Red Hat Speculation Begins... (Catholic Caucus)

Te Deum ^ | August 9, 2010 | Diane M. Korzeniewski

[NYer]

Before I send you off into the pregame show of an ecclesial "sport" that comes around every few years (the making of Cardinals - known more plainly as - a consistory), I want to toss in another item that I was unable to post on last week. 

Blogging Canonist Ed Peters was recently at a Canon Law Conference at the beautiful Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin.  Also there, was another blogging canonist, Fr. John Boyle, of the UK who is spending a year in Marquette, Michigan (I got to know Fr. Boyle through blogging and we hope to see him at Assumption Grotto should he venture down to the lower part of the "mit"!).  Also there, was Father Z (the three are in the pic below and Father Z promises us that he is not that short, but that these guys are just that tall). 

There has been periodic discussion in the blogosphere about the next consistory, ever since the last consistory.  As I mentioned in my recent post on Archbishop Burke (which has been updated, by the way, after I noticed that I missed his membership in the Congregation for Clergy), the next conistory is rumored to take place anywhere from this fall to early spring 2011.  I have mentioned in other comboxes, that I believe it will take place in 2011 because of the number of Cardinals Electors soon to be turning 80 (if this list is not organized by age, then click the "Birthdate" link and they will appear at the top of the list). 

Dr. Peters looks at this much deeper and his analysis left me hopeful that another rumor would not come to pass.  Many have speculated in recent years that Detroit will lose it's red hat because we can't tip the balance of American "Cardinal Electors" to say... the Italians (bear in mind that there is a cap at age 80, at which time a Cardinal is no longer eligible to vote in a papal conclave).  But, I like the rationale used by Dr. Peters and it gives me hope that Detroit will keep it's red hat and that Archbishop Vigneron may very well be among those named in the consistory.  Just how many Americans might we see elevated?  Follow the link to read his most interesing (and fun) analysis.

Musings on the next Consistory

In the mood for some completely personal musings on an important topic that none of us have the slightest control over? Okay, how about papal elections? Rome basically shuts down in August, and here in the USA summer vacation is winding its way toward Labor Day. So it’s a great time to speculate on the next Consistory, rumored to be scheduled for as early as this Fall, but more likely in the Spring of 2011. Or, not. We'll see.

Continue reading Dr. Peters on the next Consistory...

Here is a pic of Archbishop Burke and Ed Peters at the recent conference (hmmmm  - as Father Z pointed out earlier, methinks Archbishop Burke isn't that short, but it's that Peters is that tall).  As an aside, Dr. Peters is speaking to his new boss.  He was recently named a Referendarius by Pope Benedict XVI.  If you don't know what that is.... go have a read.

[NYer]

From Dr. Peters' link:

If the Consistory were held today, Benedict could name 13 new cardinal electors; if he waits till the end of August he could name 14, and if he goes into October he could appoint 17, maybe 18. That would be a sizeable class, and some significant reshaping could be accomplished by naming so many new cardinals at one time.

An interesting breakdown at that link.

[ArrogantBustard]

[old republic]

Isn't the favorite speculative date at this point for the next consistory the Feast of Christ the King?

There are a lot of people who could become a cardinal, but there are not enough red hats to go around and only a fraction of them will be Americans. However, I think its safe to wager that after the next consistory Archbishop Burke will be Cardinal Burke.

[OriginalChristian]

Archbishop Dolan will become Cardinal Dolan.

[bronx2]

It would be well if no or few European and Americans are selected. Recognition needs to be given to S. America, Africa and Asia which is the future hope of the Church. Let the filth be drained from the branches in the U.S and Europe before any recognition is afforded. Islam will dictate the European scene and the secular humanistic agnostic crowd will hold sway in America.

Recognition of these salient facts would bode well for the selection of new cardinals from devout productive areas..

[Lee N. Field]

first thing I thought of.

[ArrogantBustard]

Of course, we're actually referring to the red hats worn by "Cardinals", the set of bishops whose primary job as Cardinals is electing the next Pope.

I would solicit your prayers for Pope Benedict, that the Lord inspire him to choose wisely.

[sitetest]

Next consistory: After April 11, 2011, but by the end of spring.

Reason: There are currently 13 open places among the electors. Between now and April 11, 2011, there will be 11 more open places, at which point there will be 24 open places among the electors. The next cardinal-elector to turn 80 will not be until November, 2011.

With two dozen possible places to fill, the pope will be able to accommodate the Americans, the Italians, and everyone else. As well, he will put his definitive stamp on the body of cardinal-electors, creating one-fifth of that group in one act.

Consistory after that: Early to mid 2013. From mid-2011 to the end of 2012, about a dozen more cardinal-electors turn 80, and by mid-2013, it's over 20, again. Should Pope Benedict live that long (may it be so, please, God), he will have created around two-thirds of the cardinal electors.

[Desdemona]

I think its safe to wager that after the next consistory Archbishop Burke will be Cardinal Burke.

I wouldn't bet too much. There is a reason he was named "Archbishop Emeritus" when he was kicked upstairs to a position with no administrative responsibilities. And it's not just because I lived through 4 1/2 years of Burke, that I think this. The man made a mess of the Rome of the West and don't think that didn't reach the right ears. There's a lot about what went on behind the scenes that people don't know. And remember - he didn't excommunicate any politicians despite all the vitriol. Yeah, I have my doubts that he gets a red hat under BXVI. I hope His Holiness really takes his time and chooses wisely. Vigneron, Dolan, DiNardo, Gomez would be the best Americans.

[old republic]

There is a reason he was named "Archbishop Emeritus" when he was kicked upstairs to a position with no administrative responsibilities...Yeah, I have my doubts that he gets a red hat under BXVI. I hope His Holiness really takes his time and chooses wisely. Vigneron, Dolan, DiNardo, Gomez would be the best Americans.

On what grounds do you think that +Burke was "kicked upstairs?" The thing is that I don't think Archbishop Burke was "kicked upstairs" simply to get rid of him. If so, then he would have taken his seat on the Apostolic Signatura and that is the last we would have heard of +Burke. However, instead of just making +Burke disappear after he was "kicked upstairs", a year or so later the pope also placed him on the Congregation of Bishops, another powerful body that gets to help pick the bishops who get appointed. I interpret that move as an indication that the pope wants more bishops like Burke. (Seems like a vote of confidence to me, though one can never know what the popes motives are for making an appointment without inside knowledge). It is also important to note that it seems that +Burke's ideology seems to overlap significantly with the pope's and thus would make Burke a helpful ally in the Curia.

[old republic]

Archbishop Dolan will become Cardinal Dolan.

Surely Dolan will become a cardinal, but the question is will it happen at the next consistory. It may be possible since Cardinal Egan is fairly close to the age of 80 already (he's currently 78.) However, I am doubtful that Dolan will be created Cardinal, as long as New York has another Cardinal that can vote in a papal conclave. Once Cardinal Egan turns 80 in 2012, then Egan is almost certain to get his red hat. If a consistory happens this year, his chances of getting a red hat are less likely, but if it happens in 2011, he probably will get it.