How did Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand prepare for the Estates-General elections of 1789?

In preparation for the 1789 elections to the Estates-General, Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand was elected by his clergy as their deputy. Like all other delegates, he was required to prepare a list of grievances, known as a cahier de doléances.1

In his list, Talleyrand advocated for significant reforms, including changes to the status of the clergy and the establishment of a constitution that would provide a representative government. Notably, he called for equality for all citizens—specifically fiscal equality—which marked a reversal from his previous defense of the church's financial privileges. This preparation set the stage for his role as a revolutionary deputy, where he would eventually support the nationalization of church property and the repeal of the tithe.1