Author Topic: Fr. Lombardi says no plans for women cardinals -- but not impossible, (Read 754 times)

Maria Auxiliadora · « **on:** November 05, 2013, 07:04:06 AM »

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2013/11/vatican-says-no-plans-for-women.html

Vatican spokesman says no plans for women cardinals -- but not impossible, either

From The Irish Times:

The Holy See yesterday dismissed as “nonsense” weekend Irish media reports that Pope Francis might nominate two Irish women as cardinals.

Responding to reports in Irish and Irish-American media that Pope Francis might name both TCD ecuмenics Prof Linda Hogan and former president Mary McAleese as cardinals at a future conclave, senior Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said:

“This is just nonsense . . . It is simply not a realistic possibility that Pope Francis will name women cardinals for the February consistory.

“Theologically and theoretically, it is possible,” he added. “Being a cardinal is one of those roles in the church for which, theoretically, you do not have to be ordained but to move from there to suggesting the pope will name women cardinals for the next consistory is not remotely realistic."

We are not saying that Fr. Lombardi was laying brick for the pathway towards women cardinals in the future.

That said, the "progressive" Catholic media has already pounced on this as the watershed moment where "the Vatican" has said women can be cardinals in the future. Words have consequences.
Labels: The Bergoglio Pontificate
Posted by Adfero at 11/04/2013 08:34:00 PM

LoverOfTradition · « **Reply #1 on:** November 05, 2013, 08:55:35 AM »

:dwarf:

soulguard · « **Reply #2 on:** November 05, 2013, 10:26:22 AM »

DONT believe anything the Irish media says, on anything. The media in this country is poorly financed corrupt and infested with political activists often Marxists. I don't see why anyone would take the likes of RTE TV3 or the newspapers seriously, they are waffle rags fit for the bin. All they do is waffle.

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #3 on:** November 06, 2013, 12:29:16 PM »

.

Where does he get this?

Quote

“Theologically and theoretically, it is possible,” he added. “Being a cardinal is one of those roles in the church for which, theoretically, you do not have to be ordained but to move from there to suggesting the pope will name women cardinals for the next consistory is not remotely realistic."

Has there ever been a cardinal who wasn't first a bishop?

.

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #4 on:** November 06, 2013, 12:40:05 PM »

.

That was senior Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi,
above, who said that.

Because according to the newage theology consequent to
the Newcode of Canon Law, there is no difference between
priests and laymen because of A) the Royal Priesthood of
Baptism and B) 'baptism of desire'. It's not much of a
stretch from there to say that women can be cardinals, or
even a woman pope. In fact, it's no stretch at all. It's a
given.

.

Dolores · « **Reply #5 on:** November 06, 2013, 03:13:24 PM »

Quote from: Neil Obstat

.

Where does he get this?

Quote
ï¿½Theologically and theoretically, it is possible,ï¿½ he added. ï¿½Being a cardinal is one of those roles in the church for which, theoretically, you do not have to be ordained but to move from there to suggesting the pope will name women cardinals for the next consistory is not remotely realistic."

Has there ever been a cardinal who wasn't first a bishop?

Yes. There have been many cardinals who were mere priests or deacons, for example, John Henry Newman. There have even been some lay men who were appointed as cardinals, but to my knowledge they were all ordained at least a deacon after their appointment.

We have to remember, the College of Cardinals, as venerable and ancient an institution as it is, is not divinely established. Only the orders of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons are divinely established, and the Sacrament of Holy Orders is only conferred upon men who are elevated to one or more of those dignities.

The College of Cardinals is man-made institution, which originally consisted of certain members of the Roman clergy, who served the Pope. Eventually, the College was given the task of electing the Pope. Because it is a man-made institution, is theoretically possible that a woman could be appointed to it, but it does seem highly unlikely.

To be clear, I am not advocating for women in the College of Cardinals, and I think it is a terrible mistake to even suggest it.

Dolores · « **Reply #6 on:** November 07, 2013, 02:22:53 PM »

I looked into it a little more, and discovered a few examples of laymen who were made cardinals, but who were never ordained, not even to the diaconate.

* Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, was made a cardinal by Pope Pius IV in 1562.

* Francisco Gómez de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma, was made a cardinal by Pope Paul V in 1618.

* Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria was made a cardinal by Pope Paul V in 1619. (He did receive the minor orders, but was never ordained to the diaconate.)

Teodolfo Mertel was a layman when he was made a cardinal by Pope Pius IX in 1858, and he was ordained a deacon two months later. He was never ordained a priest, and was the last layman to be made a cardinal.

Again, just to be clear, I am not advocating a departure from the current practice of only appointing clergy to the College of Cardinals, and I am certainly not advocating the appointment of women to the College either. I am just saying that it is theoretically possible, even if it would be a terrible idea.