“Ask a Priest: Should I Quit a Spiritual Direction Program Led by Liberals?”

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest
Q: I am taking a three-year program to become a spiritual director. After praying, I discerned that the program was for me and that I am called to help others in this way. However, the religious sisters that run the program are on the liberal side. I feel I’m not learning anything, and sometimes it takes away my peace. In one class one of the sisters teaching Christology presented theology of liberation as a legitimate option. I grew up in South America and I know firsthand how toxic it was. I voiced my opinion — maybe too passionately — and after that I have been criticized many times. The nun told me that I am ignorant. I feel she wants me to quit. The other students, most of them Americans, researched theology of liberation after watching me get so upset. I want to become a spiritual director but not in this environment. I don’t know if I should give it more time, or quit and move on. – F.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: It is good that you want to help others through spiritual direction. It can be a very noble task.

The best spiritual direction is usually done in an atmosphere of peace and calm. This program that you are in doesn’t sound as though it is cultivating peace in you.

Perhaps you own passionate reply to the talk about liberation theology might have fueled the fires of discord. But what is done is done.

You might want to consider a few points.

First, ask yourself whether you are learning anything good in this program. There might be elements that are very helpful. Part of the art of life is learning how to pick good fruits in a less-than-perfect orchard. Perhaps you could pick the good and leave behind what isn’t so good.

Here it helps to keep your eye on the horizon: You are studying with a view toward helping others in their spiritual lives.

Second, if the program becomes unmanageable — that is, if the tensions are too great and make it almost impossible for you to actually benefit from whatever good you find in the instruction — then you might look for an alternative. Websites such as siena.org and www.spiritualdirection.com offer formation through various means. With flexibility you might be able to find a solution.

Third, whenever debates arise, try to see them as opportunities for evangelization. In presenting the Church’s official teaching on liberation theology (as explained in these two documents by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: Libertatis Nuntius and Libertatis Conscientia), for example, try to see debates as an opportunity to love others by helping them understand Gospel truth more deeply.

(For more reading, see the section on “The Liberationist Approach” in the document “The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church,” by the Pontifical Biblical Commission.)

A good way to prepare yourself for spiritual direction, aside from a solid prayer life and sacramental life and intense studies, is to learn to deal calmly with opposing viewpoints in the Church, which, admittedly, can be difficult.

People look at things very differently. They might have valid points … and some not-so-valid points. This is where you learn to separate the wheat from the chaff.

This is part of what discernment is about. And part of what you will face as a spiritual director.

Keep learning more with Ask a Priest

Got a question? Need an answer?

Today’s secular world throws curve balls at us all the time. AskACatholicPriest is a Q&A feature that anyone can use. Just type in your question or send an email to [email protected] and you will get a personal response back from one of our priests at RCSpirituality. You can ask about anything – liturgy, prayer, moral questions, current events… Our goal is simply to provide a trustworthy forum for dependable Catholic guidance and information. So go ahead and ask your question…

Have a question?

Today’s secular world throws curve balls at us all the time.

Ask A Catholic Priest is a Q&A feature that anyone can use.  You can ask about anything: liturgy, prayer, moral questions, current events. Our goal is to provide a trustworthy forum for dependable Catholic guidance and information. So go ahead and ask your question…

Need an answer?

Be in the know

Sign up to receive the latest questions and answers by email biweekly.

Have a Question about the Faith? Get the answer here!

Scroll to Top

Ask a Priest a Question

Please note:

Questions regarding details of abuse of minors or vulnerable adults (including pornography) could be the subject of a mandated report to civil authorities. Mandated reporters are persons identified by law who have an obligation to report suspected child abuse and neglect. 

Sign Up to Receive Ask A Priest

* indicates required

Looking for another country?

RC Near You

News & Resources

News & Resources

The Regnum Christi Mission

The Regnum Christi Identity

Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!