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Pope Francis contemplates appointing a female cardinal
el paĆ­s ^ | 9-23-2013 | Juan Arias

Posted on 09/27/2013 2:17:01 PM PDT by ClaytonP

It’s not a joke. It’s 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 isn’t an ordinary pope. He has come to St. Peter’s 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. Peter’s, 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 woman’s 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.”

Some would argue that women are not allowed to be deacons as they were 800 years ago

In other words, it was as if Pope Francis was saying: “The Church isn’t complete because the woman’s 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 Vatican’s 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 woman’s 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 don’t 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 wouldn’t 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.”


TOPICS: Religion
KEYWORDS: cardinaless; cardinals; catholic; deaconess; fbomb; francis; pope; priestess; vatican; womanpriests; womynopriests
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To: Elsie
What are the QUALIFICATIONS and/or requirements to BE a cardinal?

Must look good in red? :o)

141 posted on 09/29/2013 11:25:41 PM PDT by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: Revolting cat!

So; you have no answer for your speculation; eh?


142 posted on 09/30/2013 3:53:57 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: 9YearLurker
Yeah; a rough description all right.

One that gets trotted out every time an EVIL in the 'church' (happy, RC?) is exposed.



143 posted on 09/30/2013 3:58:12 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: 9YearLurker
(Disclaimer: I am neither Catholic nor expert.)

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.

144 posted on 09/30/2013 4:00:25 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: boatbums

145 posted on 09/30/2013 4:02:10 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie

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.


146 posted on 09/30/2013 4:11:44 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: 9YearLurker
Your quote sounds VERY similar to "The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints" operating structure.

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

147 posted on 09/30/2013 4:13:51 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: ClaytonP

Yeah

Right

Got to be a Priest first

No female Priests in the real church


148 posted on 09/30/2013 4:16:46 AM PDT by Rome2000 (THE WASHINGTONIANS AND UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE ARE THE ENEMY -ROTATE THE CAPITAL AMONGST THE STATES)
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To: Elsie

Does the POPE have his own song???

http://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/we-thank-thee-o-god-for-a-prophet?lang=eng


149 posted on 09/30/2013 5:08:01 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie

MEPU (it’s similar to MEGO)


150 posted on 09/30/2013 5:10:55 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: 9YearLurker
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.

SIMPLE???


151 posted on 09/30/2013 5:26:10 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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