For et par dager siden er det blitt kjent i USA at Troskongregasjonen har kommet med klare regler for hva som trengs for en tidligere protestantisk prest/pastor som konverterer og ønsker å bli katolsk prest. Et dokument som heter “Minimum Profile of Formation for Former Protestant Ministers Who Desire to Be Ordained Catholic Priests” er offentliggjort, og ganske snart håper vi å få lese hele dokumentet.
I USA har det vært spesielle regler for tidligere anglikanske/episkopale prester, men ikke for de andre, f.eks. de lutherske. På en måte virker dette som gammelt nytt, for da biskop Schwenzer søkte Vatikanet om jeg kunne bli katolsk prest – som tidligere luthersk prest og også gift – visste han/vi allerede om hovedtrekkene i dette dokumentet; tre års forberedelse og vektlegging på enkelte viktige teologiske disipliner. Såpass mye vet vi om det nye dokumentet:
it outlines the required program of formation, including studies in the areas of Philosophy, Sacred Scripture, Dogmatic Theology, Liturgical and Sacramental Theology, Moral Theology, and Canon Law. It speaks of “human formation,” to assist the candidate to become “the living image of Jesus Christ,” and also of “spiritual formation” to provide the former minister with growth in Catholic spirituality and devotional practices, especially in the areas of Eucharistic and Marian devotion. There is also a section about “pastoral formation,” intended to help the candidates become “true shepherds after the example of Christ.”
Included in the document is the following paragraph:
“The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith requires that former Protestant ministers should undergo a period of no less than three years of formation in Catholic theology. The purpose of this period of time is to give candidates the opportunity for a certain maturation in the Catholic faith that, through reading, coursework and discussion, candidates will internalize the tradition of the Church.”