On Choosing Bishops

(The Nationalist, 22 November 2002)

 

Recently John Neill, Church of Ireland Bishop of Cashel and Ossory, was chosen as Archbishop of Dublin. I was present in Saint Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny in 1997 when he was inaugurated there as bishop. One part of that ceremony stands out in my memory. The Dean of the Cathedral, the Reverend Norman Lynas from Portadown, read a document which described the process by which the new bishop had been chosen. It was based on an electoral college which conducted its affairs openly, transparently and with accountability. I remember thinking to myself, ‘I wish we had something like that.’

How are bishops chosen in the Catholic Church? Very few people seem to know, beyond the fact that the papal nuncio is the king-maker of the operation. The nuncio may consult anyone he wishes, or, seemingly, no one if he wishes. I know of two cases where outgoing bishops were not asked for their opinion about the choice of a successor, and of another where the dean of the diocese stated publicly that he had not been asked. Some nuncios seem to consult fairly widely, some not. There is no electoral college. If the priests of a diocese happen to voice a preference for a particular priest, as happened recently in Killala, that by itself seems sufficient to sink him without trace.

The process is veiled in secrecy, with people instructed that anything they say, even to say that they have been consulted, is a “pontifical secret”. Over the years it struck me many times that the Catholic process displays a cavalier contempt for public opinion. It is characterized by ignorance and rumour, followed by weary resignation. I envy my Church of Ireland brothers and sisters in this regard.

Another feature of the Catholic system is that it consistently favours academics and career clerics over pastors. It is not uncommon for a priest to be appointed bishop, that is, as chief pastor of a diocese, who has had little or no pastoral experience. Many examples in Ireland come to mind, Bishop Jim Moriarty of Kildare and Leighlin being an exception.

In the Catholic Church we need, but do not have, credible structures of dialogue, participation and decision-making. Humanly-speaking, I see no sign that we are likely to get them. But where there is Christ, there is hope.