Cardinal Danneels proposes 'papal council' to help set Church policy
December 04, 2009
In a newly published book, Cardinal Godfried Danneels of Brussels advances a proposal for a “papal council”—a group of senior prelates who would advise the Pope on key issues. This council would not hold any juridical power, the cardinal proposes, but would have “great moral authority.”
Cardinal Danneels—who has long a favorite of liberal Catholics—makes the proposal in a book based on a series of interviews, in which he recalls his 30 years as the leading Catholic figure in Belgium. Cardinal Danneels released the book as he prepares to leave his post. Now 76 years old, he has submitted his resignation, and told reporters that he expects to be replaced early next year.
The cardinal’s book, Confidences d’un cardinal, carries a preface by Herman Van Rompuy, the former Belgian prime minister who took office this week as the first president of the European Union.
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Further information:
- Kardinal Danneels is Gewonnen Voor Pauslijke Kroonraad (Kerknet)
- Le cardinal Danneels s'inquiète de la perte de sens moral
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Posted by: Chestertonian -
Dec. 04, 2009 8:55 PM ET USA
This seems to be a move toward the Anglican "first among equals" system, which way leads to chaos, and very definitely isn't what Christ intended when he told Peter 'You are rock"--he didn't say one of many rocks, now did he? And, it's ridiculous to think that the pontiff doesn't listen to the advice and opinions of his brother bishops without forming a council; he does, after all have his 'cabinet' of secy's--Daneels is probably just huffy because HE wasn't listened to, thank the good Lord.
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Posted by: jp796848 -
Dec. 04, 2009 6:12 PM ET USA
Boy, this sounds so familiar. It reminds me of Cardinal Suenens (also from Belgium)when he asked Pope John XXIII if he could set up a Birth Control Commission so that it would help people understand/accept the teaching of the Church on birth control. Well, what he really did was to help people to dissent from the Church's teaching. He caused Pope Paul VI great suffering. Thank God for Karol Wojtyla(Pope John II) who helped the Pope to respond with Humanae Vitae. God is Good!
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Posted by: Gil125 -
Dec. 04, 2009 5:27 PM ET USA
Archbishop John Quinn made a very similar, if somewhat more radical proposal, in a speech at Oxford immediately upon his retirement from the see of San Francisco. You could Google it
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Posted by: -
Dec. 04, 2009 12:48 PM ET USA
This suggestion of Cdl. Daneels' is likely trouble-making in itself; but, it is also valuable in that it is a clear indication of very precisely what shouldn't be done.
