Swiss lay parliament backs change to bishop succession process

Until now, only diocesan priests could become the Bishop of St. Gallen.

One of the world’s most intricate bishops’ selection processes became even more complicated Tuesday when a lay parliament voted to expand the candidate pool.

The Collegiate Church of St. Gall and Otmar, the cathedral of the Diocese of St. Gallen in Switzerland. Gmelfi via Wikimedia (Public Domain).

Members of the Catholic College (Katholische Kollegium) o…