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1. Those wishing to study for the priesthood would experience the true impact of social and economic pressure (see Social Justice Statement 2012 report) if they were required to pay their own way.
   This would be another test of a 'true vocation'!
   This is what most people have to do when wishing to study for a profession.
   Some suggestions - part time jobs like stacking shelves, truck driving or working in aged care facilities to learn real communications and pastoral skills.
   A far more realistic view of the world would be gained if they were also not cloistered in a seminary, if they lived in the general community and paid their own accommodation costs.

   Posted By: Clare

2. I totally agree with Clare. Actually it brings out not only the authenticity of vocation but helps the candidates to develop the real humanity and divinity in them.

   Posted By: Dominic Manakil

3. The news from Queensland just keeps getting better and better.
   Clare, the priesthood is not just any profession.
   Many here have complained that the Church makes aspiring to the priesthood too hard, requiring promises of lifetime celibacy and obedience to the bishop including being sent to work where one does not wish to go.
   Now you say that candidates to the priesthood have it too easy! Living in community is not necessarily easy compared to living in one's own home with one's chosen friends or family! And, it has been shown, it is more likely to produce better and more durable priests.
   Considering all that priests do for the Church, it's hardly too much to ask that the Church pays for their education and formation, of which we are all the beneficiaries, in some cases for the next 50 years or more.
   Of course, if a candidate drops out before ordination, or quits the practice of the priesthood within a few years of ordination, justice demands that he pay back to the Church the cost of his education and formation.
   It's true though that on some cases little if any is repaid, and that many dioceses could be much more vigorous in seeking reimbursement.

   Posted By: Peter G

4. Its amazing ... no,not really surprising ... that given a 'good news' story, people can only take a negative angle.
   Clare's remarks sound cynical... the reality is that these young men are leaving paid employment, so straight away, they have made a personal financial investment in their formation as a priest.
   Secondly, they are choosing a vocation that doesn't pay well. to suggest that studying for the priesthood, while being funded by others, is some sort of financial 'cop out' is ridiculous.
   It's interesting how many 'back seat' experts there are about the priesthood.
   What investment have you made in the future of our priesthood?

   Posted By: Cathy

5. Great news from Brisbane. Let’s not focus on negatives.
   I agree with Peter, and Cathy. The priesthood is not just another profession.
   We must remember it’s a calling - a calling from God, for the man He has chosen to be His representative among us.
   We can’t put a price on that. And, when God calls one of our brothers, who are we to place conditions on him?
   Of course things go wrong sometimes, they did even at the time Jesus walked on Earth.
   These “failures” are mostly the work of Satan. It is in his interests that there should be fewer and fewer priests.
   If he had his way, there won’t be any. They would all be turned away before even joining the Seminary.

   Posted By: Peter Shafton

6. God bless these men and keep them strong in their faith and committment, especially at a time of when secularists, atheists and materialists use the failures of some priests to smear all priests.

   Posted By: deric davdson

7. More great news for the Roman Catholic church. Always wonderful to hear positive stories about our church. I pray that they all persevere to the end,and look forward to welcoming them to our various parishes in the future. The tide is starting to turn.
   Clare: we should be funding these brave men, as priests are the lifeblood of our Roman Catholic church.

   Posted By: David Rabe

8. I have been an ordained priest for 37 years.
   Along with a number of other priests, I was asked to take on part-time work to earn money to enable the seminary to continue its great work of preparing men for Priesthood and Religious life. Along with sport in a local Rugby Club, pastoral work in a local parish, 40 hours study and classes, a regular prayer life and community responsibilities in the cleaning and maintenance of our seminary, all of this enabled us to have a great discipline and foundation for priesthood in the Australian Church and beyond.
   Many of those who were seminarians are still priests today. Of course, many did and do leave doing great work in society and the Church.
   Nothing is lost in the eyes of God. All is good.

   Posted By: kevin Hennessy

9. Wonderful comment, Kevin!

   Posted By: Matt Williams

10. Well said, Clare and Kevin.
    Priesthood is indeed a vocation but so are many other ministries, as the Church teaches us.
    Dedicated doctors, nurses and teachers to name just a few.
    Marriage is on a par with priesthood and religious life and the demands are just as great.
    Many religious go out to work to bring in money to support their communities and those who are not working for a salary.
    The priestly stipend is on a par with some of our lower paid members of the public, but priests do not have to find rent/mortage and have their medical needs taken care of and can look forward to being taken care of (although not always in a caring way) in their old age.
    There is nothing negative about suggesting that they might help to pay for their own accomodation and living/study expenses.
    If you want vocation awareness, what better way then to have normal ordinary young men working alongside their peers say as a waiter and talking about their plans and their study.

    Posted By: Marjorie

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