[Ann Archy]

Did you READ the post???? The Priest said “now if there were only FEMALE PRIESTS”!! geesh....it had NOTHING to do with females getting their feet washed.

[mlizzy]

Did you READ the post????

I wrote the post; I hope I read it too... :)

It all sort of goes together, though. He mentioned at one point in time that he wanted the Washing of Feet to become a Sacrament. In this way, women would be introduced (to possibly becoming priests someday?)...

[Mrs. Don-o]

Ann Archy, I read the post at #18 and it did not say "priests".

Calm down. It said "cardinals".

True, women cannot be ordained to Holy Orders --- deacon, priest, or bishop --- because of the nuptial meaning of priesthood. (Like Matrimony, Holy Orders is a Sacrament in which the sexually embodied person is part of the Sacramental Sign.)

However, the role of "Cardinal" is not a Sacrament and is a historically malleable administrative title, not dating back to the New Testament or the teaching of the Apostles, but adopted later for the sensible purpose of handling papal succession with a modicum of efficiency.

Any pope would have the authority to change the way his successor is picked. He could say "Let's pick one by casting lots." Or "Let's have an electronic election on the Internet with all the clergy of the Diocese of Rome as electors." He could even say, "As usual, all the papabili have to be Catholic men (this is actually non-negotiable) but the electors will all be women."

Not saying he would, not in a million years, but I'm saying he "could".

Bizarre but true.

Such is papal authority. Such is Catholicism.