Unless I am mistaken, any Catholic male can be named a Cardinal.

But it's really only theoretical that someone not a priest would get it, and only somewhat less so that someone not a bishop would get it (Avery Cardinal Dulles of the U.S. is not a bishop).

Thanks Paul.

I thought so. Is it also true that 'any' Catholic man can be elected Pope?

Yeah, basic stuff I should have looked up, but I have my head full of Cheyney getting away with (almost) murder from reading the DailyKos.

Actually Canon 351 says:

"The Roman Pontiff freely selects men to be promoted as cardinals, who have been ordained at least into the order of the presbyterate and are especially outstanding in doctrine, morals, piety, and prudence in action; those who are not yet bishops must receive episcopal consecration."

So this applies only to priest or bishops. The part about episcopal coseration has been waived - a was the case of Fr. Dulles.

While I love Fr. McCloskey I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for him to become a Cardinal. It is rare indeed for those who aren't in what is considered a Cardinal see, curial position to be considered. Those like Fr. Dulles were apointed mainly as an honor for a lifetime of work, especially since he was to old to vote as a Cardinal-elector.

More realistically I would love to see Bishop Chaput of Denver moved to a Cardinal See like Washington and made a Cardinal.

The Pope as the Supreme Legislator is not bound by canon law, and would be free to choose a layperson as cardinal. Of course it's inconceivable. In any event the Pope could ordain any man and then immediately make him a cardinal.

It seems odd that the Pope doesn't make Cardinal Dulles a Bishop... any explanation?

Thanks Jeff & Matt,

I'm not sure why, maybe politics?

I'd also like to nominate Bishop Brukeski (you know who I mean) of Lincoln.

Dulles wasn't made a bishop because he specifically asked not to be made one.

I really hope that Sen. Brownback will be our next President. What I pray for is that it won't be Hilary Clinton. Those would be utterly terrible days for the pro-life movement and the Catholic faith.

I'd like to see him run as well. I wonder if he has even considered it at all.

Don't know enough about him (Cardinal O'Malley) to say anything either way... yet.

BruskeWITZ no ski ... he was from Milwaukee and I would like to see him move up the ranks also. However a dear friend of mine who lives in the Diocese and personally knows Bishop Bruskewitz said that the consensus is that he 'sealed his fate' when he excommunicated the groups.

He and many of us were thrilled when he did this, but my friend says that many weren't, and this has been the discussion out there for several years already.

The Holy Father could surprise us, who knows? I would also like to see Chaput or Burke or Vasa or Olmstead or a very few others named Cardinal.

Sad to hear about Bruskewitz being blackballed by his own diocese.

I'll pray for him.