Post #86

Excerpt from BBC News: Pope gathers cardinals at Vatican for consistory

The Pope is set to host a rare meeting of more than 100 cardinals from around the world for discussions on policy.

The clerical sex abuse scandal is expected to be high on the agenda, along with concern over the persecution of Christians in some countries.

They will also discuss the decision to invite disaffected Anglican bishops and priests to join the Catholic Church.

The talks will be followed by the elevation of 24 new cardinals in Pope Benedict XVI's third consistory.

The cardinals are rarely summoned to the Vatican in such numbers, and all 179 of them would only be expected to gather for a conclave - the meeting following the death or abdication of a pope to elect his successor.

But Pope Benedict has been attempting to create more opportunities for the cardinals to discuss important issues.

The event has been described by analysts as a pre-conclave, enabling the cardinals to see who could potentially succeed the German Pope.

Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said no major developments were expected at Friday's talks.

"We're talking about communication, information, clarification and reflection on some issues, but certainly not a highly developed in-depth discussion," AP quoted him as saying.

However, the cardinals are expected to discuss the Church's response to the sex abuse scandal, amid criticism that it has not done enough to compensate victims are address the problems raised.

'Grave violation'

They will also debate religious freedoms for Christians, following a recent rise in attacks on Christians in Iraq and a row with China over its ordination of bishops without papal approval.

The Vatican says it is disturbed by reports that bishops loyal to Pope Benedict were being forced to attend the ceremony.

"If these reports are true, then the Holy See would consider such actions as grave violations of freedom of religion and freedom of conscience," Fr Lombardi said in a statement on Thursday.

The Vatican and China have had no diplomatic ties since the 1950s, when Beijing expelled foreign clergy, but their relationship had been improving in recent years.

The Pope's decision to welcome clerics who have defected from the Anglican Church - including those who are married - will also be discussed by the cardinals.

Benedict XVI has created a special enclave in the Roman Catholic Church for Anglicans unhappy with issues including the decision to let women and gay men become bishops. Five bishops have said they will convert under the scheme.

Sources include
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11793780
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04285a.htm
http://www.catholic-pages.com/pope/election.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Iraq