Pope says seminary candidates should be vetted concerning celibacy

Published: 2005-02-01

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A candidate's ability to live a life of celibacy in the priesthood must be "carefully verified" before he is admitted to a seminary, Pope John Paul II said. This must be done so that even before ordination the local bishop and seminary officials have a "moral certainty" concerning the student's "emotional and sexual maturity," the pope said in a written message to members of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education. The pope's message, released by the Vatican Feb. 1, was read to members of the Vatican congregation by its prefect, Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski. The pope, who was suffering from flulike symptoms, canceled his Feb. 1 appointment to meet with members attending the congregation's plenary assembly. The Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education is responsible for seminaries and Catholic schools.

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