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Elect
Our Bishops? Why Not?
Report from the VOTF Bridgeport, CT Planning Committee
for the Election of a Bishop
Joseph F. O’Callaghan
Since September a Planning Committee for the Election
of a Bishop, sponsored by Voice of the Faithful in the
Diocese of Bridgeport, has been studying the current canonical
process concerning the appointment of bishops.
In addition to looking at the Norms for the Selection
of Bishops issued by the Vatican in 1972 (summarized in
the Code of Canon Law, cc. 377-380), the Committee is examining
the Procedure for the Selection of Bishops drawn up by
the Canon Law Society of America in 1973. The Procedure proposed the establishment of a Diocesan Committee for
the Selection of Candidates for the Office of Bishop, consisting
of representatives of priests, women religious, men religious,
laymen and laywomen, to consider the needs of the diocese,
to determine the qualifications of a prospective bishop,
and to identify priests who meet those criteria.
The Planning Committee has placed advertisements in the
local papers asking people to reflect on the three questions
posed by the CLSA. With the CLSA Procedure as a foundation
the Planning Committee hopes to develop a plan for a Diocesan
Committee that will be more representative of the laity
and give greater authority to the Committee’s recommendations.
See www.votfbpt.org/electbishops.
The culmination of the Committee’s work will take
place on Saturday April 29 at a conference entitled “Elect
our Bishops? Why Not?” at Fairfield University. Fr.
Richard McBrien of the University of Notre Dame will be
address the topic “ The Election of Bishops: The
Return to Tradition.” In the afternoon there will
be a roundtable discussion by Susan Troy of VOTF, John
Healey and Thomas Casey, both of Fordham University, and
Michael Ritty of the CLSA. The Planning Committee’s
proposal for a Diocesan Committee will be presented at
that time. Further information will be posted at www.votfbpt.org.
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