Church politics

Developments in the Catholic Church have never been more interesting for the mainstream media than they have been these past couple of weeks. First, the canonization of the Visayan martyr Pedro Calungsod, and in just a matter of days, the announcement by Pope Benedict XVI naming Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle to the College of Cardinals.

For many years now, the sending of a red hat to the Philippines had been a subject of speculation not only among the Asian clergy, but also among media organizations because the Philippines’ highest Church officials, namely, former Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales and Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal reached the mandatory age retirement.

Canon law sets the retirement of bishops at age 75. Rosales turned 75 in 2003, Vidal in 2006. Both signified their intention to retire but Vatican turned them down until 2007 when the Holy See finally accepted Rosales’ retirement. It took another three years, in the latter part of 2010, for Pope Benedict XVI finally let go of Cardinal Vidal.

Although retired, Rosales and Vidal retained their membership in the College of Cardinals which carries the authority to participate in conclaves or election of the Pope. Vidal lost his authority to vote in conclaves when he turned 80 in February 2010. Rosales lost his eligibility only this month.

Naturally, with the retirement of two Filipino prelates from the College of Cardinals, there is plenty of chatter that Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma will be elevated to the cardinalate. Pope Benedict will hold another consistory next month and reports have it that he will designate half a dozen new cardinals.

As head of the Archdiocese of Cebu which looks after more than 4 million Catholics and as president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Palma is very influential. In fact, many thought he was a shoo-in to the College, except that while pundits were assessing his chances, some events, what devout Catholics call the workings of the Holy Spirit, were also taking place at the same time.

When Palma assumed his position in the Cebu Archdiocese, Luis Antonio Tagle tended the Diocese of Imus until October 2011 when Pope Benedict appointed him as successor to Rosales in the Manila Archdiocese. As the 32nd Manila Archbishop, Tagle became de facto Primate of the Philippines. As such, his public appearances, speeches and reflections are well-covered by Church and mainstream media.

On June 12, 2012, he delivered a catechesis during the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, Ireland. Three months later, he was chosen, along with Korean Bishop Andrew Yeom Sou-jeong, to serve as one of the Synod Fathers for the Synod of Bishops on New Evangelization. Only four days ago, Pope Benedict XVI named him to the College of Cardinals.

Some insights why the Holy Father elevated three Asian prelates to the College of Cardinals can be found in Catholic.Culture.org.

In “Why name new cardinals now?  The Pope’s mysterious announcement,” Phil Lawler pointed out that the designation of six new cardinals came as a surprise because they didn’t fit the standard profile of College members: either as part of the Roman Curia (the Vatican Cabinet) or the European clergy who works in Rome.

Clerics who belong to either sector are familiar with Vatican work. In our understanding of traditional politics, they know their way around the corridors of power.

Lawler proceeded to say that the designation of Lebanon’s Maronite Catholic Church, India’s Syro-Malankara Church, along with Nigerian, Columbian and Filipino prelates could be seen as Pope Benedict’s way of diminishing the power of the Roman Curia and the influence of the European cardinals.

According to the online article, the selection of American James Harvey to the Cardinalate is also noteworthy. As Archpriest of the Roman Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, he will remain in Rome. There are reports the Pope needs Harvey to prevent incidents similar to the “Vatileaks” scandal.

As early as last year, Vatican sources were already saying red hats would  be sent to Japan’s Archbishop Peter Takeo Okada, Sri Lanka’s Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, and Myanmar’s Archbishop Charles Maung Bo. Since this is the same source that correctly predicted the designation of the Indian and Filipino prelates to the College of Cardinals, perhaps we can look forward to the designation of Archbishop Palma as the country’s second cardinal.

The Pope’s choices of new cardinals indicate his preference for geographical diversity, which is vital for the New Evangelization. Still, the so-called Vatileaks indicate the Vatican state is not immune from problems that beset any government or human organization for that matter.

In that sense, the online article is valid because it implies reinventing systems that have become fossilized, politicized, and are no longer effective.