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Holy Orders:
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Adopted by the Council of Bishops of the Old Roman Catholic Church in North America, May 18, 1994. Revised May 18, 1996, revised June 5, 1998.

I. All Candidates shall complete the designated Application for evaluation by the Commission on Ministry or other Church official.

II. All Candidates shall be available for a personal interview at a designated time and place and shall be administered the California 16PF Psychological Test to evaluate suitability for Holy Orders. Travel to the interview and testing site shall be the responsibility of the Candidate.

III. Each Candidate must possess a broad-based education in a suitable field of endeavor from a four-year, degree-granting accredited institution of higher learning.

Educational Requirements
The Council of Bishops adopts the following outline of program content:

(1). Church History: The Candidate must possess a firm grasp of church history including the origins and development of the Church in the Netherlands (The Catholic Old Diocese of Utrecht) as well as the development and work of the Old Roman Catholic Church in the United States.

(2). Philosophy: A study of the history and development of philosophy is essential and is obtained through a study of the ancient Greeks, St. Augustine, some St. Thomas Aquinas, Blase Paschal and Erasmus. The Candidate shall complete an appropriate course or courses in philosophy in order to fulfill this requirement.

(3). Scripture: Studies in the Old and New Testament are a basic requirement of priestly education. In order to fulfill this requirement, appropriate courses shall be completed which include scriptural theology and the scriptural basis of sacramental theology and liturgics.

(4). Theology: In addition to a study of the general principles of Christian theology, the Candidate shall complete courses in (a) sacramental theology; (b) moral theology; (c) Christology; (d) ecclesiology.

(5). Systematic and Dogmatic Theology: The Candidate shall study principles of Old Catholicity and Catholic Doctrine.

(6). Patristics: The Candidate shall complete appropriate coursework in patristics -- a study of the early Church Fathers.

(7). Homiletics: The Candidate shall complete appropriate coursework in homiletics.

(8). Pastoral Theology and Counseling: The Candidate shall complete appropriate coursework in pastoral theology and pastoral counseling techniques.

(9). Liturgics: The Candidate shall complete appropriate coursework in Liturgics and liturgical practice.

(10). Parish Administration: The Candidate shall complete coursework in parish administration.

In order to supplement coursework in homiletics and pastoral counseling and parish administration, the Candidate shall complete additional experiential training in these areas during a period of internship in a parish setting. The duration of the parish internship shall be determined in consultation with the Candidate's Diocesan Bishop and the Director of Formation.

As a further requirement for ordination to the priesthood, all Candidates shall complete at least one unit of clinical pastoral education (CPE) at an approved health care institution, subject to approval by the Candidate's Diocesan Bishop.

All Candidates shall successfully complete canonical examinations prior to ordination to the diaconate and the priesthood. In all cases, the age indices required by canon law shall be observed.

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