Q356 – What remedies are there, when bishops are perceived as unworthy or not truly shepherding their flock, but rather acting like hirelings?

Interview Organization: Confraternity of Our Lady of Fatima
Interviewer Name: Christopher P. Wendt
Date: May 13, 2025
The Pope could issue a profession of faith condemning errors like homosexuality and divorce, affirming Christ’s uniqueness and banning LGBT displays in churches. Bishops would be required to sign it to remain in office. This could purify Church leadership, beginning with cardinals, by appointing truly faithful, Catholic men of God.
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Transcript:

Well, there could be a remedy if the Pope were to publish a kind of profession of faith a confession of faith with precise points or items condemning homosexuality, the commitment of divorce, and clearly expressing the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and of the Catholic Church. It would also prohibit displays by the LGBT movement in churches, and so on.

When such precise points are included in a kind of profession of faith, which he would require every bishop to make, and under the condition that they continue in office only if they make this profession, then it could happen that some would refuse. In that case, they would lose their episcopal office or their cardinalate. I think we could start with the cardinalate.

Yes, that would allow the Pope to elect successors who are more prudent and, in some way, more strategic to begin cleansing the College of Cardinals. Of course, he should also select good new men of God for the College of Cardinals and then for the bishops.

But I think that even hireling bishops who are basically working not for Christ but for an ideology of this world or for a kind of Protestant, Anglican-style new church within the Catholic Church are deeply entrenched. Some of them might even sign such a declaration or profession of faith just to keep their position and career.

Still, I believe it is right to begin selecting very carefully good new bishops men who are undoubtedly true men of God and who have a genuinely Catholic spirit.