Program of Priestly Formation 6th edition

180 | PROGRAM OF PRIESTLY FORMATION

God, is here reinforced by the commitment the theologian assumes in accepting his office, making the profession of faith, and taking the oath of fidelity.” 523 Professors are an integral part of the mission of the seminary community. “The professors should be regarded as part of a single teaching community, and true educators. They ought to guide seminarians towards that unity of knowledge that finds its fulfillment in Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life.” 524 The professors should have advanced, preferably terminal, degrees in their teaching areas. 525 Professors in the sacred sciences, as well as philosophy, should possess a doctorate or licentiate from a university or institution recognized by the Holy See. 526 Priests who serve as professors should have appropriate experience in pastoral ministry. 467. 469. Seminaries should establish long-range plans for development of professors. These must include plans for recruiting and supporting profes sors, as well as plans for professors to improve their teaching skills and scholarship. The nature of undergraduate study as a part of seminary forma tion during the discipleship stage, and the breadth of expertise required for a liberal arts education, means that the dedicated presence of many laymen and laywomen will play an especially important role at this level. By modeling a love for the Church as she is, a wholehearted fidelity to her teaching, a loyalty to the pope and bishops, an appreciation of the priest hood, and a collaborative spirit in ministry, men and women in consecrated life and laymen and laywomen who teach subjects in the sacred sciences make an important contribution to priestly formation on all levels. 470. 468. As a general rule, professors for significant portions of the course of studies in the major theological disciplines should be priests. 527

523 Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Donum Veritatis ( Instruction on the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian , 1990), no. 22, www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_ doc_19900524_theologian-vocation_en.html . See CIC, c. 833 7°; Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Formula to be used for the Profession of Faith and for the Oath of Fidelity to assume an office to be exercised in the name of the Church ( Professio fidei et iusiurandum fidelitatis ), AAS 90 (1998): 542-551. 524 Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 142. 525 Due consideration must be given to the requirements of national or regional accrediting bodies. 526 See CIC, c. 253 §1; CCEO, cc. 340 §1, 351. 527 See Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 143.