A very interesting phrase "I am a failed seminarian."

As you psycho-analyse David Gibson I invite you to lie on the couch for a while.

I am assuming that at some point you 'discerned' that God was not calling you to the priesthood and you moved off to pursue a career elsewhere. Your use of the word "failed" is quite telling regarding your mindset.

I know three men who left seminary, all of whom describe themselves as "failed", all of whom became quite reactionary right wing, all of whom are highly critical of clergy - especially those they deem to be 'modernists'. Highly intelligent men in so many ways but who seem to think that they would be better priests than the ones they criticise. I've often wondered if that 'failure' as they saw it, deeply wounded them and that they have spent their lives ever since attempting to impress the outside world just how 'faithful' they really are.

They need to be hugged, reminded that they are not failures and released from their purgatory.