UNITED STATES
Christian Catholicism
Jerry Slevin
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 could authorize women Cardinals, just like he created the Council of Cardinals almost instantly out 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.
Indeed, 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?
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