Cardinal Lehmann’s remarks, ruling out the ordination of women (The Church in the World, 5 October), bear pondering. In the first place, he is able to state, in the new atmosphere created by Pope Francis, that “he personally could imagine [the ordination of women as priests] happening”. I wonder whether he would have said that under the last two Popes, even with the reservations he then adds. An ability to speak openly is a prerequisite for renewal of the Church. Secondly, the principal argument which the cardinal deploys against ordaining women (at least, according to your report) is that “The documents are binding to a very high degree”. So it’s about documents and juridical acts; not a matter of the strength of the arguments that these documents con