Portuguese cardinal retracts statement on women's ordination [CWN]

[CWN_News]

The Portuguese cardinal who made headlines by saying that there is no major obstacle to the ordination of women has reversed his public stand, acknowledging that the Church can never ordain women, and explaining that he had never thoroughly explored the question in the past.

Cardinal José da Cruz Policarpo of Lisbon said that after making his earlier statement in answer to a reporter’s question, he realized that he had spoken prematurely, “not having taken into due consideration the latest declarations of the magisterium on this subject.”
The Portuguese prelate emphasized that he had not intended to suggest a dissent from papal teaching, and that his “communion with the Holy Father is absolute.” In his 1994 apostolic letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, Pope John Paul II said that the Church cannot ordain women.

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[Dempsey1919]

How can a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church claim that he did not know the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church? It this is true, then I worry about the state of the Church.

However, in all honesty, I do not believe him.

I think the truth of the matter is that this Cardinal has been reprimanded for his public dissent and is now trying to go back on his words.

 

[catharina]

How can a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church claim that he did not know the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church? It this is true, then I worry about the state of the Church.

However, in all honesty, I do not believe him.

I think the truth of the matter is that this Cardinal has been reprimanded for his public dissent and is now trying to go back on his words.

The ordinary age for submission of a letter by a Cardinal
requsting retirement is 75 yrs old. There are good reasons
for that custom. This Cardinal is 75 yrs old. I have no
trouble believing him since advancing age can alter one’s
memory. The important issue is that he has retracted his
previous statement and clarified his belief.

Thanks be to God for that blessing.

 

[Teelynn]

The ordinary age for submission of a letter by a Cardinal
requsting retirement is 75 yrs old. There are good reasons
for that custom. This Cardinal is 75 yrs old. I have no
trouble believing him since advancing age can alter one’s
memory. The important issue is that he has retracted his
previous statement and clarified his belief.

Thanks be to God for that blessing.

Well, yes technically, the important issue is that he has retracted his statement. How much damage has been done that cannot be undone, though, by the lingering question in the minds of believers? Once a statement like that is put out there…it tends to linger with a question mark in people’s minds.

 

[tlimon]

I hope this is not a “trial balloon.” Women’s ordination proponents might have encouraged this Cardinal to speak about their cause to see what kind of reaction they would get. They seem to be testing the waters more often these days.

 

[laszlo]

During the interview, when consulted on the issue, the cardinal said that in his opinion “there is no fundamental theological obstacle” to the ordination of women, even though he stressed that “no Pope has powers in this regard. This would lead to tensions, and it will happen only if God wills it to happen and if it is in His plans”.

vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/world-news/detail/articolo/policarpo-chiesa-donne-preti-policarpo-church-women-priests-policarpo-iglesia-mujeres-sac/

He completely revoked his statement that 'there is no theological obstacle. In proper environment such mistakes (if both the statement and the revocation get appropriate media) may clear the case in the minds of the people. In this case the obstacle is not eveident, but our faith entirely is above the human evidence.

The problem arises only in the original statement get large echo, but the revocation is just a side news.

 

[Digitonomy]

I hope this is not a “trial balloon.” Women’s ordination proponents…seem to be testing the waters more often these days.

I have not observed this. I think there was much more discussion about the possibility of women’s ordination back in the 80s and early 90s.

 

[Holly3278]

Whether or not he said it accidentally or whatever, it is good that he has retracted his statement. He certainly has my blessing since he has retracted the statement.

 

[Tigg]

Well, yes technically, the important issue is that he has retracted his statement. How much damage has been done that cannot be undone, though, by the lingering question in the minds of believers?

Exactly! Add his statement to the growing number of the malcontents and serious harm is being done to the faith. How many did not hear of the retraction?