminarians now than when he began working in seminaries 17 years ago.
Psychologist Maribel Rodriguez Laguna explained that seminarians, like other young adults, struggle with technology addictions, including pornography: …More
They are not allowed to have their own computers and can only allowed to use their smartphones for four hours on Saturdays, AmericaMagazine.org reported (June 24).
The U.S. bishops have revised rules for priestly formation in 2002. They have been in force since 2023 and reccomend a "digital detox" in the seminary including a limited access to social media.
They also want to prevent seminarians from being influenced by Catholic websites. "Addressing the ‘parallel formation’ that can happen online is a constant struggle," explained Father Rodrigue, rector of Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.
He sees more “traditional-minded” seminarians now than when he began working in seminaries 17 years ago.
Psychologist Maribel Rodriguez Laguna explained that seminarians, like other young adults, struggle with technology addictions, including pornography: …More
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Aaron Aukema
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Yes, a two-edged sword. I know some seminarians at Traditional seminaries who do not have access to "the outside world" except for a couple of hours a week, like what seminaries were like in the 1940s and 1950s. The difference between these Traditional seminaries and the NO seminary in question is that the seminarians spend their time learning philosophy, theology, moral theology and such from saints …More
Yes, a two-edged sword. I know some seminarians at Traditional seminaries who do not have access to "the outside world" except for a couple of hours a week, like what seminaries were like in the 1940s and 1950s. The difference between these Traditional seminaries and the NO seminary in question is that the seminarians spend their time learning philosophy, theology, moral theology and such from saints, doctors of the Church, and holy popes before the Robber Council of 1962.
Aaron Aukema
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It's a two-legged sword because on the one hand, you WANT your seminarians to separate from the world, break inordinate attachments to things and people, and dedicate themselves to prayer and study...but on the other hand, NO seminaries need to be careful: too much access to Pius X's Pascendi or Lamentabili, of Pius IX's Syllabus of Errors or Quanta Cura, or Gregory XVI's Mirari vos might make them …More
It's a two-legged sword because on the one hand, you WANT your seminarians to separate from the world, break inordinate attachments to things and people, and dedicate themselves to prayer and study...but on the other hand, NO seminaries need to be careful: too much access to Pius X's Pascendi or Lamentabili, of Pius IX's Syllabus of Errors or Quanta Cura, or Gregory XVI's Mirari vos might make them question their own formation.
This dove-tails with the Catholic Inc. pundits who advise a "social media fast" for their followers (ironic since their influence comes precisely from their online presence) to keep "peace of mind." One thinks of the old maxim: "Ignorance is bliss."
Of course, the article quotes various seminary "formators" including a lady psychologist who regret that their charges are listening to other voices …More
This dove-tails with the Catholic Inc. pundits who advise a "social media fast" for their followers (ironic since their influence comes precisely from their online presence) to keep "peace of mind." One thinks of the old maxim: "Ignorance is bliss."
Of course, the article quotes various seminary "formators" including a lady psychologist who regret that their charges are listening to other voices AND making up their own minds. Instead they want a monopoly of their audience & censorship of opposing views. These are the same people who speak of "intellectual humility" when doctrinal truths are put forth. They baldly say: "We as church haven't cornered the market on truth."
Of course, the article quotes various seminary "formators" including a lady psychologist who regret that their charges are listening to other voices AND making up their own minds. Instead they want a monopoly of their audience & censorship of opposing views. These are the same people who speak of "intellectual humility" when doctrinal truths are put forth. They baldly say: "We as church haven't cornered the market on truth."