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	Apostolic Visitation of Seminaries in the United States United States Conference of Catholic Bishops January 15, 2009 http://www.usccb.org/vocations/asv.shtml [Cover Letter from Sean Cardinal O'Malley] [Final Report] Conducted by: Congregation for Catholic Education of the Holy See. Context of Visitation: In their Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, adopted in June, 2002, the U.S. Bishops pledged their “complete cooperation with the Apostolic Visitation of our diocesan/eparchial seminaries and religious houses of formation recommended in the Interdicasterial Meeting with the Cardinals of the United States and the Conference Officers in April 2002.” Objectives: The Congregation has indicated the following objectives for the Visitation: 1) To examine the criteria for admission of candidates and the programs of human formation and spiritual formation aimed at ensuring that they can faithfully live chastely for the Kingdom; 2) To examine other aspects of priestly formation in the United States. Particular attention will be reserved for the intellectual formation of seminarians, to examine fidelity to the Magisterium, especially in the field of moral theology, in the light of Veritatis Splendor. Coordinator of the Visitation: Most Reverend Edwin F. O’Brien, Archbishop of Military Services, U.S.A. Institutions to be visited: All schools of theology as well as college-level seminaries, houses of formation, and academic institutions that form future priests -- both secular clergy and members of religious institutes and societies of apostolic life. There are 229 such institutions. However, those with very small student populations, as of the upcoming academic year, may not be visited. Visitors: Teams of three or four (more for larger institutions and fewer for small ones) made up of bishops and seminary-related personnel, including members of men’s religious institutes, for the most part from the United States. Resource persons, including deacons, religious and lay people, will participate in the Visitation process. They will be appointed by the Coordinator and participate in visits to the larger institutions. Timeline: Planned for September, 2005, through for Spring, 2006. Outcomes: Each team will submit its report to the Holy See. Once there has been a distillation of the data received from all the seminaries and houses of formation, the Holy See will be in a position to offer an assessment to the bishops and major superiors of the United States.
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