Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for the Bishop, states that proportion of priests declining to be bishops has tripled in 10 years
Wearing the mitre is not what all priests want.
On the contrary, more and more of them refuse the episcopal ordination when offered to them.
According to Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops responsible for appointment and management of bishops, about three out of 10 priests refuse when asked to be a bishop.
This proportion has tripled in a decade, says the Quebec cardinal.
“Perhaps it is because they do not feel capable, lack faith, have difficulties in their lives and prefer not to risk harming the Church,” the prefect explained to Spanish Catholic newspaper Vida Nueva.
“It is for various reasons that are respectable,” he continues, clubbing this phenomenon with the “general crisis of faith.”
Nevertheless, the number of bishops increases slightly each year. There are now nearly 5,400 of them worldwide.
In fact, the episcopal ministry is probably more exposed than it had been in the past and the bishops are more concerned about the exercise of their office, especially for example, in the management of sexual abuse cases committed by clergy in the diocese.
Their responsibility is now more easily visible, either through the media or before the courts, both civil and canonical.
Even in the Vatican, some priests prefer not to become bishops.
Father Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves, appointed prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy in November will not receive the episcopal ordination to return more easily to the Society of Jesus at the end of his Vatican mission.
The terna
The appointment of a bishop is strictly regulated by the Code of Canon Law.
The bishops of the concerned country draw up a list of priests “most suitable for the episcopate” and transmit it to the apostolic nuncio. The latter must investigate the candidates before forwarding three names – the terna – to the Vatican.
The Congregation for Bishops then examines the files and submits the proposal to the pope, who appoints the bishop “freely.”
However, this procedure may differ for certain regions of the world, such as Alsace-Moselle, which is still regulated by the 1801 Concordat.
In addition, the Code of Canon Law stipulates a number of criteria for the episcopacy. The candidate needs “a high degree of solid faith, high moral standard, piety, zeal of souls, wisdom, prudence and human virtues.”
In addition, he must have a “good reputation,” be at least 35 years old, have been ordained for more than five years, and have at least a degree in theology or canon law.
The pope may, however, decide to override these criteria. Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, for example, received his episcopal ordination in 1979 when he only 34.
“Less teachers and more pastors”
In the interview with Vida Nueva, Cardinal Ouellet unveiled “the ideal bishop,” according to him.
“It is not enough to emphasize the truths of the faith,” considering that bishops should be “less proficient and more pastoral.”
Cardinal Ouellet also expects them to have “empathy” for “the poor.”
“For the pope, the poor are not an ideology but something evangelical,” he insists, regretting that “priests and bishops” do not understand that the Christian community “is renewed through concrete charity.”
