It is perhaps in order to recall here that bishops solemnly promise, in their episcopal ordination, to defend and promote the faith of the Church and to be loyal and faithful to the Holy Father. This is why they are made bishops in the first place. If such an engagement is violated, without any hope of redress, the bishop should resign or face the consequences. We hope the biggest role in the appointment of bishops is played by the Holy Spirit, to whom we all turn in the exercise of this difficult ministry. The congregation, the nuncio and others involved help prepare that decision in different ways and at various levels.
Consultations made by the nuncio are large and protracted, albeit confidential.
Individual Christians and groups can, if they wish, propose candidates to the nuncio or to the Holy See. It should, however, be kept in mind that the Church is not a democracy in the usual sense of the word and shall never become one. There has been much discussion about what precise teaching authority bishops' conferences have. In fact, the teaching authority of episcopal conferences is still discussed among theologians. An individual bishop is the teacher of the faith in his diocese, and bishops are of divine origin, whereas bishops conferences are human constructs.