Bill, since you are an adherent of the religious denomination that produced Eugene Peterson and "The Message" I am delighted to read that you have no objection to the Presbyterian emphasis on the study of classical languages.

That said, I'd agree that parish pastoral work is a different ball game, calling for a different skill set. As Catholics we need our Bernard Lonergans, but we also need our Dorothy Days.  It may be that your co-religionists need to reflect on the different charisms that the Spirit spits out wherever and whenever the Spirit pleases.

In the ordination stakes, diversity is good.