THE future of crisis-hit Maynooth and its suitability as a national training base for seminarians is "an important question", Bishop Donal McKeown has said.
The Bishop of Derry was responding to questions about the recent crisis at the Co Kildare seminary amid claims of inappropriate behaviour among some of the trainee priests.
Last August it was reported that some students had been using the gay dating app Grindr.
Questions were raised about the seminary's suitability by Dublin archbishop Diarmuid Martin who has since opted to send his student priests to the Irish College in Rome.
The Archbishop however played down any link between his decision and the allegations of inappropriate behaviour at the seminary saying he had made the decision before the crisis arose.
There are roughly 60 resident seminarians studying at Maynooth.
In an interview for the BBC to be broadcast on Monday, Dr McKeown said whether the Catholic church's national seminary in Maynooth was fit for purpose in the 21st century was an important question.
When asked about Dr Martin's decision, the senior Catholic cleric said: "Maybe we shouldn't send anyone to somewhere like Maynooth.
"Maynooth was formed 200 years ago. Three hundred or 400 years ago, it didn't exist," he said.
"The big question he (Dr Martin) asked, and this is the important question, what is the best way to prepare priests or prophets in this day and age?
"This is is an important question and he may have a point".
The bishop was speaking during an interview for new four-part series, Beart is Briathar - an Irish language programme with English subtitles - to be broadcast on BBC 2.
The first programme, which goes out on Monday, sees broadcaster Eamonn Mallie interview well-known Irish-speaking personalities who have made an impact culturally, politically, religiously or musically.
Bishop McKeown was questioned on a number of issues, including abortion and education.
When asked about the possibility of women priests in the Catholic Church, he said: "If that's God's will in our day, I'm happy to accept it," but added: "There is no possibility at the present time women will be priests".
He also speaks about his training in Rome and how he faced tough times about whether he was making the right decision to join the priesthood.
"The third year was very tough. I was very tired... At the end of the year, around Easter 1975, we had to make our minds up if we wanted to continue to theology or not and when the time was right, the mist cleared for me. When the summer was over, it was very clear to me.
"When I needed it, I had that still, small voice, which said `Keep going, you are on the right path".
He also discusses how his life might have turned out had he not joined the priesthood.
"I like the company of women," he said.
"I enjoy the company of women. That's how it has always been with me. Perhaps in another life, I might have been married with children. I don't think I'd be such a bad father either but that is not my calling."
**Beart is Briathar will be broadcast on Monday, April 17 at 10pm BBC Two Northern Ireland.
