How to become a Bishop?

[bengeorge]

Hi… I was wondering, how does a priest become a bishop?

Why do some priest stay parish priests forever, while others become bishops, cardinals… even the Pope?

Who makes those kind of decisions?

 

[Jim_ov_Cov]

One of the great, unsolved mysteries of life. IMO it helps to have connections in Rome, to have studied or stayed there. Then it’s generally your bishop will suggest a few names to the Archbishops who compile a list which is submitted to the Papal nuncio who sends it on to Rome.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Jim’s response is partially correct. Each bishop is required to submit a list of the priests that he considers a potential bishop. Those are submitted to the papal nuncio (not the local archbishop) who vets them and sends them on to Rome.The selection to the list is based upon education and service to the Church. There are certain positions within a diocese that tend to lead men to the episcopacy better than others. Being the bishop’s secretary is a good bet as is being the Vicar General of the diocese. Special skills may also help in being chosen. Ultimately, the pope makes the decision for the Latin Church, for patriarchal Churches outside of their territory, and for all other Eastern Catholic Churches.

Deacon Ed

 

[Chris_Jacobsen]

The Catholic Church uses the same standards as any other institution. It doesn’t pick the best priests to be bishop. It picks the priests that are best at sucking up to other bishops to be bishop.

In Europe one other criterium is important. The priest also has to be born into the upper class.

 

[Digitonomy]

Deacon Ed:

Ultimately, the pope makes the decision for the Latin Church, for patriarchal Churches outside of their territory, and for all other Eastern Catholic Churches.

What is meant by “patriarchal Churches outside of their territory”? Does that mean the Maronite patriarch only selects bishops within Lebanon, while the pope selects Maronite bishops for the US and Canada?

 

[roemer]

To become a bishop, seminarians go to bishop school: the North Amnerican college in Rome.

Yes, there are bishops that didn’t go there, and there are seminarians who went there and didn’t become bishops, but the guys on the fast track.

 

[davidc2]

roemer:

To become a bishop, seminarians go to bishop school: the North Amnerican college in Rome.

Yes, there are bishops that didn’t go there, and there are seminarians who went there and didn’t become bishops, but the guys on the fast track.

The North American College is just another seminary (ok, its not really that either, but play along). Most of those who attend don’t become bishops and most who become bishops never attended it.

That said, it is slightly more likely that one who attends NAC will become a bishop eventually.

One thing that really helps a priest be considered as a bishop is being known to at least a few bishops. This means folks like Seminary Rectors, Vocation Directors, heads of projects that involve multiple dioceses, close aides to a bishop, etc. are more likely to be considered.

 

[chicago]

Like everything else in life, it’s all about connections.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

digitonomy:

What is meant by “patriarchal Churches outside of their territory”? Does that mean the Maronite patriarch only selects bishops within Lebanon, while the pope selects Maronite bishops for the US and Canada?

That is correct! Recently the Melkites installed a new bishop for the United States. The way this worked was that the Melkite Patriarch submitted three names to Rome, and Rome chose one. Within the Patriarch’s territory, he chooses the bishops and Rome confirms them.

Deacon Ed

 

[Tintin]

I think it rather sad (not to say alarming!) that none of the learned respondents on this thread have acknowledged the part the Holy Spirit has to play in the selection of Bishops!

 

[Marcellinus]

shayward:

I think it rather sad (not to say alarming!) that none of the learned respondents on this thread have acknowledged the part the Holy Spirit has to play in the selection of Bishops!

It is rather sad, because I doubt many bishops have been chosen by the Holy Spirit in a direct way lately. At least I’d like to think that God didn’t want people like Cardinal Mahony to be become bishops, although He must have allowed them to do so.

 

[joshua1]

Our own Bishop has said that there is a certain amount of politics involved. If that is true, then there are Bishops that shouldn’t be Bishops. I know this is cynical, but its like every other thing in this world. Its not what you know, its who you know. I think there is a saying that goes you cant soar with the eagles if you spend too much time with the turkeys. You know? This might be a good reason for celibacy. Doctors begets doctors, ect. It would be sad if the bishopric was inherited.

 

[JimG]

I agree with Joshua1. We sure wouldn’t want to have an inherited or semi-inherited episcopacy. But maybe we’re being too cynical. It’s obvious that the Vatican can’t select someone as bishop if they don’t know them. In the normal course of a priestly vocation, there is ample opportunity for likely candidates to come to the attention of their own bishop, and thereby to the papal nuncio and the vatican.

 

[chicago]

Let’s not forget that, historically, the episcopate was often determined by things such as family connections.

 

[Digitonomy]

Deacon Ed:

Within the Patriarch’s territory, he chooses the bishops and Rome confirms them.

What are the borders of each patriarch’s territory? And does John Paul, as Patriarch of the West, have limits to his territory in that capacity?

 

[Exporter]

I am going to go in a slightly different direction, while being cognizant of the wonderful posts already posited.

Becoming a Bishop is similar to becoming a football coach at a good school. First, the prospect has to have a known previous performance. He has to have shown leadership qualities. He has to have the desire to take on the new job. Obviously there has to be one or more who want him on the new job. He has to have the academic qualifications too.

If I was a priest located in a town I liked, and had good support from the laity I don’t know why I would want to be a Bishop. Just as in a H.S., if I was a happy coach, why would I want to be the superentendant?

 

[Deacon_Ed]

digitonomy:

What are the borders of each patriarch’s territory? And does John Paul, as Patriarch of the West, have limits to his territory in that capacity?

Okay, that’s a good question, but is beyond the scope of what I can provide quickly. The Patriarch of the West has a global territory – and he’s the only Patriarch for whom that is true.

The patriarchal Churches are: Armenian, Chaldean, Coptic, Maronite, Melkite, and Syriac Churches.

The Melkite Patriarch has authority over what is basically the Middle East. The Maronite Patriarch has authority over Lebanon (there may be some small additonal areas where his authority extends, but I can’t find any reference that describes it). The Armenian Patriarch has a territory that is identical to Armenia (and what that is seems to vary). The Coptic Patriarch has authority over Egypt for Coptic Catholics – and there is some overlap here with the Melkite Patriarch who also has authority over Egypt for Melkite Catholics. The Chaldean Patriarch has authority over Iran and Iraq while the Syriac Patriarch has authority over Syria. Please note that these are simplifications of a very complex issue.

Deacon Ed

 

[John_of_Woking]

Chris Jacobsen:

The Catholic Church uses the same standards as any other institution. It doesn’t pick the best priests to be bishop. It picks the priests that are best at sucking up to other bishops to be bishop.

In Europe one other criterium is important. The priest also has to be born into the upper class.

Erm :bounce: I don;t think that is strictly true whatto?

 

[BayCityRickL]

Chris Jacobsen:

The Catholic Church uses the same standards as any other institution. It doesn’t pick the best priests to be bishop. It picks the priests that are best at sucking up to other bishops to be bishop.

In Europe one other criterium is important. The priest also has to be born into the upper class.

I think there’s a lot of truth here. But, also, the list of bishops is heavily influenced by the apostolic nuncio. A recent nuncio, whose name escapes me, was there a long time and he was single-handedly responsible for a lot of liberals being appointed as bishops. I think John Paul II realized at some point that he had approved a lot of incompetent bishops in the U.S. One of his failures has been to pull these bishops into line.