MAKE A RECOMMENDATION

Welcome to the Voice of the Faithful Bishop Selection Input web portal. This portal has been created for Catholics in dioceses with pending bishop vacancies (see Vacancies button) in the spirit of the Church's rich history and tradition of lay input in bishop selection (see Background button). This web portal enables you to provide input to Church leaders on: -- Outstanding needs and opportunities in your diocese; -- Qualities your next bishop should possess to address them; and -- Any priest who, in your considered judgment, would be an excellent candidate for bishop and why Your input will be sent directly to the Apostolic Nuncio, the Vatican's representative in the U.S., who advises the Congregation for Bishops on bishop selection. A copy will be sent to the VOTF Bishop Selection Input team, which will keep individual input confidential but make summary reports. Canon Law encourages Catholics to make their views on matters concerning the good of the Church known to Church leaders, and enshrines their right to make their views known to the wider Catholic community (can.212:2.3). As indicated in the Background, Church leadership has recognized VOTF's right to encourage lay input in bishop selection. We suggest that you first click into that "Background" piece above for a one minute read, then begin your recommendations with a prayer for divine guidance: starting with the first Church election (i.e., the selection of Matthias, Acts 1:15-26) the Church community prays for divine guidance in reaching their leadership decisions. Please state your views on at least the first two input items; the third is optional.

1. Needs and Opportunities (in the diocese which its next bishop must address)

2. Qualifications and Qualities (that the next bishop ideally would possess to address the needs and opportunities)

3. Recommendation of Candidate(s) (that you believe would make an excellent candidate for your next bishop and list your reasons; cite more than one priest if you wish, or omit making any recommendations)

Your Name *

Your Email Address *

Your Address *

Your Zip Code *

Your Diocese *

Your Parish *

* Required field: The personal information requested above is required to assure the Apostolic Nuncio that the recommendations you submit are those of an individual member of the diocese. Unless you submit this identifying data, we cannot include your recommendations in our report. Thank you.

All the individual views and recommendations properly entered into this web portal will be transmitted to the Apostolic Nuncio. We will request him to give them his considered attention in preparing his recommendations to the Congregation for Bishops and to include this material with his transmittal. Subsequently, a consolidated report summarizing your views and recommendations will be provided to the bishop and also posted on this website for the public.

Thank you for your participation!