For some reason, some people think it’s a devastating blow to me…

…that Francis won’t be naming any women cardinals.

As I just mentioned, I find ecclesial politics numbingly dull.  In the past I have mentioned that there is basically nothing to stop the Church–except for its own human and mutable canon law–from creating lay (and therefore women) cardinals if she chooses.  I mentioned it for two reasons–because I like theological trivia and because lots of people freak out as though the Church has denied something integral to the faith whenever the pope or the bishops make some little tweak (such as proposing five more mysteries for the
Rosary) to something they are perfectly within their rights to tweak if they like.  It’s important to know the difference between what can and cannot be changed in the faith, as well as the difference between the development of doctrine and the mutation of doctrine.

That said, I have no personal interest in whether or not the Church ever creates lay or women cardinals.  I can see advantages and disadvantages to it.  But basically, I don’t care and certainly have no sense of disappointment that Francis has no interest in it.  I suspect that it will likely happen at some point in the future, but my worthless opinion and five bucks will get you a cup of Starbucks.  If it never happens, meh.  If it happens tomorrow, meh.  Only if it happened tomorrow, the paroxysms of freakoutery from Reactionaries would be a sight to behold.  But it won’t.  So it’s far more important to pay attention to Jesus in the real world than to waste time obsessing over curial politics which are, I repeat, numbingly dull in my view.