St. Louis, Mo., Sep 27, 2005 / 22:00 pm
A Vatican committee began its nine-month evaluation process of the 229 seminaries in the United States. Its first stop Monday was at Aquinas Institute of Theology on the campus of St. Louis University.
The evaluations were called in response to the national sexual abuse scandal among clergy that broke three years ago.
The five-member committee includes a seminary professor, campus chaplain, parish pastor and director of religious studies. It is led by Bishop Michael Burbidge of Philadelphia.