The market research used by the Vatican to select possible bishops could breach Australian anti-discrimination law.
The questionnaire sent to carefully selected clergy and lay people asks about potential bishop’s orthodoxy, personal qualities, loyalty to the Pope, commitment to celibacy, the potential bishop’s public image and his opposition to women priests. The form also inquired about his likeliness for illness and the “families condition”.
According to Andrew Stewart, a law expert at Adelaide University there was a problem regarding questions of illness, family and perhaps appearance.
Stewart said it all depended on whether a bishop is an employe or under a contract of employment.
While a Greek Orthodox archbishop was successful in a case in the Australian High Court, unlike the Greek Orthodox case, Catholic priests have not been seen as employees.
Fr Frank Leo, assistant to Papal Nuncio Arcbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, agreed to accept questions on the matter by email, but did not reply to them.
Source
Sydney Morning Herald
Image: NC Register
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