John Allen reports a possible "tightening up" of moral teaching.

Well, that would be nice.

With approximately a third of the visits to 229 seminaries, colleges, and houses of formation in the United States already complete, and the rest scheduled for the first half of 2006, most bishops who have led visitation teams say they see the process as a matter of “fine-tuning,” rather than remedying systemic problems. Several bishops have likened the visitation to an academic accreditation process, helping institutions to build on strengths and correct weaknesses.

“I believe one result will be to show great trust in our seminaries,” said Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin, Texas.

“By and large, rectors, staff, and professors are doing a very, very good job,” Aymond told NCR Dec. 22. “Sometimes they’ve been unfairly criticized, as if every problem a priest later has is the fault of the seminary. That’s always been wrong. These are men and women who have given their lives to seminary formation, and they deserve our confidence.”

To date, the visits have left a sour taste in only one spot, the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill. There, two visitors out of an 11-member team reportedly asked questions about the sexual practices of seminarians that risked invading their consciences, or “internal forum.” In response, the rector confronted those visitors with the support of the archbishop heading the team, ending the questioning.

Most interviewed for this report told NCR that Mundelein’s case is exceptional, and that most visits have been “cordial” and “supportive.”

Indeed, some bishops privately told NCR that the visits may provide cover for seminaries and houses of formation, especially those run by religious orders, which are sometimes unjustly criticized for lax oversight or ambiguity on church teaching.

Quite interesting.