I recently read through the process of how a candidate for bishop is nominated and appointed and I have one remaining question- when the Pope has made the final selection, the nominee is informed and he is given the opportunity to accept or reject. What kind of reasons can be acceptable for refusing and what happens if the nominee just won't accept, no matter how much exhortation? Can he be excommunicated? Aside from trying to analyze why he refuses, what would be the consequence? I suppose that is up to the particular pope at the time... but is there anything canonically the protects someone in a situation like this? I have heard of one bishop among the Fathers (name escapes me) who was nominated to be bishop, but he wanted to remain a simple monk and he ran and hid. He was eventually found and made bishop by force. Has there been any canonical development since that protects someone in such a situation?

No one can receive a sacrament against his will. The candidate can simply say, "I don't want to," and that's enough. There is no canonical punishment involved for refusing.

What I've heard from bishops is that most men at first think it's a seminary classmate pranking them, and once they're convinced it's real, they think that they aren't qualified and have to be persuaded to accept.

The saint who fled (I'm drawing a blank on his name too) eventually consented, however reluctantly.

Thanks. I know in the Eastern Orthodox Church, someone selected for bishop can refuse 3 times before they are excommunicated. I don't know any specific instance where that has happened, just what I was told... maybe it has something to do with obedience to their monastic vows, since only monks can become bishops.... even though a person could go from deacon to bishop in a matter of a few weeks, :)!

Ambrose?

Um, I'm not familiar with how he became bishop... just looked it up. Wow. Went from baptized to Bishop within a week. I know in the earlier centuries it was common for Christians to hold off on baptism until they were close to death, I wonder if it was still common in the 4th century? I mean, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, this flying through the ranks still happens to this day.

He was nominated by a child in the crowd shouting Ambrose, Ambrose and the crowd followed suit, but I think he went into hiding Cant remember right now.

Read about the two soldiers that lay on either side of him Gersavius and Persavius ( spelling is wrong) they were Roman soldier martyrs
and he found their bodies by a miracle and they were incorrupt at the time. They are in Milan. If I ever get to Europe this will be my first stop.

Not Ambrose. He was reluctant but didn't hide in the desert. Man, it's going to drive me nuts.

I want to say Basil the Great... or someone from that era. Whoever it was, went with a brother to encourage him, as they were both going to become priests, but then he backed out at the last second and let the brother get ordained alone. Kind of a trick. I can't remember all the details.