Position vacant for Papal enforcer (Levada set to retire) [Catholic Caucus]

Cath News ^ | September 3, 2011

[NYer]

It's probably the second-most powerful Vatican office - prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, the head of the Vatican department historically known as the Office of the Holy Inquisition, reports the Trumpet.

It’s the job that Pope Benedict held as Cardinal Ratzinger directly answerable to John Paul II during the latter’s papacy. Under his rule, the prefect became known as “the pope’s enforcer.” Now the current holder of that office, Cardinal Levada (pictured), who was certainly not cast in the mold of a true “enforcer,” is set to retire.

The question is: who will replace him?

In all probability, Benedict appointed the American Levada very deliberately knowing that such an appointment was a gap filler, while he prepared to place a man after his own persuasion, a true doctrinaire “enforcer,” in that key role.

After all, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is described by those in the know as “the most delicate department head of the Roman Curia, a task Ratzinger held for 24 years before being elected pope”.

There are two prime contenders for that role who fit this moment in the development of Pope Benedict’s upcoming great crusade which demands an appointee of the caliber of a Ratzinger to finish off the job of whipping the Curia and general priesthood into shape in preparation for the task. Both are German.

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna has often been mentioned as a contender for Cardinal Levada’s replacement. He currently serves as archbishop of Vienna and is president of the Austrian Bishops Conference.

Akin to Benedict, he is an intellectual, a theologian who studied directly under Cardinal Ratzinger. He is also the principal editor of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the implementation of which the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will be charged with overseeing, and enforcing.

FULL STORY Position vacant - Papal enforcer (Trumpet)

RELATED COVERAGE

www.romereports.com/palio/pope-begins-search-for-new-head-of-doctrine-of-the-faith-english-4817.html

[NYer]

Ping!

[MIchaelTArchangel]

Does the papal enforce have to wear ice skates and carry a stick?

[NYer]

Are you catholic?

[Salvation]

August 30, 2011. (Romereports.com) Inside the Catholic Church, 75 is the normal age of retirement. In 2012, the pope will face an important decision: who will replace the American Cardinal William Levada as the head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith?

Levada will celebrate his 50th anniversary in the priesthood this December 20th and has expressed his wishes to step down from his position as Prefect.

Benedict XVI has a special connection to this position, where he served for 24 years before being elected pope.

This congregation has taken on an important role in recent years for managing cases of sex abuse inside the Church. It’s also assigned to help integrate Anglicans who wish to be in communion with Rome.

Vaticanists are watching closely as to who could be the next successor. Vatican journalist Andrea Tornielli has said it could be Cardinal Angelo Amato, a former secretary of the department, but at 73 years old and being another Italian in a field of Prefects domanited by Italians, he believes the next Prefect could be from another country.

Other possible candidates include the German bishop Gerhardt Ludwig Muller, as well as Roland Minnerath, the bishop of Dijon, France. There is also the Spanish Jesuit Luis Ladaria and the Dominican American Joseph Augustin Di Noia, both of whom were Ratzinger collaborators inside the Doctrine of the Faith.

Whoever the new Prefect may be, he will be assigned to the task of protecting Catholic orthodoxy and promoting Faith.

[Ken522]

So it’s down to Cardinal Shoenborn of Vienna and Cardinal Gerhardt Ludwig Muller, both Germans.

[cmj328]

his own persuasion, a true doctrinaire “enforcer,”

ROFL.

[bboop]

Isn’t Schonborn the one who is leading the Austrians who want women priests, married priesthood, etc? Or is he holding his finger in the dike on that group? They’re all over in that same area.

[Cicero]

I must say that I thought Levada was a very odd choice for the job after his record in California. But he seems to have done an orthodox job since he went to Rome, perhaps with Pope Benedict right on top of him.

Still, his successor could be better. Let’s hope.

[MarkBsnr]

August 30, 2011. (Romereports.com) Inside the Catholic Church, 75 is the normal age of retirement. In 2012, the pope will face an important decision: who will replace the American Cardinal William Levada as the head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith?

I'd put in for the job, but I don't want to move with all five kids at home in school. Unless I could telecommute...

[Mad Dawg]

Di Noia. OP. Need I say more?

:-)

[SumProVita]

Let’s REALLY pray that God’s will be done with this choice. ;-))

[Hieronymus]

Agreed that Levada was a very odd choice—I grew up in the Archdiocese of Portland and was nearly speechless, having expected and wanted Schonborn—but looking back, I’m glad that the Holy Spirit runs the show, because while Schonborn looked good at the time, it seems that he would have been a disaster. I don’t think that he will get the nod because if BXVI had wanted him, he would have picked him initially.

Di Noia does sound like a good pick.