I see that Wesley College, where Methodists train their clergy, in Bristol is possibly to close. When I was in the seminary, there were occasional student exchanges with Wesley for a couple of weeks: I remember one visit of some Wesley students when they attended a lecture on Fundamental Theology given by (then) Fr (now Mgr) Michael Jackson (not to be confused with a certain pop star, currently dead). Fr Jackson made some allusion to dogma, at the very mention of which word there was a united gasp of horror from the Methodists present, as if the lecturer had said some particularly juicy swear word or blasphemed violently.Why I remark this is because the article in The Tablet, in which I read of the closure of Wesley, also mentioned that now the deacons for the diocese of Clifton would have to be found somewhere else to study.
I do hope that somebody from the Clifton diocese will reassure us in the comment box that permanent deacons receive some Catholic theology somewhere. I would welcome it if the deacons could preach with all the enthusiasm and articulacy characteristic of Methodism, but I would be very sorry if the theology was equally characteristic.
7 comments:
Although now belonging to the Diocese of Portsmouth, I trained for the diaconate at Wesley College, as I then belonged to Clifton. I can tell you that we had some Catholic input separately from the others and, although often of a distinct stamp it wasn't entirely bad. The joint courses we had were appalling and simply didn't match up to the standards required by the Directory for the Formation of Permanent Deacons. I am familiar with the course undertaken by those trained at Wonersh and it is of a much higher quality.
In my Clifton parish church, which I now refuse to attend, I heard constant criticism of The Magisterium and The Pope. Not to mention a call for married clergy, greater lay participation and a description of The Sacrament which leads me to believe the incumbent believes not in Transubstantiation.
Sixupman, I can't help wondering if I am in the same parish. I remember reading a comment by Fr. Longenecker, ( Standing on My Head Blog), that he once trained for ordination in Clifton and was eventually asked to leave as he was too rigid, I seem to remember him saying he was one of four similar cases. Clifton is now in a very serious situation regarding the number of clergy and the policy seems to be to manage the decline rather than encourage vocations. Our PP seems to be looking forward quite happily to the new " church of the laity". He says it is the Holy Spirit working!
To a layperson such as myself the very idea that Catholic clergy might be trained in such alien institutions seems appallingly stupid. If,as we believe, the fulness of the truth is to be found in the Catholic Church why seek it among those who are, for whatever reason, in error? It seems like asking a trainee astrophysicist to take lessons from an astrologer!
Stephen Morgan said: "I am familiar with the course undertaken by those trained at Wonersh and it is of a much higher quality."
Alas, Wonersh is on record as admitting that the formation they provide for deacons, which is based on a defective multi-diocesan curriculum, is not sufficient. They expect dioceses to "top up" what the deacons do not receive at Wonersh.
However, what they do receive there is infinitely better than they were getting a few years ago. This is in no small part due to the calibre of the guest lecturers who are now involved in diaconal formation.
Nevertheless, deacons are still being trained as surrogate priests and not sufficiently to exercise the trifold charism of Minister of Charity, Minister of the Word and Minister of the Altar.
I echo what Patricius said. Why would you send diaconal candidates to a non-Catholic institution for training? Was this some wrong-headed ecumenical thing?
Now, to possibly open a can of worms… Has the re-institution of the Diaconate been a success? Are they really being employed for the functions their ordination provides…? I can’t speak in general here, only from what I have observed in my rural Wisconsin setting. My parish has a deacon whom I rarely see - other than occasionally assisting at the PP’s Sunday Mass. But as the PP performs all Baptisms, assists at all weddings and preaches at his own Masses, I wonder what is left for the Deacon to do – attend the meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Knights of Columbus, The Altar Society…?
Now he may be involved and do sterling work in other areas of parish life. I don’t know. But if so, it seems likely they are areas where one would not need an ordained minister to perform those functions. If he’s not performing (or being allowed to perform…) the ministries appropriate to his ordination, why have him?
The Cardinal. I am on the PD formation programme at Wonersh and have never heard it said that, "the formation they provide for deacons, which is based on a defective multi-diocesan curriculum, is not sufficient. They expect dioceses to "top up" what the deacons do not receive at Wonersh." That is certainly not the case in my experience.
GOR! Come over to my blog and read one of my essays related to the PD.
Brian
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