Could the first female cardinal be Irish..?

[S.ilvio]

Rumours are rife that one of two Irish academics could be called to join the College of Cardinals. Trinity College professor, Linda Hogan and former Irish President, Mary McAleese.

Both are formidable individuals and have shown great interest in the Church in today's changing environment...


Trinity College professor in line to become Catholic Church’s first female cardinal | Irish News | IrishCentral

 

[Michie]

Anything could happen I suppose but I'm of the believe it when you see it crowd. Not the speculation crowd.

 

[Dylan Michael]

Anything could happen I suppose but I'm of the believe it when you see it crowd. Not the speculation crowd.

Yeah, I'm not holding my breath.

The El País article was based on a lot of speculation and misinformation.

 

[Tigg]

Not to start anything. But doesn't a Cardinal have to be a Priest?

 

[ebia]

Not to start anything. But doesn't a Cardinal have to be a Priest?

no

 

[Tigg]

Oh. I thought Cardinals come from Bishops who come from Priests.

TY for the info.

 

[Michie]

Oh. I thought Cardinals come from Bishops who come from Priests.

TY for the info.

Just so you know Tigg, your perception is the norm.

 

[AvilaSurfer]

Cardinals don't have to be priests, but they do have to be male. Threads like this are a waste of web space.

 

[ebia]

Just so you know Tigg, your perception is the norm.

Indeed. But not an absolute rule.

It's been a long time since there have been any genuinely lay cardinals, and there have been very few in recent years who haven't been bishops, but it's by no means impossible for such to be appointed and a pope is less keen on clericalism might just go for it.

 

[ebia]

Cardinals don't have to be priests, but they do have to be male.

Says who? A good number of ecclesiologist disagree.

 

[Michie]

Indeed. But not an absolute rule.

It's been a long time since there have been any genuinely lay cardinals, and there have been very few in recent years who haven't been bishops, but it's by no means impossible for such to be appointed and a pope is less keen on clericalism might just go for it.

We'll just have to wait & see. But as Dylan said, I'm not holding or wasting my breath on this one.

 

[ebia]

We'll just have to wait & see. But as Dylan said, I'm not holding or wasting my breath on this one.

I don't necessarily think he will. I think the article in The Tablet a few weeks ago arguing that female ordination in the CofE works more to intrench clericalism made some good points. Francis may be looking to move power away from the established structures more than to move power towards them, and may therefore be looking for much more imaginative ways of empowering women than looking for loopholes in the existing structure in which a few token theologians can be inserted.

 

[Michie]

I don't necessarily think he will. I think the article in The Tablet a few weeks ago arguing that female ordination in the CofE works more to intrench clericalism made some good points. Francis may be looking to move power away from the established structures more than to move power towards them, and may therefore be looking for much more imaginative ways of empowering women than looking for loopholes in the existing structure in which a few token theologians can be inserted.

Whatever entertains you ebia. I'm going to wait & see & not speculate. It's just rumors. Give me something more substantial & it might be worth investing time discussing.

 

[Tigg]

Just so you know Tigg, your perception is the norm.

Thanks Michie. (By the way, Hope your health is doing better. God bless)

 

[Michie]

Thanks Michie. (By the way, Hope your health is doing better. God bless)

Thanks Tigg. I hope you are feeling better as well.

 

[AvilaSurfer]

Says who? A good number of ecclesiologist disagree.

Doubtful.

 

[ebia]

Doubtful.

What's doubtful? That a good number of ecclesiologists think it possible for a cardinal female to be appointed is fact. And why didn't you answer the question?

There's nothing dogmatic about the college of cardinals. It's possible in principle (if extraordinarily unlikely) that the whole thing could be abolished and replaced with something entirely different. Or reformed in any number of other ways.

 

[WisdomTree]

I'm gonna hold my breath just to see how long it takes for me to pass out...

 

[Wolseley]

Says who? A good number of ecclesiologist disagree.

Which means diddly-squat. The Church is neither a democracy nor governed by majority opinion. It's based on revealed truth, meaning Holy Scripture and Apostolic Tradition, as interpreted by the Sacred Magisterium.

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[WisdomTree]

I don't think it'll be against canon law to appoint a female cardinal, however I do think that it'll be a bit awkward to implement it.