Pope Francis will name new cardinals early next year. I would like to see such “awards” detached from the episcopacy of large dioceses. But that’s not a dealbraker for me. Cardinals are important guys, and maybe even spiritual ones. But they are not key to the ordinary expression of Christianity.
Bishops, on the other hand, are. Bishops beling, primarily, in their dioceses. Not so much jet-setting to other places. One extra committee, perhaps, at most. But lay people could be doing more of the investigative stuff. ‘Course, they could also be serving in the College of Cardinals.
I wonder if cardinals are more well-vetted these days, making sure that there are no skeletons, as have been outed with no small number of bishops.
Catholic Sensibility 