Pope summons all cardinals for discussion on religious freedom, sex abuse, liturgy

Pope Benedict XVI has summoned the members of the College of Cardinals to a special consistory, for a discussion of liturgy, religious freedom, and the sex-abuse scandal.

The Vatican announced that all the world’s cardinals have been invited to “a day of reflection and prayer” on November 19. Most of the world's cardinals would already have made plans to be in Rome on that day, since the following day will see the installation of 24 new members to the College of Cardinals. The newly appointed cardinals will be invited to participate in the discussions, although they will not formally hold the rank of cardinal until the next day.

The special meeting will also discuss the establishment of Anglican-Catholic ordinariates, under the terms of the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus. The Vatican announced plans for the gathering of cardinals on the same day that the Church in England disclosed that five Anglican bishops are resigning from their posts in the Church of England to establish the first such ordinariate.