Just saw an interview with Michael Moore about how he wanted to be a priest at 11, but one year into seminary school at the age of 14, the hormones kicked in. He realized that he didn't want to live up to those rules, so he went to the head guy (whatever he's called) to say he wasn't coming back next year and he was told that they were actually going to ask him not to return anyway because he asks too many questions.

He still considers himself a catholic, but I'm okay with that.

Make sure he reads

[amazon.co.uk]

before he signs up or earlier if possible . I lost a best friend to Priesthood at the age of 11yrs. See my review and others on "good reads" on the web.

As the atheist author Terry Pratchett once wrote, it's indoors, and there's no heavy lifting.

How did you/will you handle it? Off the top of my head, I would ask him if he has studied the history of the priesthood in order to make an informed decision.

How old is he? Pre, post, or in the midst of puberty? Has he given any thought to what type of priest he wants to be? How he envisions that role?

I mean, if he's drawn to the "helping" sorts of roles that he imagines the church provides, maybe he could be steered toward Doctors Without Borders instead.

If he's drawn to the intellectual challenges of the Jesuits, maybe he could be steered toward law school instead.

Maybe he likes young boys. Just sayin'.

He probably wants the opportunity to molest young boys.