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The College of Cardinals
Topic Started: Thursday, 9. August 2012, 20:05 (385 Views)
Penfold
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Further statistics.
The breakdown of the Catholic Population is roughly, and I am relying on Wiki so this is very rough,
The Americas, 49%
Europe, 26%
Africa, 13%
Asia, 11%
Oceania, 1%

So if some does the maths the distribution of Cardinals is not particularly fair for the Americas have twice the Catholic population but half the cardinals that Europe have.
Part of the reasons for this lies in the imperial past for the American and indeed other diocese of the world once came under European control as mission territory as the colonial age passes their has been an increased delegation but some of the European Diocese have not been pruned back so some regions in Spain, France and Italy still have Cardinals when perhaps it would be fairer to surrender the red hat in favour of one of their former mission territories. It is also an anomaly that in the British Isles though England and Scotland have relatively low Catholic Populations they both have had Cardinals in recent years, and the position of Ireland is also changing so their may be that when Cardinal O'Brien retires their will be only one red hat sent to the UK though I suspect Ireland will retain a Cardinal for a few more years. Though their are a few Cardinals of Irish decent around at the moment.
It will be a brave Pope who says to Milan or Venice that they should no longer assume that they will have a red hat but that, in my opinion, is were the pruning should start.
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Derekap
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Thank you Penfold for the information!

In view of the trend for Scotland and Wales to be more independent from Westminster might it be wise to appoint a successive Cardinal in Scotland and a Cardinal in Wales? Just debating. One could argue for one Cardinal for these islands (Retiring immediaatly to my bunker!).
Derekap
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OsullivanB

Perhaps a starting point would be the question: what are Cardinals for other than choosing a Pope? Is the title "merely" an honorific? If not what is the function of a Cardinal qua Cardinal?
"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance - that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer
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Rose of York
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OsullivanB
Monday, 26. November 2012, 15:01
Perhaps a starting point would be the question: what are Cardinals for other than choosing a Pope? Is the title "merely" an honorific? If not what is the function of a Cardinal qua Cardinal?
They are responsible for protection of the future employment of employees of the manufacturers of red hats.
Keep the Faith!

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Penfold
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The title Cardinal brings with it no additional authority and only those cardinals who are under the current senior voting age of 80 are allowed to elect the Pope. The Pope can be elected from anywhere and from any station provided they are a baptised male and will meet the requirements for ordination to the Diaconate, Priesthood and Episcopate, and all three can be taken care of if required in quick succession with the necessary 6 months as a deacon and certain other canonical restrictions, dispensed. For example one may have an unmarried Lay theologian who comes to the attention of the Conclave and is elected. If the college of Cardinals remains at 120 then the likelihood is that at their various meetings they will get to know each other fairly well and so it is the norm for the Pope to be elected from among the College of Cardinals but it does not have to be so.

So reduce the number of cardinals and you may increase the chance of a non-cardinal being elected pope but it is more likely that one will simply reduce the pool from which he is chosen. I would prefer to see the number remain at 120 but there be a greater diversity in cultural and ecclesiastical pedigree. As things stand the European Vote still favours a European Cardinal. What is notable though is that under JPII and to some extent continued under Benedict XVI the number of non Italian heads of departments is increasing for example the elevation of Bishop/Archbishop Roach and it may be that if he is given the cardinals hat they Vatican may decide not to give one to Westminster on the grounds that England and Wales have a Cardinal in the college to represent their interests. Cardinals are all currently ordained bishops but historically this was not always the case so there is a precedent for non-episcopal and non-priests being in the electoral process. It may be that the College of Cardinals could be restructured to include lay men and women but that, I suspect, is not on the agenda at present.
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Rose of York
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Penfold
Monday, 26. November 2012, 16:22
The title Cardinal brings with it no additional authority and only those cardinals who are under the current senior voting age of 80 are allowed to elect the Pope. The Pope can be elected from anywhere and from any station provided they are a baptised male and will meet the requirements for ordination to the Diaconate, Priesthood and Episcopate, and all three can be taken care of if required in quick succession with the necessary 6 months as a deacon and certain other canonical restrictions, dispensed.
I nominate a man who fulfils all conditions of eligibility. He is also internet savvy, that is an essential skill in this era.

OSB for papa!

Quote:
 
What is notable though is that under JPII and to some extent continued under Benedict XVI the number of non Italian heads of departments is increasing for example the elevation of Bishop/Archbishop Roach and it may be that if he is given the cardinals hat they Vatican may decide not to give one to Westminster on the grounds that England and Wales have a Cardinal in the college to represent their interests.

That thought crossed my mind when Archbishop Roche was appointed to his current position in Rome. That was in June, he may be under the watchful eye, being assessed for suitability. It does seem odd that the current Archbishop of Westminster has not become a Cardinal.
Keep the Faith!

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OsullivanB

Archbishops of Westminster have (from memory) tended to die in office. Cardinal Cormac has had the good fortune to retire. It would (I think) be impolitic to have two English Cardinals at the same time. So Archbishop Vincent may be made a Cardinal after Cardinal Cormac has been gathered to the great College in the sky, but probably not before. As Cardinal Cormac has ceased to be eligible to vote next time round, that may leave England without any say in the election of Pope Benedict's successor.
"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance - that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer
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