Evangetholic Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 I have been reading about recent Popes' difficulties in imposing their will on the Curia. Particularly how without the interference of certain Cardinals the Pope would have unilaterally erected SSPX into a personal prelature; and the way people obfuscate/do not act on Papal instructions unless they are given as direct orders in the very strongest language. Solution? The return of the office of the Cardinal Nephew. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinal-nephew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 Sorry, maybe my brain is slow today, but I cannot figure out what link there might be between internal opposition to the pope, and Cardinal nephews. :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evangetholic Posted March 11, 2013 Author Share Posted March 11, 2013 The reason for appointing the Cardinal-Nephew is that he's triply bound to the Pope. He's the Pope's flesh and blood, he's the Pope's creature, and he's a Christian. He knows that his fate is invariably connected to the Papal will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 The reason for appointing the Cardinal-Nephew is that he's triply bound to the Pope. He's the Pope's flesh and blood, he's the Pope's creature, and he's a Christian. He knows that his fate is invariably connected to the Papal will. But then what happens when we get a not-ideal pope? :P Iunno, I think I would prefer that the focus be on identifying holy and intelligent men for the cardinalate. It has been working, albeit slowly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mortify Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 The Pope is the supreme authority, in theory his power outweighs not just the curia but an ecumenical council. We live in an age where Papal authority has been rendered vacuous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evangetholic Posted March 11, 2013 Author Share Posted March 11, 2013 From wikipedia: The list of cardinal-nephews includes at least fifteen, and possibly as many as nineteen Popes[8] (Gregory IX, Alexander IV, Adrian V, Gregory XI, Boniface IX, Innocent VII, Eugene IV, Paul II, Alexander VI, Pius III, Julius II, Leo X, Clement VII, Benedict XIII, and Pius VII; perhaps also John XIX and Benedict IX, if they were really promoted cardinals; as well as Innocent III and Benedict XII, if in fact they were related to their elevators); one antipope (John XXIII); and two or three saints (Charles Borromeo, Guarinus of Palestrina, and perhaps Anselm of Lucca, if he was really a cardinal). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisa Marie Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 I feel like they probably have enough problems with political maneuvering, they don't need nepotism added to the mix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evangetholic Posted March 11, 2013 Author Share Posted March 11, 2013 To me, it seems that the political maneuvering is unavoidable, so long as we are formed in sin. The Cardinal Nephew gives the Holy Father a built in ally, someone whose maneuvering will always be in the Pope Uncle's favor, or at least not prejudiced against Papal wishes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Autumn Dusk Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 I don't think it's fair for either the Pope or the nephew to have such a relationship. The first part of this issue is that the family ties that created the bond of opinion no longer exist. In most sane countries people don't get shunned because a family member is a liberal or conservative or buys tastee o's insted of cheerios or covers the furniture in plastic (or lack thereof). Secondly, the pope is an old man, and as people loose their marbles they are more easily influnced by family. The holy Spirit allowed no extention of grace to nephews of the Pope and someone seeking power could easily manipulate the situation to their benefit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r2Dtoo Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 The reason for appointing the Cardinal-Nephew is that he's triply bound to the Pope. He's the Pope's flesh and blood, he's the Pope's creature, and he's a Christian. He knows that his fate is invariably connected to the Papal will. The Pope has creatures now? I thought only God could create? Seriously though, you have to admit describing someone as "the Pope's creature" sounds really flooping creepy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evangetholic Posted March 12, 2013 Author Share Posted March 12, 2013 The Pope has creatures now? I thought only God could create? Seriously though, you have to admit describing someone as "the Pope's creature" sounds really flooping creepy. Creature--a person whose position or fortune is owed to someone or something and who continues under the control or influence of that person or thing: The cardinal was a creature of Louis XI. But yes, it is a might creepy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r2Dtoo Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Creature--a person whose position or fortune is owed to someone or something and who continues under the control or influence of that person or thing: The cardinal was a creature of Louis XI. But yes, it is a might creepy. It came from the depths of the Tiber... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJon16 Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 When I see the word "nepotism" I think of a society dedicated to neapolitan ice-cream... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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