A German cardinal has said that the names of candidates submitted to the Vatican as potential bishops are being vetoed by “unauthorised people” in Rome. Cardinal Karl Lehmann of Mainz, president of the German bishops’ conference from 1987 to 2008, said: “In the name of the law, these unlawful outside influences must be set aside and a proper voice given to those who’ll be living with the chosen candidate. “If there really is something against a candidate, then the nuncio or Rome must talk about it with the cathedral chapter. Rome cannot just reject names without any comment,” he said. The cardinal made his criticisms in a book published by Freiburg-based Herder-Verlag. Extracts were released last week by the German Catholic news agency, KNA. Cardinal Lehmann said “unauthorised people” were interfering in episcopal   nominations, and added “also today, unfortunately, under the pontificate of Pope Francis”. “In recent years, the official list of names has been crossed out and a new list sent from Rome,” said the cardinal, who has been bishop of Mainz since 1983. “This represents a burdensome, intolerable disrespect for the Church in a given country.” Church leaders are required by canon law to maintain a secret list of episcopal candidates, who must be “outstanding in strong faith, good morals, piety, zeal for souls, wisdom, prudence and human virtues”. A set of three, or terna, for a vacant see is sent to Rome by the nuncio after consultations with local priests and bishops. The final choice rests with the Pope, following recommendations from the Roman Curia, which can reject the terna and request new names. In 13 of Germany’s 27 dioceses, as well as in some dioceses of Switzerland and Austria, the cathedral chapters traditionally propose their own candidates for bishop. However, Cardinal Lehmann said he believed the nomination process was being disrupted by people “focused on a strict Church policy allowing no deviation” and who had “knowledge of how things work in Rome”. “Much greater attention should be given to an episcopal candidate’s theological competence than his formal orthodoxy,” he said. “There’s an urgent need for clarification – otherwise, the whole appointment process will come into question.”