Does the Pope still have to prove gender after the 'Pope' Joan instance?

Great Debates
1

Do Popes still have to lift their robes for inspection? I find this quite interesting with a fringe of humour. Having just finished Donna Woolfolk Cross’ Pope Joan, I learned quite a bit about the Catholic Papacy that I had not previously known. It was amazing to read how a woman actually infiltrated the Roman Papacy. Is this just another huge Catholic Conspiracy? Debatable topic: What’s the foundation for women not becoming preists, the true reason? Does old-school gender inferiority have a role to play here? I wish I knew why I found this soo interesting, but I can not seem to get enough info on the topic…

2

Is the Woolfolk book a history-type book or a fictionalization of the legend? I always thought the Pope Joan thing was never really proved, and that robe lifting was never necessary. I just can’t see someone saying “Whip it out, your Eminence.”

3

Er, cough , you learned quite a bit about a Catholic Urban Legend that you had not previously known. But–sorry–you learned nothing about the Papacy.

  1. Pope Joan is an Urban Legend–folklore, not history.

http://www.saint-mike.org/Library/Essays-JohnPaul/Pope_Joan.html

  1. Donna Cross’ novel Pope Joan is a “novel”, i.e. “fiction”, and therefore not a reference work on the Papacy.

  2. Therefore, I’m assuming that no, the papal candidates don’t really have to lift their robes and show their weenies to the College of Cardinals, that that’s just part of the legend.

Somebody else can deal with “why can’t women become priests?”

4

I believe the Pope Joan legend has been debunked. This has to be one of the earliest known urban legends, and after all these centuries it is still going strong.

5

Well Duck I did know this was a novel. and the entire way thru it I thought that this was not based in fact. It was a fun read however. Thanks for the link. Very informative.

phlosphr-> looks around rather sheepishly sincerely hopes the wife misses the post…

6

Please see this thread for information on the issue of women as priests in the Roman Catholic tradition.

  • Rick
7

If you’re interested in the papacy, you might be interested in a novel called, The Shoes of the fisherman" by Morris West.

It is a novel about a fictional pope, and I don’t know how accurate it is, but its a great story. And in it, IIRC, (its been a long time since I read it), the new pope does have to prove his gender.

8

Well, as this thread is so knowledgable, anybody want to comment on the “popes mustn’t be eunuchs, so there’s this special throne with a hole in the seat that a potential pope has to sit in, and bishops look under his robes to make sure he’s got balls” UL?

Cardinalboss

9

Cecil’s debunking. Looking for information on this subject led me to these boards.

10

Uh, wouldn’t the correct form be “Whip it out, your Holiness?”

Tris

“He deserves Paradise who makes his companions laugh.” ~ Koran ~

11

Well, if the Cardinals elected one of their own, and he doesn’t become Pope until he passes the… er… member test, then “Your Eminence” is correct - he’s not the Pope yet.

:slight_smile:

  • Rick
12

Don’t the Cardinals see eachother naked in the shower room after the game?

What?

Oh. not those Cardinals.

d