Women As Cardinals — Why Not Now?, by Jerry Slevin, Christian Catholicism (December 13, 2014)

At least half a billion Catholics, women, know very well that a major reason for the unabated continuation of the priest child abuse scandal is men, in particular over a hundred celibate Cardinals. These men likely do not even know “how to change a nappy”, as Mrs. Mary McAleese, the former Irish President recently so well put it. As the latest “Cardinalmania” heats up, why are no women being proposed, as shown here:

All Catholics should weigh in now and propose some women as Cardinals in comments to these two National Catholic Reporter articles in the above links. Why not? It is your Church and your children, no? The comments are often read by some in the Catholic hierarchy. For more details on women as Cardinals, please see my further remarks at:

As supreme Church lawmaker, Pope Francis could re-write the rules quickly before February. He may already have that authority. As Jesuit Vatican spokeman, Fr. Lombardi, told the Irish Times last year, ““Theologically and theoretically, it is possible,” he added. “Being a cardinal is one of those roles in the church for which, theoretically, you do not have to be ordained … ” Pope Francis could authorize women Cardinals quickly, just like he created the Council of Cardinals almost instantly out of thin air. He really needs to invite some women and mothers, like Ireland’s “straight talking” leader, Mrs. Mary McAleese, and brave Illinois Justice Anne Burke, to become Cardinals in February, and then to attend October’s Final Synod. What is he waiting for?

Mrs. Mary McAleese would be one of the most qualified Cardinals. She is a wife and mother of three and has been a former Irish President, a barrister and a criminal law professor. Upon retirement from political office, she enrolled at the Jesuits’ Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where she obtained a licentiate in canon law and is now studying for a doctorate on children’s rights in canon law. For some of her recent remarks in Rome, and for more information on Mary McAleese’s outstanding career, please see:

http://laycentreblogsite.wordpress.com/2014/12/11/former-irish-president-reflects-on-the-lay-centre-mission/

Moreover, Justice Burke, a devout Catholic and friend of the Obamas, even negotiated courageously, if somewhat futilely, with ex-Pope Benedict as then Cardinal, and with several US Cardinals, earlier on trying to put some teeth in the US bishops’ Child Protection Charter. Both these women could teach the Pope and Cardinals a few things about Catholic families, among other things, no?

For some very helpful background on, and examples of some earlier relevant remarks of, Justice Burke, please see , “Anne Burke’s Advice for Catholic Laity …”, and her own remarks “Keep faith in the truth” and ” The truth shall set us free: Responding to the sex abuse crisis” at:

Many Catholics, especially those seeking real reforms, including countless women, are steadily losing hope that this media created pope is the “real deal”. Even some in the media are beginning to shed their earlier “Francismania” mentality, for example, please see David Gibson’s recent article, “Lost in translation? 7 reasons some women wince when Pope Francis starts talking” at:

As Pope Francis next week begins his 79th year, he needs to act boldly now. Women cardinals would surely be bold and constructive.

Pope John XXIII understood shrewdly the advantage of “surprises” to shake the Vatican bureaucrats up. He did this with his dramatic and unexpected call in 1958 for a new ecumenical council and in 1962 with his papal birth control commission that had active women participants who made a real difference. Some women commission members reportedly explained, among other things, to some of the celibate members that thermometers and “natural family planning” were usually not conducive to a happy marriage.

Francis should now follow St. Pope John XXIII’s effective “surprise” examples and make some women Cardinals now. His silly strategy of all celibate male Synods on the Family is failing. Indeed, his own favorite theologian, Cardinal Walter Kasper, boldly said that omitting women as voting Synod participants was an absurd decision.

Pope Francis needs help now. His illusory anti-child abuse commission under disgraced Cardinal Law’s former canon lawyer, Fr. Robert Oliver, after almost two years as pope, has as of now less than half its members in place.

This advisory commission is not likely to act decisively while Francis is pope, if ever. Prosecutors will not wait that long. They will begin to dictate detailed and specific child protection procedures to the Vatican, as they did as part of a plea bargain with criminal Bishop of Kansas City, Robert Finn, who is outrageously still sitting on his episcopal throne as he spends a fortune on lawyers. Finn has had, as a result of his criminal conviction plea bargain agreement’s terms, a local district attorney at times as a “de facto” co-adjutor bishop. Is that what Pope Francis really wants? As an experienced lawyer, I think that is where his current policies are clearly leading.

The Australian Royal Commission’s investigation will also likely lead to imposing child protection legal requirements on the Vatican as well, long before the “slow walking” Vatican anti-abuse commission makes its “advisory report” to whomever is pope at the time. National investigations also seem inevitable in the UK soon and in the USA in the longer term.

For more on the disgraceful delays with this showpiece anti-abuse commission, please see my remarks linked above.