CALIFORNIA
National Catholic Reporter
Full text of Emeritus Archbishop John Quinn’s Stanford address
by Thomas C. Fox | Mar. 10, 2013
Stanford, Calif. —
With the world’s cardinals set to choose a new pope, Emeritus Archbishop of San Francisco John Quinn on Saturday called for major church governance reforms, including changes in the papacy itself.
“Media reports dealing with reform tend to focus on clerical celibacy and on the ordination of women and on the reform of the [Roman] Curia. … These are important topics, but it would be a mistake to stop there,” Quinn said.
“Today, if we want to deal seriously with the legacy of Vatican II and issues of reform we must have the courage to consider the deeper questions. This is not possible unless the paramount issue of the exercise of the papal office is addressed.”
Quinn, who spoke as part of a daylong symposium, “The Legacy of Vatican II: Personal Reflections,” at Stanford University, called for major decentralization of Vatican and papal authority. He said this could be achieved through the creation of regional bishops’ conferences and synods of bishops with decision-making authority.
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