Cardinal José da Cruz Policarpo Forced by Vatican to Retract Openness to Women's Ordination: 2011
/Note: Many hold that the prohibition on women’s ordination is an infallible teaching, part of the Church’s constant tradition through all time, and affirmed by the world’s bishops across history. None of these claims holds up under scrutiny. WOW is gathering stories of priests and bishops who have supported women’s ordination. A dedicated page is forthcoming. In the meantime, learn about the 2011 experience of Portugal’s Cardinal Polycarpo [1936-2014]. He held a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
Cardinal of Lisbon Foresees the Ordination of Women
Portugese American Journal
11 June 2011
Cardinal José da Cruz Policarpo [1936-2014], the Patriarch of Lisbon, was quoted saying that ‘Theologically there is no fundamental obstacle, that would preclude women’s ordination in the future and from saying the Mass from the altar, the Vatican Insider reported.
According to the Cardinal of Lisbon, there will be women priests in the future “when God wills.” For the moment it is better “not to raise the issue,” he said.
The Cardinal also said, “I think that there is no fundamental obstacle. It is a fundamental equality of all members of the Church. The problem is a strong tradition that comes from Jesus and from the fact that the churches of the Reformation conceded the priesthood to women.”
Cardinal Policarpo’s statement is at odds with the teaching of Pope John Paul II in that the Church has no authority to ordain women, and that this judgment reflects the permanent teaching of the Church.
https://portuguese-american-journal.com/cardinal-of-lisbon-foresees-the-ordination-of-women-portugal/
Portuguese cardinal retracts statement on women's ordination
Catholic World News
08 July 2011
The Portuguese cardinal who made headlines by saying that there is no major obstacle to the ordination of women has reversed his public stand, acknowledging that the Church can never ordain women, and explaining that he had never thoroughly explored the question in the past.
Cardinal José da Cruz Policarpo of Lisbon said that after making his earlier statement in answer to a reporter’s question, he realized that he had spoken prematurely, “not having taken into due consideration the latest declarations of the magisterium on this subject.”
The Portuguese prelate emphasized that he had not intended to suggest a dissent from papal teaching, and that his “communion with the Holy Father is absolute.” In his 1994 apostolic letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, Pope John Paul II said that the Church cannot ordain women.
https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=10946
Vatican Called Portugese Cardinal to Explain Statement on Women’s Ordination
Catholic World News
10 August 2011
A Portuguese cardinal was called to a meeting at the Vatican in July, and asked to clarify statements in which he suggested that there was no major theological barrier to the ordination of women.
Cardinal José da Cruz Policarpo raised eyebrows in Rome when he told a reporter that there is “no fundamental obstacle” to women’s ordination. A week later, the Patriarch of Lisbon issued a public statement affirming the Church’s teaching that women can never be ordained to the priesthood.
Now a Portuguese newspaper has revealed that after Cardinal Policarpo made his first statement, he received a letter from Cardinal William Levada, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, asking him to clarify that statement. Cardinal Policarpo also received a message from the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, calling him to a meeting at Castel Gandolfo to discuss the matter.
These two messages from the Vatican persuaded the Portuguese prelate to issue what was, in effect, a retraction of his earlier statement and an affirmation of the binding statement by Pope John Paul II, in his 1994 apostolic letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, that the Church does not have the authority to ordain women. In his second public statement, Cardinal Policarpo said when he said there were no theological impediments to women’s ordination, he had not “taken into due consideration the latest declarations of the magisterium on this subject.”
https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=11336
Biography of Cardinal José da Cruz Policarpo from Vatican website
Cardinal José da Cruz Policarpo, Patriarch emeritus of Lisbon, Portugal, was born on 26 February 1936 in Alvorninha, Portugal. He was ordained on 15 August 1961 for the Patriarchate of Lisbon and holds a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.
He was director of the seminary in Penafirme, rector of the seminary in Olivais and dean of the Theological Faculty of the Portuguese Catholic University. He later served two terms as rector of the same university (1988-96). He is the author of a number of books and scholarly articles.
On 26 May 1978 he was appointed titular Bishop of Caliabria and Auxiliary of Lisbon, receiving episcopal ordination on 29 June.
On 5 March 1997 he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Lisbon and succeeded Cardinal António Ribeiro as Patriarch on 24 March 1998.
He was also Grand Chancellor of the Portuguese Catholic University.
He was elected President of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference in April 1999 and served until June 2005. On 3 May 2011 he was re-elected President of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference.
Patriarch emeritus of Lisbon, 18 May 2013.
He participated in the conclave of April 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI and in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis.
Created and proclaimed Cardinal by St. John Paul II in the consistory of 21 February 2001, of the Title of S. Antonio in Campo Marzio (St. Anthony in Campo Marzio).
Cardinal José da Cruz Policarp died on 12 March 2014.
