German Jesuit at Vatican Radio “dreams” of women cardinals

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Comments: 27

Rome, Italy, Jul 23, 2007 / 11:11 am (CNA).- In an interview with the Italian daily “ “Il Messaggero”, the director of the German language programming for Vatican Radio, Jesuit Father Eberhard von Gemminger, said he hopes future popes will be elected by a College of Cardinals in which “at least half” of the members are women.

“Why not dream that sixty illustrious women could elect the Pope? I would be happy to see sixty male and sixty female cardinals in the Sistine Chapel,” the German Jesuit said in reference to the total number of permitted cardinal-electors.

Father Von Gemminger said he thought it was “improbable that the Vatican would immediately open” the doors to women cardinals, but he added, “perhaps it will happen in ten years, since the change in mentality will come, even if slowly.”

The German Jesuit argued that throughout history it has not been necessary to be a priest in order to be named a cardinal. Therefore, “Why not think that in the future there will be women cardinals?” he asked.

In the past centuries, members of the laity were eligible to become cardinals but current Church law stipulates that cardinals must be priests or bishops.

Pope John Paul II named several priests to the College of Cardinals, including Dominican theologian Father Ives Congar, Jesuits Father Henri de Lubac and Father Avery Dulles, and Father Hans Urs Von Baltazar, all of whom were above the age of 80 and thus ineligible to vote.

The College of Cardinals is currently made up of 183 members, of which 105 are cardinal-electors.

Comments: 27

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Amanda
Canada 07/14/2008 04:25 PM EST

First, Sheila: you must be crazy because in no way do all females take the blame for Eve's actions, rather we take on in our birth the cloak of original sin which God forgives us after our baptism.
Second, as said by Henry- there is no reason that women cannot become cardinals as they have had the option in the past, but it has changed. So those stating that the church has worked well for the past 2000 years, you can see that for most of the 2000 years cardinals are not required to be ordained or take holy orders....
Also I think that this Jesuit-while proposing weirdly(dreams), he is on to something. I have seen a rise in priests and bishops who would be more encouraging of female deacons and priests. You have to wonder, even though the church is infalliable, the people within it are not. People becomming educated are becomming more and more liberal... this is the future generation of our church.

As per the argument that Chirst has no disciples besides men, this could easily have been a smart rather than a theological move. If he had female followers and they had dinner together and travelled together and even slept together (the disciples often were put up together by hosts) then these women would have been ostracized, maybe even stoned...This would have been too large a change for the Jews at the time. Magdalene however, followed him ever after her appearance.....please think of all of the bible, not just your favorites or the opinions of writters.

Published by: Marie
Elgin, SC 03/24/2008 01:03 PM EST

Sheila, I can't believe any woman would have such little self-respect as to say what you just did. To suggest that women are somehow more susceptible to sin than men, based on Eve, borders on prehistoric misogyny.

Published by: Henry
Virginia 08/01/2007 11:10 AM EST

I have never seen so many ignorant replies to an article on this website as this one. First, being a cardinal is NOT part of the sacrament of Holy Orders. There have been male members of the Laity who have been cardinals in the past and could be again if canon law was changed back to the way it used to be. Since being a cardinal has nothing to do with ordination from a theological and doctrinal standpoint, there is no reason that women could not be cardinals.

Published by: Les Weller
Bakersfield, CA 07/26/2007 12:01 AM EST

I agree it's time for Fr von Gemminger to retire or be retired as the case may be. There is no longer any room in the Church for this 1960s nonsense... She has suffered enough. That said, there are loyal Jesuits, such as
Fr Joseph Fessio, S.J., who defends the Magisterium and obeys the directives of the Pope, something Fr von Gemminger has failed to do by his statement(I refer to his defiance of the Ordinatio Sacerdotalis of John Paul II, 1994, on the ordaination of women).

Published by: Michael
Owasso, OK, USA 07/25/2007 10:28 PM EST

I don't know a lot about the Jesuits or other religious orders, but ever since I have been aware of the Jesuits, they speak against Church teaching. At first I wondered if they were actually Catholic.

Published by: AR
Canada 07/25/2007 08:07 PM EST

What the Jesuits are really saying is that nuns should become monks & priests AND that priests & monks should become nuns. I don't think so. Are some Jesuits wolves in sheeps clothing?

Published by: John
New York 07/25/2007 05:54 PM EST

Question? Do we have ten years left?

Published by: Maryanne
Pittsburgh, PA 07/25/2007 04:33 PM EST

First, I would like to suggest asking Fr. John Hardon, a holy deceased Jesuit, to intercede with God for the Jesuit order. They certainly need help. We must pray for them. But if they don't change, they just won't get new vocations and they will eventually die out. It is certainly sad. This priest is a heretic and we must pray for his soul.

Published by: Margaret
England 07/25/2007 04:29 PM EST

The bloke is plainly barking. Why waste newsprint on him?

Published by: Pax Christi
Bakersfield, CA USA 07/25/2007 03:16 PM EST

Wonder what Christ and his 12 all-male apostle would've said about the Jesuit's pipe dream?

Published by: Kim
Utah 07/25/2007 03:07 PM EST

I am a woman and I am shocked by his so-called "dream." It sounds more like a "nightmare!" Let's keep the Church the way it is. It's worked so far for the last 2000 years.

Published by: Sue
USA 07/25/2007 02:25 PM EST

I wonder if the Bishop respects Ordinatio Sacerdotalis? If we chip away at church teaching regarding female priests, then that opens a wide & ugly door for destruction so vast that it would wreck the church. Of course, the gates of hell will not prevail. I'm a convert, & sometimes when I hear of dissenting priests, Sisters, etc, I think: IF even they don't regard church teaching, then why in the world should I? I have my own whims, maybe some of this moral relativism might benefit me! God forbid! But it's not about me; it's about Jesus. Now I don't know if some of these progressives think they're serving Jesus when they practice reiki, enneagrams, Buddhist prayer, medicine dolls, drumming circles, eco-spirituality, and yes, feminism... maybe they think the progressive movement is good for the church, but the new age & feminism is against church teaching. In this case, with feminism being the issue, that too is against church teaching. So if at first it's feminism, then next will it be that it's made 'ok' to call God "She"? And what about after that.... will the definition of ecumenism change to include prayer to others beside God? And then after that, will the new age be made okay to practice- like reiki & enneagrams, tarot cards too? Then can gay couples get married? And can married couples (strait or gay) become priests, priestesses, & bishops? Oh, & will earth spirituality (eco-spirituality) become part of Catholicism? WOW! Now that's progression! Good grief! God save us!

Published by: Alberto
Towson, Maryland 07/25/2007 01:51 PM EST

Dear fellow Catholics, whenever we pray, let us never forget to pray for priests and religious for holiness. God will take care of the rest. I can assure you that.

Published by: Phil
Nashville, TN 07/25/2007 12:59 PM EST

"If you want to invent your own religion, do not be a Catholic. If you want to teach the Church rather than let the Church teach you, there are plenty of other churches for you, churches that welcome theologies without miracles, moralities without absolutes, and liturgies without adoration. Please do not be a Catholic unless you believe the Church's claim to speak in these areas in the name of Jesus Christ."

"There is no such thing as a 'cafeteria Catholic'. Catholics do not pick and choose among the Church's doctrines and laws; we receive them gratefully from God, we 'eat all the food Mother puts on our plate'".

"A 'cafeteria Catholic' or a half Catholic or a 95 percent Catholic is a contradiction in terms. If the Catholic Church does not have the divine authority and infallibility she claims, then she is not half right or 95 percent right, but the most arrogant and blasphemous of all churches...It must be either/or, as with Christ Himself...The only honest reason to be a Christian is because you believe Christ's claim to be God incarnate. The only honest reason to be a Catholic is because you believe the Church's claim to be the divinely authorized Body of this Christ."

- Dr. Peter Kreeft, in his book "Catholic Christianity" (pp. 104-105)

Published by: Rooted Radical
CA 07/25/2007 12:55 PM EST

It would certainly be possible, logistically, for women to be named as cardinals. Of course the elect would be scrutinized as much as the men. It's one of the things I love about the Jesuits, they think of the Church spreading into the world as far as possible without losing sight of the Truth which is found in the Bible and Sacred Tradition. They are not out to change the Gospel nor are they trying to change established Sacred Tradition. Without their leadership in centuries past the Church would not have branched out into the world through these ones who are rooted in the Truth and who dare to see into a future of possibilities.

Published by: antoni
India 07/25/2007 10:39 AM EST

Father Von Gemminger should retract his statement.

Published by: Ken
Broken Arrow, OK 07/25/2007 09:54 AM EST

While not all Jesuits are as screwed-up in their teachings as Fr. Gemminger, it does seem that the vast majority of them are. St. Ignatius would not even recognize them. This is one of the dumbest ideas I have ever heard. Priests like this must be totally blind to reality...their intellects have been darkened by Satan...they need our prayers!

Published by: Cathy
Nashua, NH USA 07/25/2007 08:08 AM EST

What is with the Jesuit's these days?? Follow the church teachings or get out. The Catholic Faithful DO NOT WANT it changed!

Published by: Jacques
Cassis / France 07/25/2007 07:44 AM EST

Did Fr von Gemminger smoke marijuana? That's a possible explanation of his "dreams".
The Church is 2000 years old. The "change of mentality" he speaks is only 15-20 years old. Will this change in mentality be fruitful for the Church since it happens only under the pressure of feminists movements that are mainly atheists & not specially in a good mood toward the Church?
The Church is not a weather vane that changes her mind acording to the last fashion, thanks God! The Holy Spirit ways aren't those of a handful of narrow minded Modernists

Published by: Betty
NC 07/24/2007 04:07 PM EST

It must have been a nightmare the poor Jesuit Priest had.

Published by: Lance Patrick Mashburn
Columbus/GA/USA 07/23/2007 09:12 PM EST

What is going on with the Jesuits lately? It is hard to believe that this is the same order that lead the way in the counter-reformation. It appears that their faithfulness to the Church is also now past and maybe it is time for them to transfer their allegiance to something more suited to their beliefs and become Episcopalian or Unitarian. The exit door is always open for those who cannot or will not accept Church teachings. By the way, they can take their campfire hymns with them.

Published by: Ron Pichlik
Battle Creek, MI USA 07/23/2007 07:07 PM EST

Keep dreaming.

Published by: Sheila
Margate FL USA 07/23/2007 04:22 PM EST

Rate: Good

I think it's time Father Von Gemminger retires. I'm sorry, but I'm a female and I think making females priests and cardinals is absurd. The Catholic Church has done just fine for 2,007 years without females sticking their nose into something they have no business in, just to prove a point! Eve stopped us from getting into Heaven, why would we want to repeat the same mistake!

Published by: Jean Pierre
Canada 07/23/2007 02:03 PM EST

Father Von Gemminger surely must realize his dreams / comments would create a situation where the 'female' electors could only vote for a male. Unless, of course, that is part of his vision as well?
The other problem which would result would be a reduced number of eligible candidates for the Office of Bishop of Rome among the Cardinals, unless - of course - they consider / vote for non-Cardinals. It happened in the early church.
It's not a totally bad idea, it's just highly impractical and, in a sense, contrary to what he is attempting to achieve.

Published by: Aline
Brandon Manitoba 07/23/2007 01:31 PM EST

Jesuits are no longer
in tune with the Catholic Faith. Either accept the definitive statement and final law of the Church...or leave it!

Published by: Richard Sullivan
Lillian, AL, USA 07/23/2007 01:01 PM EST

What is wrong with the Jesuits? When I went to a Jesuit school 60 years ago, all the priests were masculine, men we admired (and feared) who were teachers of the Faith.

Published by: Brian
Indianapolis, IN 07/23/2007 11:23 AM EST

Is the Jesuit calling for a genuine participation of women or is he just trying to pander to certain strands of feminism? The half-and-half quota does seem suspicious.

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