Women should help select the pope and participate in the highest levels of the Vatican, even though they remain barred from the priesthood, an African bishop is proposing.
Monsignor Ernest Kombo of Owando, Congo, made the proposal Monday before Pope John Paul II and hundreds of clergymen from around the world. His appeal capped a series of increasingly direct demands for a greater role in church affairs for nuns and women religious workers.The future of women in the Roman Catholic Church has emerged as one of the principal debates at a monthlong bishops' synod, called to discuss possible changes in the structure and outlook of religious orders and lay groups.
Hundreds of statements from clergy members began the gathering, which ends Oct. 29.
Kombo's comments have so far proved the most radical.
"Women must be able to rise to the highest positions in the establishment of the church (and) they should also be nominated as lay cardinals," Kombo
said. For centuries there was no rule that cardinals be members of the clergy, although nearly all cardinals were previously bishops or other high-ranking clergymen. But Vatican code was changed in 1918 to require all members be priests.
Kombo suggested that rules can be changed or the Vatican can establish another level of lay cardinals that may not have the same duties as cardinals from the clergy. He did not supply details and could not be reached for
elaboration. The main duty of cardinals is to elect the pope. The pope has sole authority to select cardinals, but any change in the composition of the college of cardinals appeared highly unlikely.
The pope favors a traditional Vatican structure and has picked cardinals who share his views and presumably will select a similarly conservative successor. In May, the pontiff issued a statement ruling out any consideration of women priests.
Women comprise about two-thirds of the 900,000 people in Roman Catholic religious vocations and work, such as nuns and missionaries.