Cardinal Kasper Encourages Increased Laicization of the Curia

Edit: laicism has ever and always been a vice condemned by the Church in previous days, identified with materialism and atheism. From Divini Redemptoris:

If we would explain the blind acceptance of Communism by so many thousands of workmen, we must remember that the way had been already prepared for it by the religious and moral destitution in which wage-earners had been left by liberal economics. Even on Sundays and holy days, labor-shifts were given no time to attend to their essential religious duties. No one thought of building churches within convenient distance of factories, nor of facilitating the work of the priest. On the contrary, laicism was actively and persistently promoted, with the result that we are now reaping the fruits of the errors so often denounced by Our Predecessors and by Ourselves. It can surprise no one that the Communistic fallacy should be spreading in a world already to a large extent de-Christianized.

(Rome) Cardinal Walter Kasper has moved through his  intended Pope Francis speech to the College of Cardinals to put remarried divorcees in the center of attention.  Now, the cardinal has said, in an interview with the Italian Catholic daily Avvenire, that he is in favor of transferring the management of the Pontifical Councils to women: "At the Curia there are too many bishops," said the cardinal, who thus clears the path for  a "reconstruction" of the Church with enthusiastic applause. Is Cardinal Walter Kasper one of the stooges for Pope Francis or one of the mouthpieces of Pope Francis for new ideas? Kasper, who verbally pleaded before the Cardinals for  the indissolubility of the marriage sacrament, but at the same time actually encourages its softening,  worries in an Avvenire interview  about the  "abuse of the sacraments”  because the bishops are  engaged with their administrative tasks to the Roman Curia. The Cardinal seems to permit nothing  else to be included in the keyword abuse of the sacraments.

The “Role of Women" and the “Synodal Dynamics" of the Church Under Pope Francis

"The role of women in the Church is to rethink and integrate them into the perspective of the dynamics and the synodical missionary orientation which was commissioned by the Pope," said the German cardinal. Women could occupy leading positions in the Pontifical Councils and the future Congregation for the Laity. At the Roman Curia there are too many bishops. In order to curb the phenomenon of careerism, could,  such is Kasper’s excitement, award temporary contracts and call priests  to bring their experience in pastoral care.

"So far, the women who participated in synods,  have  only done so  as listeners and in positions of minor importance. There are always two or three listeners who take a position at the end of the work  when all the others have already spoken. I ask myself: how can you prepare two synods on the family without including the women in primis? Without the women, the family does not exist. It is absurd to talk about the family, without listening to them. I think that they should be already heard and consulted during the preparatory phase.” [I don’t expect they’ll be consulting Mother Angelica.]

"The Church is a Mutilated Body Without Women"

He continued: "I think that women at all levels should be present, even on positions of responsibility. The contribution of wealth and intuitive ability of the feminine genius are indispensable. The Church is a mangled body without women. Many are now operational in Church bodies. [They’ve virtually destroyed Catholic education and healthcare in America.] Can we imagine community, charitable or cultural structures without female presence? Without it, the parishes would close down tomorrow. In reality, and as foretold by the pope the  Church that “transcends”, is when the women are already on in front and the front lines.” 

Kasper continued the interview, citing Pope Francis  that,  "in the Church the authority of ordination offices and the bishops is not a rule, but always serving the people of God and derives from the authority to administer the sacrament of the Eucharist. Understanding the exercise of the authority of the ordained ministry in terms of power, is clericalism. This is also reflected in the low willingness of many priests and bishops to leave decision  making  functions in lay control that do not require ordained ministry. In Evangelii Gaudium, the Pope asks whether it is really necessary that the priest stands at the forefront of everything. This leads to a clerical immobility, which sometimes seems to be afraid to give women space, and thus also to grant them space where important decisions are made. "

Laymen and Women Leading Pontifical Councils and Vatican Bodies

Not all decision-making positions in the Church would presuppose an ordained ministry said the cardinal. "This can therefore be entrusted to laymen and thus women. If that does not happen, you can not justify this exclusion of women from decision-making processes of the Church ".

As an example of fora where women could hold the highest offices, Kasper  described,  "the Pontifical Councils for example. In the councils for the family, the laity, where women already provide half of the members, the culture, the means of social communication, promoting the new evangelization, to name just a few. Currently, we do not find women in leading positions. This is absurd. In the Councils and in other organisms, the Vatican's authority could be exercised with full responsibility of women even at the highest levels.” This is also true, says Kasper, for the management, economic affairs and the courts.

Women as "Under Secretary" of the Roman Congregations

The congregation of the Curia would differ in its authority by councils and other bodies, but there could also be, "a woman could always be present in the decisions always  and perform the task of an undersecretary well. I am therefore convinced that something can be done also with the applicable legislation in the Church congregations, by examining the various ways."   In the Congregations said the cardinal  especially the Congregation for Education. Leadership positions will be closed out, said the Cardinal "for obvious reasons” for  the Congregations for Bishops and the clergy. "But even in the CDF, for example, there is a theological convocation that prepares all meetings and is still almost completely absent of today's women. We have many theologians who are also lecturers at the pontifical universities. A contribution from them would be desirable. [Have you seen the faculties of Pontifical Universities these days?] This applies even more to the religious congregations: 80 percent of consecrated people are female. “[But are they Catholic?]

Women as a “Cure" for “Terrible Vice of Clericalism and Careerism"

The criteria for the selection of female managers "should be based on competence and a mind of service. Of course, both women and men can make the urge career, are conducted. There are some who have this problem, but many others do not. It is therefore necessary to select the right people with discernment. "As a positive example the cardinal described Mary Ann Glendon, a professor at Harvard, ‘whom the Holy See entrusted the important task  to represent it at the UN conferences, where she has been recognized for her  excellent service. I think a certain number of such women could heal the vice of clericalism and careerism in the curia, which is  a horrible vice."

Bishops Involved in Administration Risk “Abuse of the Sacraments"

Against the "curial careerism" Kasper could imagine “temporary assignments": "For example, for five years." At the end of this period, some might remain, while others will be sent back to their dioceses, "to bring their experience to the local churches." In addition, the Cardinal thinks of the use of priests who may have pastoral experience.

Finally, the Cardinal asked the question whether it was necessary that "all   secretaries of the Departments of Vatican must be bishops". At the Curia "today there is a high concentration of bishops. Many exercise functions of bureaucrats and that's not good. The bishop is a shepherd. The episcopal ordination is not a title of honor, it is a sacrament, it affects the sacramental structure of the Church. Why is it so necessary that a Bishop exercises bureaucratic functions? Here you risk, in my opinion, an abuse of the sacraments. "

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Vigna del Signore

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMGD