[ELS]

I know it's popular around here to keep repeating the bizarre statements of Navarro-Valls, but I find it interesting that no other bishop or theologian in the world has repeated them, nor did Cardinal Ratzinger ratify them.

Ratzinger is head of the Congregation of Doctrine and Faith. The Cardinal that needs to "ratify" Navarro-Valls's statements is the one who heads the Congregation of the Clergy (or whatever it's called). Do you think the Vatican's spokesman makes any public statements that haven't been thoroughly vetted?

[sinkspur]

Do you think the Vatican's spokesman makes any public statements that haven't been thoroughly vetted?

If this one was vetted, it must have been by a theological incompetent.

The form and matter for the Sacrament of Holy Orders are the laying on of hands by a bishop on an adult male. Period. Nothing about education, nothing about sexual orientation.

Valid ordinations are valid, and no priest can do anything to invalidate it, nor can a functionary declare it invalid later, unless one suddenly discovers that the "man" ordained is found to be a woman.

You can laicize a validly ordained priest, but you can't "unordain" him.

Annulments of marriages are made at the request of one or both of the people in the marriage. The Church merely recognizes that invalidating circumstances existed prior to the marriage.

[Domestic Church]

"I know it's popular around here to keep repeating the bizarre statements of Navarro-Valls, but I find it interesting that no other bishop or theologian in the world has repeated them, nor did Cardinal Ratzinger ratify them." "Ratzinger is head of the Congregation of Doctrine and Faith. The Cardinal that needs to "ratify" Navarro-Valls's statements is the one who heads the Congregation of the Clergy (or whatever it's called). Do you think the Vatican's spokesman makes any public statements that haven't been thoroughly vetted?" ************************************************************ When Navarro-Valls first made this interesting statement about the possible invalid ordinations my first thought was that it was a sort of strategic marketing ploy...getting the word out and knowing it would be repeated and repeated with a desired shudder effect upon the NCCB, the lavender clergy mafia and the hierarchy. I would imagine it leaves many wondering if and when the other shoe will fall(when the big cheese in the Congregation of the Clergy ratifies it.) And it gave a glimmer that the Pope, indeed, knows what is really going on here. Hoping & praying he is strong enough for the spring cleaning,