Cardinal Christoph Schönborn – whom Pope Francis has called a “great theologian” and to whom the Pope has entrusted the public interpretation of Amoris Laetitia – has given an interview in which he appears to express the belief that a future ecumenical council could approve of the ordination of women to the priesthood.
In an interview given to a group of Austrian journalists – prominently to some from the Austrian newspaper Die Presse, but also from the Salzburger Nachrichten – Cardinal Schönborn makes several statements that show his own openness to the idea of married priests, as well as ordained women – from Deaconesses, to female Priests, and even to female Bishops.
When asked about an Austrian bishop’s proposal to ordain married men and whether he would agree with him, Cardinal Schönborn responded: “Organizational questions are important, and I believe that there is some room for movement, also some necessary potential for change.”
It would seem then that His Eminence welcomes such proposals for change.
Cardinal Schönborn wishes for “a higher percentage of women in leading positions”.
Regarding the subject of female Ordination, the Cardinal stated: “The question of Ordination of women is a question which clearly can only be clarified by a Council. That cannot be decided upon by a Pope alone. That is a question too big that it could be decided from the desk of a Pope.”
But Pope Saint John Paul II, in his 1994 Apostolic Letter, Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, offered what he insisted was the Church’s final word on the impossibility of ordaining women to the priesthood when he wrote:
Although the teaching that Priestly Ordination is to be reserved to men alone has been preserved by the constant and universal Tradition of the Church and firmly taught by the Magisterium in its more recent documents, at the present time in some places it is nonetheless considered still open to debate, or the Church’s judgment that women are not to be admitted to Ordination is considered to have a merely disciplinary force.
Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church’s divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer Priestly Ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church’s faithful.
It appears that Cardinal Schönborn was referring directly to this Apostolic Letter when he said the issue of women’s Ordination “cannot be decided upon by a pope alone” and that it “is a question too big” to be decided from “the desk of a Pope”
Since he is close to Pope Francis, Cardinal Schönborn’s interview raises the question of whether his comments indicate here some future plans of the Pope with regard to female Ordinations, or even with regard to a future Ecumenical Council.
I have often predicted that Vatican III will be convened to define the essence of Priesthood and whether acting“in persona Christi" eliminates the possibility female Ordination. I further believe Vatican III would determine whether or not the ancient tradition of a married Priesthood will be restored in the Latin Rite.
When asked whether he speaks here about the ordination of female Priests, Cardinal Schönborn responded: “as Deaconesses, female Priests, and female Bishops.”
Discussing the fact that Pope Francis has not excluded the idea of ordaining Deaconesses, His Eminence reiterated that it would not be “good” if the Pope were to decide upon this matter by himself alone. “The Church is a community, big decisions should me made together.”
It is in this context the Cardinal believes that we continue to walk the path of synodality of the Church which Pope Francis very much promotes.
The Cardinal has stated on a number of occasions his belief that there will be a next Council – whenever it comes, in the right moment when nobody expects it.
Such are the ways of the Holy Spirit! I trust in the Holy Ghost.
Cardinal Schönborn also predicted that the question of married Priests “certainly will be brought up” at the upcoming Amazon Synod.
Cardinal Schönborn, addressing the larger matter of changes within the Church’s teaching, insisted that there exists “a traditional principle, that is the development of doctrine. Right now, we are experiencing a very exciting step in the development of doctrine,” he explained. It shows a change of consciousness.”
Christ entrusted the Church to the guidance and protection of the Holy Spirit.
May the Paraclete come to the assistance of the Church as the Body of Christ strives to be the sacrament of the Lord Jesus’ generous and salvific Love.
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