How many priests typically compose the College of Consultors?

How many priests typically compose the College of Consultors?

• A. 3-5
• B. 6-12
• C. 13-18
• D. 20-25

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that the College of Consultors is a small body of diocesan priests chosen to advise the bishop and to act in certain governance matters, including procedures during vacancy of the see. Canon law fixes the size of this college, not too small and not too large, to ensure representative input while keeping deliberations practical. The prescribed range is six to twelve priests, all of them to be from the diocese and elected by the presbyteral council. This range balances adequate coverage of the presbyterate with the ability to reach decisions efficiently. That’s why the six-to-twelve option is the best fit. The other numbers fall outside the canonical limits, either being too few or too many for the body as conceived by the Code.

The key idea is that the College of Consultors is a small body of diocesan priests chosen to advise the bishop and to act in certain governance matters, including procedures during vacancy of the see. Canon law fixes the size of this college, not too small and not too large, to ensure representative input while keeping deliberations practical. The prescribed range is six to twelve priests, all of them to be from the diocese and elected by the presbyteral council. This range balances adequate coverage of the presbyterate with the ability to reach decisions efficiently. That’s why the six-to-twelve option is the best fit. The other numbers fall outside the canonical limits, either being too few or too many for the body as conceived by the Code.