Converting CLOB to XML?

I am working on a project where XML records are to be inserted into a custom schema. This is for Oracle apps 11.5.10.1.  Database version 10gR2.

What is the best way to handle XML records?  Should the staging table have a column with a CLOB data type where the XML record will be inserted?  What about parsing the data?  I have been researching options.

Is there a function that will allow me to parse the record or do I have to write a program to parse?

I have reviewed the XML type but what I have read so far indicates you need to set up an XML schema.  Is this true?