The Roman Catholic Church, tightly centralised under Pope John Paul, should open up to share power more among its bishops, priests and people, Britain's top cardinal writes in a new book.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, also urged the world's largest church to show more humility with its own flock and take more risks in seeking understanding and unity with other Christians.
"At the Heart of the World," a short volume just published in London that reflects on the challenges facing Catholicism, comes as the 125 cardinals due to elect the next pope look ahead to the era after the ailing Polish pontiff, now 83.
Some thoughts are openly stated, others posed as questions that hint at critical answers. All show a moderate keen to see his 2,000-year-old church march more in time with the times.
Citing reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), he writes: "We need to discover ways of fostering the effective participation of clergy and lay people in synodical or representative bodies within the Roman Catholic Church."
How far this should go is a sensitive issue under such a strong pope and Murphy-O'Connor, 71, approaches it cautiously.
"Has sufficient provision been made to ensure consultation between the pope and local churches before important decisions are made at international or local level?" he asks.
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