A Bishop and Two Theologians Propose a Radical Reform in College of Cardinals

A retired Italian bishop and several Catholic theologians have suggested that the Vatican take a radical step to make the College of Cardinals—whose main duty is to elect the pope—more inclusive by appointing women to the college.

At present all 183 cardinals are ordained males, the vast majority of them bishops.

“The present system, which restricts to male cardinals the right to choose the pope, is a product of history,” Giuseppe Casale, 77-year-old former bishop of Foggia, in southern Italy said. “It [the system] could evolve, changing in a progressive and cautious way to include categories of the people of God who have been excluded until now.

“The current formula for electing a pope is out of date,” Bishop Casale added. “We should certainly not act hastily, but neither should we stick rigidly to the present system, putting limits on the work of the Holy Spirit. It is indeed possible to imagine lay cardinals, ordinary members of the faithful, both men and women, participating in the process of choosing the Bishop of Rome [the Pope].

“It should be remembered that the position of cardinal is not covered by the sacrament of ordination, and so there is no problem of dogma [with lay cardinals]. The position of cardinal is simply a product of history, and the method of electing the Bishop of Rome has undergone major changes throughout history.”

Severino Dianich, a professor at the Theology Faculty of Central Italy, based in Florence, and president of the Italian Theological Association said, “It is possible there will be some changes in the future.”

Professor Dianich added that the sacrament of ordination includes bishops, priests and deacons. While ordination had a divine element and therefore could not be changed, the job of cardinal had been created by the church, and was therefore open to modification.

“If women could be ordained one day as deaconesses, they could [perhaps] join the College of Cardinals. But another possibility is a conclave [the meeting at which the cardinals choose a pope] including not only clergy but also lay people, both men and women. From an ecclesial and theological viewpoint, such a reform is possible, even if the time is not yet ripe,” Professor Dianich said.

In May 1994 Pope John Paul categorically ruled out the admission of women to the Roman Catholic priesthood, but he said nothing about women deacons. In its early years, the church had an order of “deaconesses,” but current opinion on the possible revival of the order is divided.

In October 1994 an African Jesuit, Bishop Ernest Kombo of Owando, told a meeting of bishops in Rome that the contribution of nuns to the church’s mission should be recognized by nominating some as members of the College of Cardinals. Pope John Paul was present when Bishop Kombo made his suggestion, but he did not comment.

A Rome-based theologian, Caterina Iacobelli, commented on the possibility of women being made both deacons and cardinals. “Yes, provided that it is not a restricted initiative, but one that leads to a global rethinking of the ordained ministry, the priesthood included. A reformed ministry, open to men and women, providing real ministry to people rather than being a privileged caste.”

Iacobelli said that merely creating two or three women cardinals would not be enough. “This would only have any meaning if it signaled the opening up—to representatives of the whole of the Catholic people—the election of the Bishop of Rome.”

A special four-day meeting of the College of Cardinals will be held in Rome this month to discuss, in a closed session, the major problems facing the Catholic Church. The Italian media have speculated that some cardinals could suggest a reform of the papal election process.

Related Elsewhere

Last year, The Dallas Morning News reported on the selections of Pope John Paul II to the College of Cardinals and calls by liberal priests for new analysis of topics such as mandatory celibacy for priests, the ordination of women, and contraception.

www.womenpriests.org presents the case for ordaining women and a extensive internet library on women priests.

Recent related Christianity Today articles include:

Australia’s New Anglican Leader Promises to Remain Outspoken | Australia’s Anglican Church elects new head, progressive archbishop and theologian, Dr. Peter Carnley, who was the first bishop to ordain women priests in Australia. (Feb. 7, 2000)

English Christians Celebrate Orthodoxy and the Millennium | Two leading prelates of the Church of England have taken part in a mass gathering of traditionalist Anglicans at a time when the church remains split over women priests and bishops. (June 15, 2000)