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Pope appoints German archbishop to lead orthodoxy watchdog (replaces Levada)
Straits Times ^ | July 1, 2012

Posted on 07/02/2012 6:52:19 AM PDT by NYer

VATICAN CITY (AFP) - Pope Benedict XVI on Monday appointed German archbishop Ludwig Muller to head up the Vatican's orthodoxy watchdog, replacing American Cardinal William Levada who is retiring from the post.

The Archbishop of Regensburg in southern Germany, Archbishop Muller has a reputation as a defender of Catholic Orthodoxy and has been criticised by German groups clamouring for change, such as Die Kirche Von Unten' (The Church from below).

A personal friend of the German-born pope, who charged him with publishing his writings, Archbishop Muller is however also known for his long-standing support for Gustavo Guttierez, founder of the socialist Liberation theology movement.

Archbishop Muller, 64, takes over at the helm of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, which plays a key role in the Vatican's governing body, holding the diverse theological initiatives within the global Catholic church to account.


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Religion & Culture; Theology
KEYWORDS: levada; pope

1 posted on 07/02/2012 6:52:27 AM PDT by NYer
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To: netmilsmom; thefrankbaum; Tax-chick; GregB; saradippity; Berlin_Freeper; Litany; SumProVita; ...

Ping!


2 posted on 07/02/2012 6:53:12 AM PDT by NYer (Without justice, what else is the State but a great band of robbers? - St. Augustine)
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To: NYer

“... Archbishop Muller has a reputation as a defender of Catholic Orthodoxy and has been criticised by German groups clamouring for change...Archbishop Muller is however also known for his long-standing support for Gustavo Guttierez, founder of the socialist Liberation theology movement.”

Huh? What? How can that be?


3 posted on 07/02/2012 6:58:52 AM PDT by vladimir998
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To: NYer

This is most excellent news.
I lived in the Regensburg diocese under this man.
We noticed that the city and cathedral events had a very orthodox Mrian and Eucharistic piety. And Msgr. Georg Ratzinger is most certainly present and part of that activity. This I know from my personal network - while dining in my home he prior to the motu proprio, he expressed utter confidence that his brother would restore what we now call the extra-ordinary form of the Mass (a mutual friend of ours concelebrates with the monsignor every day, and that is how ended up eating at my house). The point is, the orthodox priest network is close-knit in that diocese and they were most happy with this bishop. I think this is a good sign. I will be sending this same priest friend an email asking him what to make of it all.


4 posted on 07/02/2012 7:07:38 AM PDT by Notwithstanding (Christ Jesus Victor, Ruler, Lord and Redeemer!)
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To: vladimir998

Yes - inquiring minds want to know. I wonder if that line is as problematic as it seems. I don’t think it is, but we shall see.


5 posted on 07/02/2012 7:11:06 AM PDT by Notwithstanding (Christ Jesus Victor, Ruler, Lord and Redeemer!)
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To: vladimir998

vladimir998:

From what I have gathered, Archbishop Muller has always maintained his defense of Catholic orthdodoxy yet he still, while challenging Guttierez’s Liberation theogy, has maintained a charitable friendship with the former Priest.


6 posted on 07/02/2012 7:25:34 AM PDT by CTrent1564
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To: vladimir998; Notwithstanding; CTrent1564
Some folks in traditional circles are expressing concern:

The German Church

The Holy Father, Benedict XVI, has named Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Bishop of Regensburg, new Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (as well as the related positions of President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, and President of the International Theological Commission), upon accepting the resignation of Cardinal Levada, who reached the age limit.

Bishop (now Archbishop) Müller was born in Mainz, by the Rhine. Our previous posts on Prefect Müller: 

- CDF Succession Watch: a Gutiérrez disciple? 

- In charge of the henhouse? (The fox, we mean. Müller's most remarkable theological opinions.)

- Müller, as the local bishop of the area in which the seminary of the Society of Saint Pius X (FSSPX / SSPX) is located in Bavaria, also threatened those involved in the 2009 ordinations with harsh words, that never really materialized. (Several posts, including this and this.)

Bishop Müller chatting with his friend Fr. Gutiérrez
Update: According to Rodari, Müller's nomination is also meant as a sign of a positive reevaluation of Liberation Theology, of which Müller is an enthusiast, in the Vatican - signaled by an article by Müller himself highlighting "positive" aspects of this dreadful movement published last December in L'Osservatore Romano. Which considering last week's news on the collapse of the Church in Brazil, the one most ravaged by Liberation Theology, probably means people in the Vatican simply cannot understand numbers... Or do they want those numbers?

7 posted on 07/02/2012 7:59:15 AM PDT by Brian Kopp DPM
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