Posted on 10/28/2009 4:19:53 PM PDT by NYer
ROME (CNS) -- Dissident theologian Father Hans Kung criticized Pope Benedict XVI for his recent opening to discontented Anglicans, charging the pope was "fishing" for the most conservative Christians to the detriment of the larger church.
Father Kung said the invitation to traditionalist Anglicans to join the Roman Catholic Church went against years of ecumenical work on the part of both churches, calling it instead "a nonecumenical piracy of priests."
The pope's basic message is: "Traditionalists of all churches, unite under the dome of St. Peter's!" Father Kung wrote in an editorial Oct. 28 in the Rome daily La Repubblica.
"Look: The fisherman is fishing above all on the 'right' side of the lake. But the water is muddy," he said.
The Vatican announced Oct. 20 that the pope was establishing a new structure to welcome Anglicans who want to be in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church while maintaining some of their spiritual and liturgical traditions. Many of the Anglicans who have asked the Vatican for such a provision are dismayed by the ordination of women and by the blessing of homosexual unions and the ordination of openly gay bishops in some provinces of the Anglican Communion.
While emphasizing the importance of celibacy for priests, the Vatican said a dispensation would be made for former Anglican priests who are married to be ordained Catholic priests. However, they will not be able to become bishops.
Father Kung, a Swiss theologian who has taught in Germany for decades, warned that married newcomers will cause resentment on the part of celibate Catholic clergy.
In 1979 the Vatican withdrew permission for him to teach as a Catholic theologian, although it did not restrict his ministry as a Catholic priest.
In the editorial, Father Kung also lambasted Pope Benedict's recent efforts to bring back into the fold members of the Society of St. Pius X, a group of breakaway Catholics opposed to the changes in the church following the Second Vatican Council.
"After reintegrating the anti-reformist Society of St. Pius X, now Benedict XVI wants to flesh out the thinning ranks of Roman Catholics with like-minded Anglicans," Father Kung wrote in the editorial.
He also criticized Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury, head of the Anglican Communion, who "in his desire to ingratiate himself with the Vatican apparently didn't understand the consequences of the papal fishing trip in Anglican waters."
Hans K¸ng | Former theologian condemned by the Vatican. |
It's my opinion that that is a large factor in Pope Benedict's decision to do this now. There is a lot riding on how well this goes over the next 3 years or so. I hope he lives long enough to see it through. There is going to be a lot of opposition building in both the Catholic Church and among the Orthodox Churches. He will have to do this carefully.
I think Benedict is one of the greatest minds the papacy has ever seen. We will have to wait and see how good a diplomat he is.
I agree, but remember it was Cardinal Ratzinger that in 1981 was appointed to head the “Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith”. This is when Anglo-Catholics were looking to Rome for an answer to female priests and he was the gate keeper.
The fact that this is not the work of papal whim, but the compilation of 30 years of dialogue gives us hope.
Yes, you are exactly right.
Hans Kung and Joseph Ratzinger were both theology professors at the University of Tübingen circa 1960-68. In response to the tumult of the 1960’s, Kung moved to the liberal side and Ratzinger became more conservative.
I remember how shocked leftie commentators were when the College of Cardinals elected an even more conservative Pope than Paul VI.
Maybe.
Fr. Mitch Pacwa noted the other day that in the past, Catholics who disagreed with the Church's teachings, simply left. Now, he said, they hang around to invite dissident speakers and write slanderous articles. Were they to leave, they would lose all that attention. Good point!
It might be hard for an older guy like Kung to out-dissident the priestesses and bishops in “gay relationships”. Why give yourself the competition?
Freegards
Perfect: Note that the individual in your picture is not wearing clericals ...
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