That’s the proposal of a priest-theologian from Ireland:

The system to date has failed. I do not deny that Rome may bear some responsibility. But I would place the main responsibility on the fact that the Irish hierarchy has in effect produced a self-perpetuating mediocracy. Incompetence breeds incompetence.

It is the bishops who, traditionally, propose candidates to Rome. Some bishops may have more influence in Rome – and use it to promote favoured candidates, especially if they can be sold to Rome as “sound men” (in other words, “orthodox”) – or to raise some “obstacle” to blacken an undesirable candidate (who might “rock the boat”).

Such a sterile orthodoxy is as far from the truth of scripture and Catholic tradition as Marxism is from the true plight of workers. (Recent episcopal appointments might indicate that, at last, Rome seems to be bucking the previous trend.)

Some other way of choosing suitable bishops, which will involve some real participation by priests and laity of the newly constituted dioceses, must be found. From my own experience here and abroad, faithful Irish Catholics and priests could, uniquely, be entrusted with this task, without the danger of causing the kind of divisions in the church that would almost certainly happen in most other European countries.

Part of the collective task of coming to terms with our immediate Catholic past must be to explore possibilities for more positive input into church life by laity and priests, including the exercise of a greater role in choosing bishops – successors to the Apostles and major public figures in Irish society.

An awesome – and unenviable – task.

Check out the link for more.