Posted on 09/27/2013 2:17:01 PM PDT by ClaytonP
Its not a joke. Its something that Pope Francis has thought about before: naming a woman cardinal. Those who know the pope, both before and after he took over from Ratzinger, say that the first Jesuit pontiff is not only surprising people with his comments, but also with his actions. And this has been happening throughout his first six months in the role.
Those who think that Francis who has all the simplicity of a parish priest is a naïve man are wrong. This pope isnt an ordinary pope. He has come to St. Peters with concrete plans for the Catholic Church: he wants to revive Christianity by taking it back to its origins.
The symbolism of his actions began when he first appeared on the balcony at St. Peters, calling himself a bishop and asking the people to bless him. Since then, he has wasted no time in making unexpected decisions, which have shocked those both inside and outside the Church.
And he will continue to do so, especially with his plans to appoint a female cardinal. He knows that a womans role in the Church is an unresolved issue that cannot wait any longer. He was clear about this during his interview with La Civiltà Cattolica last week. The Church cannot be herself without the woman and her role, he said. The woman is essential for the Church. Mary, a woman, is more important than the bishops. I say this because we must not confuse the function with the dignity.
In other words, it was as if Pope Francis was saying: The Church isnt complete because the womans role is missing.
How can he introduce that essential component? He answered the question himself during the interview: We must therefore investigate further the role of women in the Church. We have to work harder to develop a profound theology of the woman.
And that theology, according to the pope, cannot be construed within the Vaticans walls. The feminine genius is needed wherever we make important decisions, he said.
He may pave the way with discussions that urgently put the issue of a womans role in the Church on the table, or better yet, in front of the altar. And one of those gestures could be the naming of the first female cardinal. Is that feat impossible? No, because canonical law states that cardinals dont have to be priests, they can be deacons.
Some would argue that women are not allowed to be deacons as they were 800 years ago among the first Christian communities. But this is one of the reforms that Francis has in mind; it is not based on any dogma. A woman could become a deaconess tomorrow if he so desired.
As Phyllis Zagano of Loyola University in Chicago, an expert on the issue, wrote: A female deaconess is not an idea for the future. It is an issue for the present and today.
Zagano brought up the matter with Cardinal Ratzinger before he became pope. This is something that is being studied, he told her. Pope Benedict XVI did not follow through but Pope Francis might.
The Armenian Apostolic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church, which have close links to the Vatican, both have deaconesses.
Any woman who is appointed deaconess can indeed become a cardinal without having to change canonical law.
Cardinals serve as advisors to the pope and their primary function is to elect a new pontiff.
Knowing this pope, he wouldnt hesitate before appointing a woman cardinal, said one Jesuit priest. And he would indeed enjoy being the first pope to allow women to participate in the selection of a new pontiff.
Must look good in red? :o)
So; you have no answer for your speculation; eh?
One that gets trotted out every time an EVIL in the 'church' (happy, RC?) is exposed.
Therefore; any Catholic writings posted by you are to be immediately suspect by some one who IS either Catholic or claims to be an expert.
Aren’t you snarky—to me, to the Catholic church, and to the simple logic by which the Catholic church separates infallibility of doctrine from personal imperfection.
Have a loving day.
The 'Living Prophet' gets a revelation from GOD and the Quorum of Twelve vote to proclaim it true or not. They must hear the Holy Spirit MUCH better than Catholic cardinals, for they are ALWAYS unamimously in agreement with what the LP has spoken.
LDS Living Prophet; Thomas Monson...
LDS Quorum of Twelve
Yeah
Right
Got to be a Priest first
No female Priests in the real church
Does the POPE have his own song???
http://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/we-thank-thee-o-god-for-a-prophet?lang=eng
MEPU (it’s similar to MEGO)
SIMPLE???
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.