Posted on 09/26/2003 5:30:05 PM PDT by sinkspur
Cardinal Godfried Danneels of Belgium, 70, is widely considered a leading papabile, or contender to be the next pope, because of his theological erudition and his open, affirmative attitude. Recently he gave an interview in connection with the 75th anniversary of the University of Tilburg on Sept. 5, 2003, which made news around the world because of his comments on women in the Church.
Recently a colleague sent me the full text of that interview, which took place in English. Here is the relevant section on women:
Women are more religious than men in all European countries. Do you have an explanation for this fact?
That is a highly intriguing matter. But I only have hypotheses about it, no explanation. I think that women are more sensitive, more perceptive to non-material matters such as religion, art or love. In that sense, they have a thinner skin. They are more connected with or embedded in the cosmos, in nature and life, perhaps also because the woman carries the child. It has also captivated me that most revelations in the Bible are made to women, and that the Pythia of Delphi were also women. But who am I to talk about this subject? I’m not an expert in the psychology of women.
Although the women are more religious, the Church is a man’s world. The Church may be a man in composition, but in itself she is a woman. The Church is never called our father, but our mother. Today the actual power structure in the Church is male, but it shouldn’t have to be that way. It is just that government in the Church has long been closely linked with the priesthood. But I think that priest structure and power structure in principle don’t need to be one and the same. Both my vicars are women, and I see no reason why a woman should not head a Roman congregation.
I don’t see that happening, a woman in charge in Rome.
Maybe not in Rome, but Rome is not the whole Church. We, the periphery, are also part of the Catholic church. Rome has always been conservative, but so is Brussels or The Hague.
It’s worth noting that Danneels’ reply here contradicts comments made by fellow Belgian Cardinal Jan Schotte in response to my question about women in the curia at a June 28 Vatican press conference.
“Right now the dicasteries have jurisdiction, and so they participate in episcopal authority. We’re a hierarchical organization and power comes from ordination. So for now, there cannot be a woman,” Schotte said. “If the job is redefined, you could have a woman, but then it would not be the same dicastery as we think of now when people say there should be a woman.”
This clash between Danneels and Schotte illustrates a point I am constantly striving to make, which is that the College of Cardinals is a body of intelligent, strong-willed men who often have strongly differing visions and ideas about the future of the church. Hence the potential for surprise in the election of the next pope is far greater than many people realize.
A Dutch colleague of mine sought out Danneels for a follow-up interview regarding his comments on women. This is what Danneels told him:
“I only repeated what I am saying already for 20 years,” Danneels said. “Women must get a more important place in the administration of the Catholic church. I am surprised that what I said got such a media response now. Most probably because this book was launched at a press conference of the university and attended by a clever journalist. But be sure: I am not willing to commit a putsch against the Curia.”
Danneels also had some interesting comments about secularization in that Tilburg interview.
You say that secularization is in essence a good thing, but it reduces the number of Catholics dramatically.
Secularization forces one to make a very conscious choice about one’s beliefs. One is no longer a Catholic by birth. That is good. I think that a moral choice is more perfect when it is made by a free man. And I prepare myself for a smaller Church because I know very well that a decision made freely is always more demanding than being one of the herd.
Please move it to the Religion forum.
Say what??? What Bible is he reading????
Ya... Riiiight.
...the College of Cardinals is a body of intelligent, strong-willed men who often have strongly differing visions and ideas about the future of the church....the potential for surprise in the election of the next pope is far greater than many people realize.
The College of Cardinals is also a very conservative body of strong-willed, intelligent men with a very keen knowledge of Church history.
“...Women must get a more important place in the administration of the Catholic church...."
Why?
Sounds as though this guy believes in the democratic model for the Church. Let's see perhaps we can have lay elected officials voting on what is and isn't a sin. Wow! What a concept.
Why not just reject infant Baptism outright?
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