Cardinal to talk to Pope on women

Cardinal Basil Hume will discuss with the Pope tomorrow how any move by the Church of England towards ordaining women would affect relations with the Catholic Church.
The details of the proposed talks have not been released but informed sources close to the Cardinal said that he would be carrying out a promise made earlier this year to Dr Donald Coggan, Archbishop of Canterbury. In February the Church of England General Synod decided to postpone a decision on ordaining women until talks had been held with both the Catholic and the Orthodox churches. Dr Coggan told the Synod that Cardinal Hume had agreed to talk to the Pope as soon as possible. Tomorrow's private audience will be the first such meeting since the Pope was elected. The Cardinal is expected to ask for a ruling on whether the Catholic Church's ban on women priests is unchangeable, or whether there might be room for change.
He is not expected to make any statement on the talks until he has had a chance to discuss the matter personally with Dr Coggan. The Anglican leader will be at the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Canada from Monday until May 19.
'Although the issue of the ordination of women will clearly dominate the talks between the Pope and the Cardilnal, it is not thought to be the only matter under discussion. Other questions concerning pastoral needs in Britain are also likely to be considered the sources said.