Great question. It isn't easy, yet it is necessary, and God blesses your efforts.
Many seminaries have had ongoing cleaning efforts, since pope JP2 (moreso latter half his pontificate), or have been shut down, if deemed too far gone. The infiltration often included putting in perv-sympathetic filter personnel, who actually rejected the good candidates, and let in the mixed up ones (in some cases, with active recruitment as well). Even seminaries where this did not occur as much still often replaced solid theology, philosophy, logic, homiletics, etc., with wishy-washy pop-psychology classes, and worse.
So, there's been a lot of damage, and lots to recover from, in the Church -- but with all it's current disfigurement, it still is the church Christ founded. It is past time for lay Catholics to realize they need to become more active participants in helping correct course -- supporting the good priests and schools, and providing systems of accountability in each diocese.
For protecting kids, you can take a variety of strategies, and combine them -- ask around for word of mouth referrals of good priests (and there are many), verify that the parish and any affiliated schools are accurately teaching Catholicism, and not some DS/DC heterodox agenda. Educate yourselves and kids with ongoing good catechetical training, and age-appropriate counsel on what to watch out for and avoid.
One highly recommended tool for teaching sound catechetics is the amazing book by Barbara Morgan, "Echoing the Mystery" -- it combines beautiful art, music, scripture, excerpts by church fathers, and apologetics, in explaining every dogma -- including also common errors and misunderstandings, and why those are wrong.
Great question. It isn't easy, yet it is necessary, and God blesses your efforts.
Many seminaries have had ongoing cleaning efforts, since pope JP2 (moreso latter half his pontificate), or have been shut down, if deemed too far gone. The infiltration often included putting in perv-sympathetic filter personnel, who actually rejected the good candidates, and let in the mixed up ones (in some cases, with active recruitment as well). Even seminaries where this did not occur as much still often replaced solid theology, philosophy, logic, homiletics, etc., with wishy-washy pop-psychology classes, and worse.
So, there's been a lot of damage, and lots to recover from, in the Church -- but with all it's current disfigurement, it still is the church Christ founded. It is past time for lay Catholics to realize they need to become more active participants in helping correct course -- supporting the good priests and schools, and providing systems of accountability in each diocese.
For protecting kids, you can take a variety of strategies, and combine them -- ask around for word of mouth referrals of good priests (and there are many), verify that the parish and any affiliated schools are accurately teaching Catholicism, and not some DS/DC heterodox agenda. Educate yourselves and kids with ongoing good catechetical training, and age-appropriate counsel on what to watch out for and avoid.
One highly recommended tool for teaching sound catechetics is the amazing book by Barbara Morgan, "Echoing the Mystery" -- it combines beautiful art, music, scripture, excerpts by church fathers, and apologetics, in explaining every dogma -- including also common errors and misunderstandings, and why those are wrong.
Thank you for your thoughtful reply my friend, very helpful and very appreciated.