www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology A Question to Roman Catholic Theologians/Students of Theology:

+GLORY BE TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS!

There are now a few Cardinal-priests (Cardinal Dulles for example---who is a WONDERFUL man!). When a Cardinal-priest celebrates the Liturgy and in many aspects of his priesthood, he is treated/functions like a bishop, but isnt' one. I wonder if any Cardinal-priests ever ordained...at least maybe, say, a deacon? This whole thing interests me (being a Cardinal-deacon)...is not unlike being an Archimandrite-of-the-Ecumenical-Thron! Would someone please write about this position within the Roman Catholic Church...it interests me for some reason.

Thanks in advance!

In Him Who calls us,
+Father Archimandrite Gregory

Christ is among us!

Dear Fr. Gregory:

The actual positions of Cardinal-Bishop, Cardinal-Priest and Cardinal-Deacon have nothing to do with the underlying orders a man has received. These positions are, in a sense, honorary. A Cardinal Bishop is the head of a major dicastery in the Curia, a Cardinal Priest is (usually) the archbishop of a diocese and a Cardinal Deacon is the Cardinal in charge of one of the stational churches in Rome.

Cardinal Dulles is a priest who has received the red had without being a bishop (at his request). So, where he is treated as a bishop, he cannot ordain because that is not within the faculties that he possesses.

Edward, deacon and sinner

I wonder if Cardinal-Priest such as Cardinal Dulles and several others, have the same privileges of Bishops in celebrating the Mass. Yes, I understand that they aren't Bishops so they do not have the power to confer the laying of Hands of Holy Orders. I'm wondering if they would be treated like the Protonotary Apostolics who could wear the vestments of a bishop and preside at a Pontifical High Mass.

Shlomo,
Cardinal Dulles does not have the same privileges as a Bishop went conducting a liturgy, but in the secular world he has to diplomatically be treated as a prince.

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon

Dear Father Ed, +May the LORD bless you! Thank you so much for your response. I did know that Cardinal-bishops and Cardinal-priests and Cardinal-deacons are honorary positions. I was mostly interested in Cardinals like Father Avery Dulles. What are the customs for a Cardinal-priest? How does a Cardinal-priest serve? Does a Cardinal-priest wear the miter? That sort of thing...you know?

Thanks for your time Father!

In Christ Jesus Our Lord,
+Father Archimandrite Gregory

Yuhannon, +May HE Who is Born for us bless you! I think that basically in my understanding, a Cardinal-priest like Cardinal Dulles does serve very much like a bishop (liturgically) or at least like a Protonotary Apostolic (who formerly had the right to wear the miter and preside like a bishop) at the Liturgy. What I was actually wondering about was the other customs and liturgical privledges a Cardinal-priest has. If you can shed anymore light on this topic..I'd welcome it.

Many thanks again!

In Christ Jesus Our Lord,
+Father Archimandrite Gregory

Dear Rev. Fr. Deacon Ed:

Thank you for clafifying the various order of Cardinals. Many Catholics don't even know the various orders. You are right. They do not have anyting to do with deacon, priest, or bishop.

It used to be the custom, upon assuming the Papal throne, that the new Pope would make a cardinal of a theologian who would be his personal theologican. This person holds the title of "Master of the Sacred Palace", usually a Dominican. He would be the Pope's personal consultant on theological matters and preach to the Papal household during Lent and other times. He would not be ordained a bishop before hand. At one time laymen were made cardinals. The last lay cardinal died in 1894. St. Charles Borromeo was made a cardinal at the age of 22. Bl. Charles of Luxemburgh was made one at 14. The late Bl. John XXIII wanted to make the French philospher Jacques Martinian a cardinal but his wife (M. Martinian's), was against it.

Fr. Gregory,

Sorry, I guess I stopped too soon. Cardinal Dulles wears a mitre and carries a crozier just as any Cardinal would do if he is celebrating a Mass where such vestments are appropriate. I understand that he prefers not to and, in fact, normally does wear the zucchetto unless it's a public Mass.

However, a Cardinal who is not a bishop has all the rights and privileges of a cardinal in terms of vestments and seating (the Latin Church has, finally, recognized that Patriarchs have a higher rank than Cardinals!). He is entitled to wear a red zucchetto, red pectoral cape, red cassock and red shoes and socks. In short, he is fully a cardinal but does not have episcopal faculties.

Does that help?

Edward, deacon and sinner

As an Orthodox priest who doesn't understand much about the Papacy, I have to ask, could Cardinal Dulles participate in the election of the next pope? Could a lay cardinal(assuming that there were any) also participate?

The various distinctions among cardinals were once grounded in the practice of the Roman Church in which, indeed, a man designated a "cardinal-priest" WAS a priest; and so on for the cardinal-bishops and cardinal-deacons. Not so any more. The titles now are honorary. Until Pope John XXIII (d. 1963) it was possible for a even a layman to be a cardinal (though this was highly rare). John changed it, requiring that a cardinal be a bishop (though, as with Dulles, 'dispensations' can be granted). In all other respects, Dulles is a member of the College, but without voting rights in the next conclave since he is past the canonical age of 80 (set by Paul VI in 1976). As for liturgical distinctions, Fr. Deacon Ed has it right to the best of my knowledge.

John Paul II has a trend of 'rewarding' theologians with a red hat to show the approbation of the Church for their work, especially where that work has previously been suspect (as in the case of Henri Cardinal de Lubac, for example).

For more detail in this and sundry related matters, there is a lush, rich, coffee-table-sized book called *The Church Visible* that goes into all the fascinating details around the customs of the Church of Rome and the Vatican--the water-marked silk that only cardinals are allowed to wear, the maker of papal socks, the measurements for the skullcaps, etc., etc.

Yes!
A Cardinal Layman would be involved in the election of a Pope (if under 80 )and could himself be a candidate.
Election to the Papacy is open to any male Catholic. Believe it or not.
So what surprise might the Holy Spirit have for us next?
Stephanos I

Fr. Al,

Cardinal Dulles is too old to participate in a papal conclave. However, if he were younger he could participate. Generally, however, the honor he received is generally given very later in life so as to preclude that possibilty.

Edward, deacon and sinner

Yes, thats right. According to Canon Law, "any baptized,male, seven years of age or older", can be elected Pope.

One does not have to be a cardinal, bishop or priest. Pope St. Peter Celestine was a hermit who chastised the cardinals for delaying the election of a Pope for two years. They elected him! He lasted a year and resigned. (The only Pope to do so.) He died in prision. A rumor says he was poisioned by his successor. There is a church dedicated to him in Cherry Hill, NJ.

One other point of note:

A Cardinal with 'only' presbyterial Orders receives 'Universal' faculties directly from the Pope. He is therefore entitled to hear confessions or accomplish other priestly functions anywhere in the world without the need to seek permission from the local Ordinary.