Abstract
The intellectual level of the 19th century French episcopate was fairly low due to the poor quality of its formation, which constituted little more. than that of the clergy in general. A/though in the beginning of the century the Ancien Regime model of highly qualified theologians being recruited for the function of bishop had been reintroduced, this practice was abandoned very soon. The church authorities introduced a unique and egalitarian selection procedure in order to prevent the formation of a clerical intellectual elite. It was not until the end of the century that one quarter of the bishops again had higher qualifications.
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