Norms Concerning Reapplication for Priestly Formation
The National Conference of Catholic Bishops, in response to a special mandate from the Holy See (in relation to canon 455§1) contained in the Instruction to the Episcopal Conferences of the Congregation for Catholic Education of 8 March 1996 (Prot. N. 157/96) provides the following norms to assist the bishops of the United States, as well as those charged with the care of seminaries and houses of formation excepting those of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, in their attention to the prescription of canon 241§3. The National Conference of Catholic Bishops therefore decrees that these norms are to be followed in reviewing an application for enrollment in a program of priestly formation submitted by one who has previously been enrolled in such a program or who has belonged to an institute of consecrated life or a society of apostolic life.