The present appointment process for the selection diocesan bishops is fatally flawed, and as long as second-rate bishops are allowed to recommend candidates, the process will not improve. It is highly unlikely that an unsuccessful bishop will nominate someone to replace him who has the leadership capacity to out-shine him. We are drowning in mediocrity, because we allow the blind to recommend the blind. Only bishops with proven track-records as evangelists and administrators should be allowed to nominate candidates for the episcopacy, and these candidates should have proven track records as well.
Great bishops are lifted upon the shoulders of priests they help to build. Every priest should be groomed by his bishop to become a bishop. A good bishop is a father to his priests. In many cases, priests, rather than loving their bishop, fear him and have to be on their toes not to offend him. Much too often, enthusiastic young priests are relegated to positions far below their capabilities. I can cite a good number of examples where good, faithful priests ran afoul of their bishop because they were “too orthodox” in their teaching and/or celebrated Holy Mass without innovation. These good priests ended up as hospital and nursing-home chaplains, or pastors in the smallest, out-of-the-way, parish the bishop could find. Many of these good men, gave up the struggle and left the priesthood because they were not allowed to live up to their potential.
Bishops should be instructed as to the duties of a bishop.
In the U.S. military service, a person has to demonstrate that he/she is fully qualified for the next level of responsibility, before they are promoted. I submit that a priest should be required to demonstrate his leadership and management competence before he is presented with a miter and shepherd’s staff. Hard questions should be asked: Is this man truly a holy priest? How many vocations has he produced? How many converts has he generated? Is he a true leader? Do other priests look to him for guidance? Being a patron of the bishop, or having a solvent parish is just not enough to qualify. The future of the Church depends upon dynamic leadership.
The Selection of Bishops
©2025 Victor R. Claveau, MJ
The present appointment process for the selection diocesan bishops is fatally flawed, and as long as second-rate bishops are allowed to recommend candidates, the process will not improve. It is highly unlikely that an unsuccessful bishop will nominate someone to replace him who has the leadership capacity to out-shine him. We are drowning in mediocrity, because we allow the blind to recommend the blind. Only bishops with proven track-records as evangelists and administrators should be allowed to nominate candidates for the episcopacy, and these candidates should have proven track records as well.
Great bishops are lifted upon the shoulders of priests they help to build. Every priest should be groomed by his bishop to become a bishop. A good bishop is a father to his priests. In many cases, priests, rather than loving their bishop, fear him and have to be on their toes not to offend him. Much too often, enthusiastic young priests are relegated to positions far below their capabilities. I can cite a good number of examples where good, faithful priests ran afoul of their bishop because they were “too orthodox” in their teaching and/or celebrated Holy Mass without innovation. These good priests ended up as hospital and nursing-home chaplains, or pastors in the smallest, out-of-the-way, parish the bishop could find. Many of these good men, gave up the struggle and left the priesthood because they were not allowed to live up to their potential.
Bishops should be instructed as to the duties of a bishop.
In the U.S. military service, a person has to demonstrate that he/she is fully qualified for the next level of responsibility, before they are promoted. I submit that a priest should be required to demonstrate his leadership and management competence before he is presented with a miter and shepherd’s staff. Hard questions should be asked: Is this man truly a holy priest? How many vocations has he produced? How many converts has he generated? Is he a true leader? Do other priests look to him for guidance? Being a patron of the bishop, or having a solvent parish is just not enough to qualify. The future of the Church depends upon dynamic leadership.
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