Head of CDF calls SSPX stupid and claims God is the greatest liberal.

Quoting roughly St Thomas Aquinas (see below). This is a long interview with the Mittelbayerische Zeitung- now complete

Relaxed and at ease, Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller returns a week after his appointment as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to the Diocese of Regensburg. A series of interviews for journalists are on the agenda for Friday: liberation theology, the SSPX and the situation of divorced and remarried. Minefields for an ecclesiastic, who has moved to third place in the Vatican's ecclesiastical pecking order.

Archbishop Mueller, first of all, congratulations on the new job. Since when did you know about your appointment?

I definitely knew it on 16 May, when the Holy Father has summoned me to his presence.

Did your commitment to the liberation theology endangers your appointment?

I do not know. If you know the Catholic faith, we know that to her essentially belong the social obligation, the responsibility for the world, the love of the poor. Liberation theology is a big word - but every Christian theology has something to do with the freedom of man. Also in South America in this context, it is about theological questions: Given the misery and indignity that many people around us can not imagine, given this glaring injustice, we can not simply go away with a pious raising of eyebrows about it. Faith and doing good go together. These are the two sides of a coin.

Are you then in agreement with the Pope?

Total agreement . Not even when he was my predecessor's predecessor in the CDF did he put liberation theology in its entirety in question, but some aspects which I fully underline. Liberation theology is not a loose mix of communism and the Catholic faith. Theology, if it is to be Catholic, you must find out an answer from his own sources. The social teaching of the Catholic Church has proven to be far superior to the Marxist analysis. We do not want a society that is divided into rich and poor, and in which one has access to education, and not the other. Workers and employers must not act against each other as pure interest groups, but they must all be committed to the common good. Even against the rampant commercialization of all aspects of life we must be critical: the economy is there for people, not vice versa.

You have been declared, in respect of such words, to be among the liberals. Did that surprise you?

Oh well. Saint Thomas Aquinas says, "Deus maxime liberalis est - God is the Greatest Liberal". (Cathcon- normally translated as “God therefore is in the highest degree liberal” to ensure that there is no conflation of the ideas of liberality with the practice of liberalism in any sense). In the original sense is liberalis is liberally and generously. " In this sense, I love being a liberal.

(Cathcon- one waits for years for the Head of the CDF to quote St Thomas and he is now used in such a poor way)

You have always been very critical of the SSPX. Now, you are responsible as Prefect for the return of the fallen-away Society into the bosom of the Church. How difficult is it? 

The negotiations of the Vatican with the SSPX brothers are friendly, Christian and humane, but clearly in formation. Who wants to become Catholic again must recognise the authority of the Pope and the bishops (Cathcon- the SSPX certainly think they both are Catholic and recognise the authority of the Pope. Big misunderstanding from Mueller which is at variance with various Vatican statements of recent years). No one should think that they can impose his own ideas of the Catholic Church. The talks in Rome are not negotiations between two parties. No religious fraternity may impose conditions of the church. 

 The negotiations between the SSPX with the Vatican have been going on since January 2009. How much more time is needed.

Eventually, the "point of no return" is coming and they must decide: Do they wish for the unity of the Church? This includes the acceptance of the form and content of the Second Vatican Council, and the previous and subsequent statements and decisions of the Magisterium. There is no other way. (Cathcon- he seems to be deliberately tearing up bridges that have already been built). 

The main criticism of the SSPX is the Second Vatican Council's- the permission for Masses in the local language instead of Latin. Is there any leeway? 

What can be granted, is that which actually belongs to the diversity of the Catholic faith and life. The liturgical reform of Vatican II was factually correct and necessary. One cannot issue polemic against it just because there are abuses.

The SSPX have just designated you again as a heretic, that is, as one who has fallen from the faith.
(see for background SSPX calls on new head of CDF to retract heretical views)

I must not give an answer to every stupidity. (Cathcon- image what the response had been if the SSPX had issued a press release calling the Archbishop dumb.  Mutual respect is needed for dialogue, as the Vatican is only too quick to point out in other ecumenical dialogues).

In Germany, discussed the admission of remarried divorcees to Communion is discussed. What do you think?

The same as the Pope. The lesson is clear: A valid marriage between Christians is indissoluble, and includes the promise of lifelong fidelity. We also need to see the injuries to children of divorced parents. They are deeply shocked when suddenly a parent is away and a strange man or a strange woman sits in the apartment. We therefore need to scrutinize a mentality that sees the promise of marriage and family formation too loosely.


Are there no concessions? 


We also recognize the difficult situation of the spouses in a mixture of guilt, which is not always equally distributed. The parish priest can see in the assessment of the individual situation of reasons how to respond. But the judgement would be wrong: If I cannot go to Communion, I am nothing in the Church. But this is not the whole Catholic faith. The central part of the Mass is the Eucharistic Prayer and the saving mystery of Jesus Christ. We are committed to the celebration of the Mass, but not every time to go to Communion, although the Frequent Communion is desirable and useful. 


 You strengthen the German faction in Rome. What does this mean for the national mix? 


In the CDF, about 15 nations work together. We are the world church, so its a colourful little nation with many languages. The languages do not separate us after Pentecost not but lead us together in the spirit of God. I'm still grateful that God has so ordained it that I grew up into the German language and culture. But of course, this is not to be seen as naive patriotism - or as a rivalry in the sense of who is now better. 


 After your departure a successor is sought as Regensburg Bishop. Passau is also vacant. Will you play an open role or behind the scenes? 


Episcopal appointments are an important matter. There is not a power struggle behind the scenes, in the way that it is often portrayed. When it comes to people, a discreet process is needed. This has nothing to do with secrecy. What qualities does a bishop of Regensburg need? For the Bishops must someone be found to be suitable or be considered fit. Although there can never be the ideal candidate, because we people always go through life as a mixture of ideal and empirical reality. But of course he must be clearly based in Catholic faith and belief and also able to proclaim this. He must have or acquire leadership skills. As a personality he must be able to give little something without getting a cold in every breeze. The bishops office also means conflict. The understandable human desire to be recognized by all as the nice uncle is not the best basis for a good appointment. 


 Do you expect a very long transition period in Regensburg? 


 I hope that it will be decided this year. In August and September are initially holidays, but after that the full procedure goes into action. Are there suitable candidates? They is no lack. One must also pay attention to the 2014 Catholic Congress in Regensburg . There is speculation over the Bishop of Eichstätt, Gregor Maria Hanke, the Augsburg Bishop Anton Losinger, the founding director of the Pope Benedict Institute, Rudolf Voderholzer and the Director of the Shrine of Maria Vesperbild, William Imkamp. 


Who is favorite? 


 I would rather say nothing about names. I am also not the person appointing the new bishop. That happens via the Nuncio in Germany. But of course they will ask me. It is important that continuity is maintained. There are objective guidelines, which were started by my predecessor, Bishop Manfred Müller - whether in the field of schools, the cathedral choir, in the many charitable organizations, or in our activities for the disabled. That cannot be wound back in any way. 


 In the interim, Provost Wilhelm Gegenfurtner is undertaking "the role of the bishop during transition" . Were you surprised by his election by the chapter? 


I think we were all surprised. 


 Finally, personal questions: How did it happen that the pope gave you his old cardinal's apartment in Rome? 


I think there that all were amazed. But the Pope has given it spontaneously, entrusting me the appartment - even the books that are still there, and some other things. These will be made available in accordance with his wishes to our "Benedict Institute" in Regensburg, which is responsible for publishing the works of Joseph Ratzinger. 


 Can he visit you in his old apartment? 


I will ask about that 


 Do you remain despite your move to Rome, a Regensburger? 


I am Bishop Emeritus of Regensburg. In this respect, this is my home Diocese. When I come to Germany, it's my first stop. 


 You're a big football fan and have been sighted many times at the games of the SSV Jahn in Regensburg . 


Are you looking for a new club in Italy – how about the Lazio? 


I am a member of the Curia, but not Bishop of Rome, so I do not have to support the Italian teams. 


When I visit home, I remain faithful to the SSV Jahn. 


 You have been Archbishop for week. 


When will you become a Cardinal? 


Only the Holy Father knows that.


End of interview

SSPX calls on new head of CDF to retract his heretical positions

Presseerklärung zur Ernennung von Bischof Müller- Press statement from SSPX Germany

The Church has always regarded it as one of its most important tasks to faithfully defend the deposit of the Faith entrusted to her by Christ and the Apostles and to defend it against errors, in order to be able to pass it on intact to future generations. Rightly so, the post of Prefect of the Congregation is one of the highest offices in the Church.

The Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X in Germany has therefore been taken by surprise that the Bishop of Regensburg, Gerhard Ludwig Müller, was appointed to this office. The SSPX wonders whether a man is suitable for office who has in his writings and public speeches repeatedly offended against Catholic doctrine.

The following points are:

Bishop Müller denies in his book The Mass - source of Christian life , the real transubstantiation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. Bread and wine remain according to him what they are but are the means to integrate the believers in the community of life with Father and Son. This is similar to the Calvinist doctrine that the bread and wine are not changed, but are a means of grace.[1]

Contrary to the Catholic teaching that the transubstantiation of the gifts is accomplished by the utterance of the words "This is my body ... This is the cup of my blood,"[2] Bishop Mueller says, the question of the precise point of the change has "theologically no real meaning."[3]

Bishop Mueller denies in his dogmatic teaching the doctrine of the virginity of Mary at birth,[4] and also the doctrine that Mary gave birth to her son without injury to her physical integrity.[5]

(Cathcon- I can always send the new CDF a copy of Mariologia by Father Benedictus Henricus Merkelbach OP. It has three extensive chapters on these matters. 

 The first begins

Dogma fidei est Matrem Dei fuisse Virginem ante partem et in ipsa conceptione Filii sui

(it is a dogma of the Faith that the Mother of God remained a Virgin before birth and in the Conception of her Son.

The second

Dogma fidei est Matrem Dei esse virginem in partu

(it is a dogma of the Faith that the Mother of God remained a Virgin at birth)

The third

Dogma fidei est Matrem Dei esse virginem post partu

(it is a dogma of the Faith that the Mother of God remained a Virgin after birth)

In summary!

Triplex Virginitas Mariae scil ante partum, in partu, est post partum est de fide.

He can return it only if a a letter is attached saying that he gives assent to the teaching of the Church in all ages but our own).

In a eulogy for the Protestant Bishop Dr Johannes Friedrich, Bishop Müller said on 11October 2011: "The Christians who are not in full communion with the teaching, the means of salvation as well as the apostolic and episcopal constitution of the Catholic Church, are justified by faith and baptism and incorporated fully into God's Church as the Body of Christ. "This contradicts the whole Catholic tradition and in particular the teaching of Pope Pius XII in Mystici corporis.

Contrary to the Catholic doctrine of the necessity of conversion to the Catholic Church, as the Second Vatican Council taught explicitly,[6]  Bishop Müller said in the same speech that the so-called "ecumenism of return" to be "absurd".

The SSPX would urgently ask Bishop Mueller to make a statement on these controversial positions and to correct them. There are no personal aversions, which lead to the SSPX to take this attitude, but simply the desire for pure preaching of the doctrine of the Faith.

As Bishop Müller has in recent years also made no secret of his negative attitude towards the SSPX, the SSPX sees further no positive signal of the willingness to discuss the question of the canonical recognition. She hopes that the new prefect - may find a more positive attitude towards the SSPX - in the context of discussions within the universal Church.

Father Matthias Gaudron, SSPX dogmatic theologian

[1]

"In reality, the body and blood of Christ does not mean the physical components of the man Jesus during his lifetime or in the glorified corporeality. Body and blood of Christ's presence here means rather having the character of the medium of bread and wine. "... We have" fellowship with Jesus Christ now, mediated by the food and drink of the bread and wine. Alone in inter-personal relations can something like a letter of friendship between the people be established and at the reception, one can say the affection of the addressee can be seen and embodied. "(The Mass - source of Christian life , Augsburg, St. Ulrich Publisher: 2002, pp. 139 f )

[2]

Cf The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paras 1375, 1377

[3]

The Mass- source of Christian life, page 142

[4]

Cf The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paras 499, 510

[5]

"It's not about different physiological features in the natural process of birth (something such as the none opening of the birth canal, non-infringement of the hymen and the not occurrance of birth pains), but the healing and redeeming influence of the grace of the Saviour on human Nature, which was injured by original sin. The contents of doctrinal statements ... does derive from on physiological and empirically verifiable somatic Details "(Catholic dogma for study and in practice, Freiburg 5, 2003, p 498). In truth, the traditional teaching even still maintains such physiological peculiarities.

[6]

"Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it, or to remain in it. " (Lumen Gentium 14).

Why did the Pope appoint the new head of the CDF?

RORATE CÆLI: Müller speaks: The Church, a house of many rooms:

Archbishop Müller gives his first interview- in full at link above.

KNA: Archbishop, what is your feeling regarding your appointment?

Müller: Gratitude for the confidence that the pope has in me. It is not an easy task, considering the whole universal Church; but it is a beautiful assignment to be able to serve the pope in his teaching office. The position has a universal ecclesiastic dimension – and has nothing to do with centralisation.

KNA: When did you learn that you would be going to Rome?

Müller: Some time ago. But the change of office needs to run its ordered course.

KNA: Do you know why the pope has appointed you? Did he want a German, a theologian, someone he trusted?

Müller: It certainly wasn’t about nationality, and as Catholics we all belong to the universal Church. But the Holy Father knows me, and my theological work, not only as an author, but also as an expert of the Synod of Bishops in Rome and in the committees of Ecumenism and Faith of the German Bishops’ Conference."

'via Blog this'

New head of CDF reinstated convicted child molester

German bishop apologises over paedophile priest | Reuters

Never mind Bishop Williamson who the Vatican regretted not googling, they should have googled the new head of the CDF

"A German Catholic bishop apologised on Friday for reinstating a convicted child molester priest who was charged with a similar crime last month.

Peter Kramer, a priest in the Bavarian town of Riekofen, was arrested on August 30 on suspicion of sexually abusing a minor.

He was convicted of child molestation in 2000, but underwent therapy, received a clean bill of mental health and was reinstated by Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Mueller in 2004."

For a lengthy report on this lamentable tale of cover-up and incompetence.

New Head of CDF on record. Four SSPX bishops should resign and close their seminary

Catholic Church Conservation: Regensburg Bishop- All four SSPX bishops should resign and the SSPX seminary should close

"The SSPX bishops should resign"

The Regensburg Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Mueller about the prohibition of the Holocaust denier, Williamson in his diocese, and what he wants from the Society of St Pius X.

In the diocese the Society of St Pius X runs a Seminary - Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller (left) wants to close it down.

ZEIT ONLINE: The lifting of the excommunication of the Bishop and Holocaust denier Williamson will continue to cause protest. Surely Pope Benedict knew about this beforehand?

Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller: Outwardly the Pope bears the responsibility. But critical for a lifting of excommunication is the internal process, the work of the committees. I do not believe that the Pope knew about the views of Bishop Williamson knew. Pope Benedict, in a generous gesture opened his arms

ZEIT ONLINE How did he decide on this gesture?

Muller: The Pope received an urgent request from the SSPX for the excommunication to be annulled. It was from him a generous act to reach out a hand to a group standing at the border of the Church. The pope in no way signals an agreement with the anti-Semitism of Williamson and other members of the SSPX. Their statements differ from the principles of the Catholic Church.

ZEIT ONLINE: Nevertheless, the Catholic Church and the Pope are in a bad position, because a Holocaust denier seems to be rehabilitated..

Müller: Christ has not redeemed the people and founded the faith communities of Christians so that we now discriminate against other religions. The statements of Williamson are unsustainable and do not have a sense that a true Catholic can represent. Such statements must be rejected with all resolution possible. In addition, a rehabilitation cannot be talked about ...

The bishop of Regensburg, Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, asks the SSPX to follow the procedures of canon law.

ZEIT ONLINE: Why not?

Müller: The bishops and priests are not rehabilitated, the Pope is merely responding to their desire to come to lift the excommunication. Now we have to assess whether they even meet the requirements, which the Catholic Church places on its priests.

ZEIT ONLINE: Is the censure of Bishop Williamson which has been issued by the General Superior of the SSPX enough?

Mueller: No, this is not enough. After removal of the excommunication, Bishop Williamson is under the authority of the Pope - not that of his superiors. The Holy Father will decide what happens with the bishop. I recommend the SSPX free themselves from such persons.

ZEIT ONLINE: You have banned Bishop Williamson from institutions in your diocese banned. How did it happen?

Muller: It was a rather symbolic act, with which I wanted to show that the Catholic Church has nothing to do with Williamson’s theories and also with anti-Semitism. He denied the holocaust in the seminary of Zaitzkofen of the SSPX which is located near Regensburg, have denied the Holocaust. The diocese of Regensburg is distancing themselves.

ZEIT ONLINE: How is it with the seminary Zaitzkofen and Pius Brotherhood in Germany go?

Müller: The SSPX must fully return to the ground of the Catholic Church and recognise the authority of the Pope, the decisions of the Second Vatican Council and recognize existing canon law. If they do, they also accept that the seminary of Zaitzkofen falls under the supervision of the Diocese of Regensburg. The seminary should be closed and the students should go to seminaries in their home countries - if they are suitable for this purpose.

ZEIT ONLINE: So far, the SSPX of regular protests by bishops geschert little. Do you think that this is different now?

Müller: Everything else would be a deception. I have witten a letter to the Vatican and asked for the legal status of the seminary of Zaitzkofen to be verified. Even the Constitution of the SSPX should be critically considered by canon lawyers.

ZEIT ONLINE: What does it mean for the SSPX, if they really unconditionally recognize the authority of the Pope?

Müller: The priests who were consecrated illegally, have no more obligation to obey their bishops, but onlythe Pope. A French bishop of the SSPX us at Rome, of the special teaching his group to follow - this is absurd. A bishop's office should not be misused for speaking personal political views to the detriment of the Church.

ZEIT ONLINE: The representatives of the SSPX have following the lifting of the excommunication have shown themselves not exactly grateful- alongside anti-Semitic statements were also calls to the Vatican to take back reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

Mueller: It seems to me as if there are within the SSPX still strong reservations against the Second Vatican Council. If the group does not keep their promises to the Pope, it working under a false pretense.

ZEIT ONLINE: Can the SSPX be easily integrated into the Catholic Church?

Müller: The theological views of SSPX deviate in part from the Catholic Church. And politically, they are for ideas, which we reject. In France, there are links of the SSPX to the extreme right. From these the SSPX must clearly dissociate themselves.

ZEIT ONLINE: What is now going to happen to the SSPX bishops after the excommunication?

Müller: The illegal Episcopal consecration canot lead to a receipt of office. The bishop is a minister of unity. The four Archbishop Lefebvre consecrated bishops do not have the aptitude for this office.

ZEIT ONLINE: What do you expect now from the bishops of the SSPX?

Müller: The four bishops of the SSPX should all resign and in political and no longer comment on ecclesiastical policy issues. They should lead an exemplary life as a simple priest and chaplain as part of the reparation for the damage that the schism has caused.

Poacher turned gamekeeper put in charge of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

kreuz.net – Ein hartgesottener Ketzer wird Präfekt der Glaubenskongregation\

He insulted the mother of God, the Eucharist and the Church. It is a foretaste of what is to come from the post-conciliar church headed by Benedict XVI (Cathcon- small modification of the text here as kreuz.net expressed themselves in rather more vivid terms than I would be prepared- but the catastrophe of this appointment cannot be hidden, along with the appointment of Annibale Bugnini's reincarnation, Bishop Roche to be Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship- although Bugnini for all his grave errors had studied the liturgy very thoroughly)

Today at noon is the Vatican announced the appointment of the Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller of Regensburg, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (Cathcon- removed the adjective heretical- but with these views he would have stayed a parish priest in all ages but our own). The future Cardinal is known for his irascible nature. He is an ice-cold careerist, to whom no truth is sacred (Cathcon- surely an exaggeration but see below). His doctorate and postdoctoral thesis were supervised by the arch-liberal theologian, Cardinal Karl Lehmann (Cathcon- who was a research assistant to Karl Rahner).  His doctoral thesis dealt with the protestant God-is-dead theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer († 1945) (Cathcon- again we are dealing with post-war German traumas about religion- of which a significant part of the post-conciliar world is an expression) . In 1986, the future Bishop Müller became Professor of Dogmatics at the decaying University of Munich.

Virginity does not mean virginity

In his book Catholic dogma : the study and practice of theology, he denies the dogma of the virginity of Mary.  The Virgin Birth is "not about the different physiological features in the natural process of birth (things such as the opening of the birth canal, the lack of damage to the hymen and the lack of birth pains), but the healing and redeeming influence of the grace of the Saviour on human nature. " 

The Body of Christ is not the Body of Christ in 2002, the Bishop in his work, "The Mass - source of Christian life" denied the transubstantiation of the Host during Holy Mass. He said that the Sacrament should not be described as "Body and Blood." This leads to "misunderstandings." Otherwise, one would think, "flesh and blood stood here for the physical and biological components of the historical person Jesus." It "also does not simply mean the glorified body of the risen Lord." 

(Cathcon- hopefully the Bishop still maintains the identity of the Sacrifice of the Mass with that on Calvary, save that the Sacrifice is not bloody. This latter is not to say that Our Lord is not truly present in flesh and blood- lest there be any misunderstanding of my own position)

Transubstantiation is not transubstantiation 

The Communion creates "unity with Jesus Christ, mediated by eating and drinking of the bread and wine. Alone in inter-personal relations can something like a letter between the people be established and at the reception, one can say the affection of the addressee can be seen and embodied. " Bread and wine are only "signs of his saving presence." “

Müller sees this as transubstantiation

"'The essential understanding of bread and wine must be established anthropologically. The natural character of these gifts [bread and wine] as the fruit of the earth and of human labour, as the expressioin of natural and cultural product which illustrates the nutrition and strengthening of the people and society under the sign of the common meal. " This "natural essence of the bread and wine" would be "transformed by God in this sense that the essence of the bread and wine now display and realise the salvific communion with God." 

(Cathcon- this belief is Lutheran and can only be considered Catholic on a good day).

The Church is not the Church 

On 11October 2011 held the belief Bock offers a eulogy for the former Bavarian Protestant Bishop Johannes Friedrich who tolerated homosexual partners for his clergy. He asserted here that Catholics and Protestants "are united in what we call the visible church" It was no longer a case of churches side by side, but that Protestants were a "division within the church".

Everything is distorted

Mons. Müller contradicted the document 'Dominus Jesus' of the Congregation of 6 August 2000. . This document must not be understood literally. The statement that the protestant community, is "not at all a church" is is "not theologically correct." - says the Bishop.

 'Dominus Jesus' only describes the difference between a Protestant regional church and a Catholic diocese -. allegedly without judging them , "The Catholic magisterium" - Msgr. Muller said herself - was "far from denying" that Protestants were a church.

(Cathcon- one is reminded of Cardinal Hume's comments that the statement that homosexual activity was intrinsically disordered in the Letter to the Bishops on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons sounded unintentionally harsh in English translation from the Latin.

One cannot hold out much hope for further clarification of the notorious phrase subsistit in while Bishop Müller is at the CDF. It now means all things to all people and remarkably came from the pen of Father Sebastian Tromp SJ, who was nothing if not a conservative of great learning. He was clear that the meaning of subsistit was close to identity, however in the post-conciliar world one is reminded of Alice in Wonderland

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less."

"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."

"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master - that's all."

Through the Looking Glass.

Now that Bishop Müller is master of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, one can only entertain enormous fears about the meaning he will put on the words of the great dogmas of the Faith.

One has to add to this charge list that Bishop is sympathetic to liberation theology- more soon on this- which makes the appointment even stranger from a Pope that did all in his power to suppress this pseudo-communist error which hymns the revolution and even armed struggle.

Echoing kreuz.net at the beginning of this post, one has to wonder in which direction points the church apart from downward. Rather than reconciling traditionalists, the better to fight against the modernists in the Church, the Pope seems just to wish to institutionalise the decisions of the revolution of Vatican II.   What remains of the reform of the reform programme with this appointment to the CDF?

In this way, he is playing the same role that Napoleon did in the aftermath of the French Revolution. In Mexico, the Party of Perpetual Revolution, which dominated politics for decades until it was evicted from power ten years ago is about to return to power. 

 In the post-conciliar times, the representatives of perpetual ecclesiastical revolutionary reform have been in power in the Catholic Church and have reached this apotheosis in Bishop, soon to be Cardinal Müller. The problem with the revolutionary thesis is illustrated by the mob who stormed Versailles in the French Revolution- they had arrived at their great goal. They stood in awe and wonderment and as they could not think of anything else to do, and they were not barbarian enough to sack the place, they went home.

Post-scriptum

I have based my own headline above, on various translations of kreuz.net's earlier headline about the new prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Der Regensburger Bock wird Gärtner im Glaubensgarten

The dictionary gives various meanings for the latter.

The Regensburg fox in charge of the henhouse of the faith

The Regensburg fox to guard the faithful geese

It can also mean getting a thief to catch a thief and a less likely meaning, trust the cat to get the cream. They also call the appointment a useless capitulation- and I would add to the spirit of these sad times.


Lots more background to this appointment

Major shake-up expected at the top in the Vatican

Vatikan - Personalwechsel: Neuer Chef der Glaubenskongregation? - Ausland - Politik - Hamburger Abendblatt

Nearly a dozen senior leadership positions are filled with dignitaries beyond the retirement age of 75. Will the Curia become more international?

In the Vatican, a number of high ranking staff changes are awaited. Among them, it is not for certain that the Cardinal Secretary of State will remain in office, who is currently the focus of the "Vatileaks" attack. But there are currently almost a dozen senior positions with occupied by dignitaries above the pensionable age of 75. And even if no relationship between leaks scandal and retirement exists, the appointment will this time attract special attention. In addition, it will be possible to observe whether the Curia becomes more Italian or more international  For in the discussion about "Vatileaks", the influence and work of the Italians plays a significant role.

Already at the weekend, Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of the librarian and archivist of the "Holy Roman Church," Cardinal Raffaele Farina (78). It is unusual that at the same time a successor was not appointed and was due to complications. For the office, which usually goes to a deserving elderly member of the Curia, has already has been turned down more than once, it is heared.

Of course, the focus of interest is the CDF whose prefect, William Levada on Friday was 76 years old and who is known to be tired of office. It is unclear however, whether Benedict XVI will undertake the change in office prior to a decision on the SSPX, which could drag on. As a candidate for the succession to Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, Canadian Marc Ouellet (68) is cited, or the Italian-American Joseph Augustine Di Noia (68), who is currently secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments . The President of the Family Council, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli (75), who has just organized with much bravado Milan's World Family Day, can reckon on an extension of office.

In contrast, Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata, secretary of thePontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue , who was seventy-five in January , is expected soon soon to retire. The same applies to his fellow-countryman and Deputy Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples , Pierluigi Vacchelli. The vacant post of "Third Man" at the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples has been filled last Tuesday. In place of Massimo Cenci, who died suddenly, the Pope appointed a native of Sri Lanka, theologian Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage.

Long unoccupied is the post of the Under Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity . Staff changes are expected in the medium term In the management of the ecclesiastical courts. A native of Poland Antoni Stankiewicz, Dean of the Roman Rota, reached the age of seventy-five in October 2010. Gianfranco Girotti, "Regent" of the Apostolic Penitentiary reached that age limit in April.

The question remains, in the context of the upcoming appointments, how much the representation of Italians will change in the Curia. In the "small government departments," the pontifical councils, there are Italian Presidents in half (six out of twelve), in one third of the congregations (three out of nine) - more than at the beginning of the pontificate of Benedict XVI in 2005. In the College of Cardinals, there are 30 Italians in the 124 potential participants in the next conclave.

The German-speaking countries under the Bavarian Pope are represented at the top of the Curia with only one head of department (the Swiss Cardinal Kurt Koch, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity), a secretary (the German Bishop Josef Clemens,  Pontifical Council for the Laity ) and an Under-Secretary (Monsignor Udo Breitbach, Congregation for Bishops)

Therefore, the speculation about a move to Rome of the Regensburg Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Mueller (64) is particularly persistent. Vatican experts already saw him in half a dozen different high offices from the Congregation for Bishops to the Congregation for Catholic Education, even including the archives( Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church), The Vatican expert for the magazine "L'Espresso" Sandro Magister mentioned the theologian who is competent in several languages even for the "pole position" of the CDF.

The guessing game wassparked by the recent appointment of Mueller as a member of two other Vatican agencies. He has thus four Roman tasks - and is committed to the Vatican more than some cardinals who live in Rome. The question remains whether this signals an imminent move to the Eternal City - or whether the Pope would like to bind him more closely to Rome, because he (initially) will remain in his German diocese.

Vicious power struggle in the Vatican

Machtkampf im Vatikan – Benedikts XVI. Plan diesen zu beenden – Neuer Staatssekretär? › Katholisches

Power struggle in the Vatican which Pope Benedict XVI plans to end - New Secretary of State?

A book, published in Italy is creating unrest in the Vatican and has made Pope Benedict XVI angry, which is the new publication "Santità Sua "(Holiness) by Gianluigi Nuzzi. In it were numerous confidential letters directed to the pope and his personal secretary, Monsignor Georg Gänswein. About such a breach of trust and violation of privacy, the Pope is furious. The Vatican announced on Saturday that it is initiating legal proceedings for "theft" and "receiving stolen goods". Legal proceedings have been started already within and outside the Vatican.

Code name "Mary" - behind the theft, the people around Cardinal Sodano are suspected

The journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi said that "Maria" was his source. Hidden behind this code name are several people who - according to the author - have smuggled documents from the Vatican which bring to light facts hidden by the Vatican State.

The Vatican looks quite differently on what is being sold as "noble deed" in the "struggle against dark forces" . There one sees the release of confidential documents in a power struggle of the old guard who turned against the appointment of non-diplomat Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone as Secretary of State for the Vatican State. The culprits of the confidential data theft were suspected to be supporters of Bertone's predecessor Cardinal Angelo Sodano.

Bertone's appointment was not accepted by the "old guard"

Cardinal Sodano is a different figure to his successor in the prestigious Diplomatic Academy at the Piazza Minerva in Rome. It is not that Cardinal Sodano is himself accepted as an initiator of the leak, but certainly his immediate people. The public dissemination of the leaks has only one purpose: to discredit the incumbent Secretary of State Cardinal Bertone and, ultimately, to affect Pope Benedict XVI himself.

Many of the letters published in Nuzzis book are strictly confidential. The secretary of the Pope, after he had read them will have passed them from the papal apartment to the State Secretariat. There, someone has crept in, made photocopies and passed them on. The leak come from far up in the hierarchy of the Vatican State. At least the perpetrator acted with conscious or unconscious cover. Only then can one explain how easily they moved in the smallest state in the world.

Commission anticipates rapid investigation

An ad-hoc commission formed under the leadership of Cardinal Julian Herranz, Josef Tomko and Salvatore de Giorgi to give a name to the leak and bring to light the person who committed this "outrageous" and "criminal breach of trust". Investigations are already underway. It is expected that those responsible will be quickly determined. The range of persons who have access to confidential documents in the archives of the Secretariat of State is very small.

Diplomats against the Salesian

The new style of government by the Secretary of State Cardinal Bertone which can be summed up with the formula "less diplomacy and more Gospel" angered the previous team. This was increased by several errors made by the new Cardinal Secretary of State, especially in the first five years of the reign of Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinal Bertone had not supported enough the prophetic intellectual momentum of the Pope and made it visible within and beyond the Church. Above all, he gave preference within the Roman curia to Salesians when appointing to posts that traditionally were in the hands of Vatican diplomats The Cardinal Secretary of State is himself a Salesian of Don Bosco. His desire to surround himself with people he trusts is natural. The newly appointed are distinguished in academic qualifications, but they have no diplomatic experience. The split between the new and the old guard has been deepened

The appointment of the Bishop of Savona, Domenico Calcagno, as apostolic administrator of the Holy See, the Bishop of Vercelli, Giuseppe Versaldi, prefect for Economic Affairs and the rector of the Salesian University, Enrico Dal Covolo, to the Pontifical Lateran University, while these three are undoubtedly qualified for these tasks, caused the old team anger. And it seems that the anger was so great that they wanted the new Secretary of State to feel it. In this context, the nominations of the Pope, which concerned his closest circle, became the object of criticism. There were the new secretaries, of course, who brought their own way of working and the women who lead the papal household. John Paul II was cared for by nuns, but Benedict XVI prefers consecrated laity of Memores Domini, as the Vaticanist Paolo Rodari notes

Viganò made the power struggle public

The case of Viganò exemplifies the grave internal struggle and allowed it for the first time to be openly visible to the outside. Afterwards blows were returned and are thus likely to be directly related. Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, a faithful follower of the former Secretary of State Cardinal Sodano, Secretary of the Governorate since 2009, the Papal States, was removed in October 2011 before the expiration of his term of office in the Roman Curia. Viganò, number two in the administrative office of the Papal States, wanted to become the new governor and competed to succeed Cardinal Lajolo. Instead, he was deported to the post of nuncio to the United States of America.

The ambassadorship is one of the most prestigious in the world, but Viganò did not wish his "deportation" to occur without comment. Probably in the hope of being able to prevent his transfer, the Curial Archbishop let off his the first "bomb". He wrote several letters to among others, Secretary of State Cardinal Bertone and Pope Benedict XVI in which he gave the names of those whom he claimed had placed him in a bad light with the goal of doing him a disservice The letter to Cardinal Bertone was leaked to the media and read in the television broadcast of journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi , who has since published a book. The appointment of Viganò to the US looks ill-fated. Especially now that the bishops are engaged against President Obama in a bitter struggle for religious freedom.

The "old guard" campaigned for Viganò

Viganò claimed in the letter that he had been removed because he wanted to take action against "bad apples" who had allegedly been lining their own pocket behind the back of the Pope. He did not forget to note that these "apples" stood close to the Secretary of State Cardinal Bertone. But there is nothing more could be done.

The Pope had decided that Viganò after his two strongly worded letters which immediately appeared in the media, and probably because of it, should leave Rome. He had to go although in his favour, and ultimately against Secretary of State Bertone, several important cardinals had offered support who invariably belonged to the old guard of John Paul II and who had prevailed mainly in the last years of his pontificate. Among them was Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the former prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, who was regarded in 2006 as a possible successor to Sodano as Cardinal Secretary of State, Cardinal Georges Cottier, theologian of the Pontifical House, and especially Cardinal Agostino Cacciavillan who sent the Pope an urgent letter, and is also a close companion of Cardinal Sodano.

Benedict XVI resolute advocate of transparency should be discredited as "coverer-up"

One purpose of the publicly leaked documents was also to discredit Pope Benedict XVI. The Pope, who more than any other supported since the beginning of his pontificate transparency and internally insisted on several occasions tackling unpleasant and painful affairs openly and aggressively, and not only supported this in the paedophile scandal but also implemented it with new rules is placed by the indiscretions which have a distortionary character as someone who puts the brake on and covers up. Whoever committed this breach of trust, reckons on the anti-religious reflections of many journalists.

"New Guard" does not give the expected backing of Pope

The truth is quite different. Behind the back of the Pope, two groups of the Roman Curia are in a bitter struggle against each other: the old guard, which Benedict XVI. wanted to overthrow after his election and the new guard, in which he placed his confidence, but which has not yet repaid that trust in reality. From it, he has not received the hoped-for support to strengthen the reform and renewal plan that Pope Benedict XVI envisions for the Church and with which he wants to equip the church for the third millennium.

These include profound reorientation such as in Europe taking leave of the traditional idea of a national church. It seems that different, heterodox old forces want desperately to hold on to the idea. To some extent they also include the paradox of "grassroots" groups that adorn themselves with the label of radical reformers. The Pope sees on the other hand faithful Catholics as a minority in Europe and ventures to speak for them in contrast to bishops and lay representatives . He sees his task is to strengthen the minority and not to indulge in the fiction of a national church, which no longer exists.

The Pope actually the victim of intrigue - appointment of a new Cardinal Secretary of State?

Pope Benedict XVI is the real victim of scheming game. But the Pope differently from that commonly assumed is a strong man of action. His understanding of many things is different from prevailing ideas. The Roman Curia is close to new structural reform including the appointment of a new Cardinal Secretary of State. As a candidate for the office of the Vatican's "prime minister", the French Archbishop Dominique Mamberti is discussed. Mamberti, currently Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Secretariat of State, and thus "foreign minister" of the Holy See is a member of the Diplomatic Corps. He is said to possess the ability to work well with both factions This peace, the Pope needs as a prerequisite for his renewal program. Thus, with this as well as the appointment of a new prefect of the CDF, two key changes are in the offing.

Pope plans to fundamental transformation of the Roman Curia

Pope Benedict XVI last Wednesday took advantage of the Wednesday meeting of theCDF at which the future of the SSPX was discussed to receive the Regensburg Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Muller in audience. Personnel decisions have not been taken neither for the one nor for the other post been taken. Completely other names for the Secretary of State and the CDF could arise.

Who will be head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith?

Nachfolge im Vatikan: Konkurrenz für Müller

Long has the name of Gerhard Ludwig Mueller been discussed in the Vatican as successor to Cardinal William Levada as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. But now another strong contender has emerged: Marc Ouellet is already prefect of a Congregation.

It is always very different from what the newspaper say which seems to be an ecclesiastical law. Noone suggested Reinhard Marx would eventually be Cardinal in Munich. And also that Rainer Maria Woelki would be Cardinal in Berlin, who would have guessed? Exactly - not a single journalist. It is striking however that the name of the Regensburg Bishop Gerhard Ludwig is always under discussion. No wonder, because the cleric has apparently the one hand, the highest reputation with the Pope as a theologian, and on the other hand, he has fought with the Left in the Church - the man has been written about many times when it comes to promotion.

This time when Mueller came back on the agenda, at the beginning it was looking really good for him. The post for which he was discussed is probably the second highest in the Curia. Mueller was to succeed Cardinal William Levada, the supreme guardian of faith and successor as prefect of the Holy Inquisition, which post Joseph Ratzinger also occupied. The left wing media created an thunderstorm and you thought: Aha, this time, he will be raised to the Cardinal's purple.

But Mueller has apparently superior competition for the post. In the meantime, the name of the Canadian native from Quebec who is prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, Cardinal Marc Ouellet is discussed. Before anything happens, however, Levada will finally end the debate whether the controversial SSPX will be re-integrated into the bosom of the church – conciliation or final schism. Ouellet seems much more likely to obtain such an important position Mueller, but the latter's chances to get into the Vatican, are not yet lost: After all, he has already acted as chief archivist. Either way, Mueller gets promotion in Rome - sooner or later ...

Former head of German Catholic laity gets banned from church premises for supporting abortion

Bischof Müller lädt Hans Maier aus - Service - sueddeutsche.de

The Bishop of Regensburg Gerhard Ludwig Müller has forbidden the use of church premises for a presentation of the former president of the Central Committee of German Catholics, Professor Hans Maier. Maier was on Monday due to present his memoirs in a diocesan centre. The diocese was not generally opposed to an appearance by Maier said a diocese spokesman. "But this is specifically about the memoirs, in which Maier supports for the pregnancy counselling , which includes the option to kill the child."

The Bavarian Radio had reported that the reason for the cancellation was the involvement of the former Education Minister in the organization 'Donum Vitae'.

On the scandal of earlier episcopal support for Donum Vitae, see this article. The Cardinal Lehmann inheritance.   Link previous down- another description of the scandal.

Maier deplored the cancellation of the invitation. He had presented his memoirs in rooms of the Catholic Academy in Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg. He was 'very surprised' that the Diocese of Regensburg was more 'petty' than other dioceses, he told the radio station. He did not envisage a deeper conflict with Müller.

What a world, when a Catholic diocese is accused by a leading "Catholic" layman of being petty for opposing abortion. Lay participation gone completely wrong- all because no safeguards were maintained after the Council. Such layman have been constantly appeased rather than confronted over decades.

Bishop denounces smear campaign against the Church

Bischof Mueller prangert Hetze gegen Kirche an | RP ONLINE

Bishop Muller denounces smear campaign against the Church

Regensburg (Mc) The Bishop of Regensburg, Gerhard Ludwig Müller, in his  Sunday sermon denounced parts of the reporting into child abuse in church institutions as evidence of prejudice and anti-clerical agitation. Mueller, who is responsible within the Catholic German Bishops' Conference for Ecumenism and is valued highly by the Pope, dismissed the allegation of a systematic cover-up by leaders of the church of attacks. He condemned the attempt to bring into disrepute the entire Catholic Church and its institutions.

Mueller  alleged that anticlerically minded forces have chosen the Regensburg cathedral choir as a victim: "A showpiece of the Diocese of Regensburg is being dragged through the mud." Criminal energy is being used to produce  deliberately distorted images. Meanwhile, the mood was so heated that Domspatzen (the choir of the Cathedral) were being publically mobbed. Reporters besieged their high school and troubled parents, because they did  not free their children from the supposed "quagmire of sexual violence and systematic humiliation." Claims that he compared in part to the reporting of abuse cases with the clerical propaganda of the Nazis, were rejected by Bishop Muller's spokesman yesterday as "far fetched." The bishop was merely in a sermon dedicated to the 100-year anniversary of the Catholic Women's League recalling  the courage of women in 1941 against the inhuman Nazi ideology, and currently calls for fidelity to Faith and Church.

Cathcon comments
"This morning,  Cardinal Walter Kasper distanced himself from the views expressed by the bishop of Regensburg. On Bavarian Radio Kasper said that  the Catholic Church should not point the finger at others. "We want our own house in order,"- from the Hamburger Abendblatt.


The Head of the Central Committee of German Catholics, Alois Gluck has expressed similar sentiments. 

Bishop attacks SSPX over ordinations

kipa/apic

The Regensburg Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Mueller has said that the proposed diaconate and priesthood ordinations of the traditionalist SSPX in his diocese are meant as a "provocation" . The ordinations at Zaitzkofen announced for the 27th June would be contrary to canon Law, said Mueller in an interview with Vatican Radio.

New ordinations should not be carried out until the legal position of the SSPX was clarified. If the SSPX who according to their own statements wish to be in communion with the local bishop, they should also hold firm to Catholic discipline, said Mueller. He is wondering about their "problems in acknowledging the Magisterium of the Pope." If they claimed to be Catholic, they should also recognize all the Catholic principles.

Replacement for Cardinal Kasper

as head of the Pontifical Council for promoting Christian Unity is rumoured to be Bishop Ludwig Mueller of Regensburg. Probable and allegedly are the words being used following a story in the magazine Focus which depends on an anonymous Vatican source. An alternative is appointment as the Rector of the Lateran University. The Pope clearly has other ideas about who should become Archbishop of Cologne in due time.

He is already a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and was a member of the International Theological Commission from 1998 to 2005.

Indicators are that he took over from Cardinal Kasper the lead role in the international Catholic-Lutheran dialogue and he has just been appointed to the Pontifical Council for Culture.

In his own pasture of Regensburg, the Protestants respect his theological competence but do not like him, especially since he snubbed their Regional Synod in November last year, a supposedly "ecumenical must"!

He is not to be confused with a Protestant pastor of the same name who was put in charge of the Reich Church by Hitler, who was nothing if not a convinced ecumenist!One church for Germany was the cry at the time.

Rather the contemporary Bishop Mueller is known as one of the most conservative of German bishops, punching not only to the left, but also to the right, as witnessed by his combative stand towards the SSPX.

Whatever the case, a Cardinal's hat is waiting for him in the not too distant future.

Cardinal's past comes back to haunt him

Der Karnevalist, der nichts kapiert - Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger

The Carnival Reveller who gets nothing. Diocese of Regensburg joins Cathcon in complaining about the Carnival Cardinal. Sadly, Regensburg have now removed the article from their website.

On the website of the Diocese of Regensburg, Cardinal Karl Lehmann is sharply attacked due to his critical position of the Pope. The lawyer Franz Norbert Otterbeck insults Lehmann as a "Carnival Reveller". Behind this is a former pupil of Lehmann, Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller.
Relations between teachers and students are often difficult. This also applies to Cardinal Karl Lehmann and Gerhard Ludwig Müller. The latter under the theology professor Lehmann received at the University of Freiburg his doctorate and lecturing post. Since Müller became Bishop of Regensburg, Lehmann has had some reason to wonder about the student: because of his harsh treatment of the laity, of crisis management in an abuse case, and because of the recent unsuccessful threatening of three theology professors, who supported a Vatican critical petition.

At the spring session of the bishops next week in Hamburg could Lehmann could ask Müller about this very personal attack: the website of the diocese of Regensburg cites Lehmann as "a Carnival Reveller", who had not “got” the Second Vatican Council and its doctrine of the Papal Office. Lehmann's criticism of the Pope's decisions were an "insolence," writes the Cologne-based lawyer Franz Norbert Otterbeck and insinuates Lehmann in the lee of an "apparent loss of popularity" of the Pope displays " an image of Ratzinger as the enemy." When Benedict XVI restored four traditionalist bishops of the SSPX to the Church, including the Holocaust denier Richard Williamson, Lehmann called for a quick apology of Rome. Perhaps one or another of the Bishop will have the idea that Muller should now apologise to Lehmann.

Dissident theologians criiticised by Bavarian Bishops

D: Freisinger Bischofskonferenz kritisiert „Petition Vaticanum II“:

The Freising Bishops' Conference has criticised the argumentation in the "Petition Vaticanum II". The Bishops of the Conference reject the allegation that the Pope has betrayed the Second Vatican Council.

The Council set out the Catholic faith "in an authentic and also accessible and convincing manner," the bishops continue. The Council decisions were "binding in their entirety on the Catholic Church, adds the Freising Bishops' Conference.

Full background

30000 Catholics criticise the Pope

Immer mehr Gläubige stützen Petition gegen Williamson - 30 000 kritisieren den Papst - Nachrichten - sueddeutsche.de

More and more believers support petition against Williamson
Munich - Approximately 30 000 people, including many theology professors, have so far signed a petition to Pope Benedict XVI for the lifting of the excommunication of the traditionalist-Bishop and Richard Williamson criticized Holocaust deniers. It was reported from the districts of the initiators. An official figure will be be published during the spring session of the German bishops which begins in Hamburg on Monday . The petition disturbs the German bishops, since the Regensburg Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Mueller had threatened three signatory Professors with sanctions if they do not remove their signatures. In spite of a jointly published statement by the Diocese and the theological faculty of Regensburg , which should have settles the dispute, the matter for Bishop Müller is apparently not over. In an interview he said the statement an "attack on the Pope." This was contradicted by one of the authors of the petition, the Heidelberg professor emeritus Norbert Scholl, in an open letter to Mueller. The petition has been drafted "from a great concern for the welfare of the Church" . By his action against the signatories Müller was "increasingly incomprehensible" - even to the Bishop's colleagues. He, Scholl, had experienced in the GDR, "how many priests and devout Catholics have suffered in the power apparatus of the GDR regime ." But from a bishop, he expected, rather than being required to submit for him to search for dialogue.

See background to this developing story

Dissident theologians defeat Bishop of Regensburg

Theologen müssen nicht abschwören - Nachrichten - sueddeutsche.de

Theologians do not need to take an oath

In the conflict with three Catholic theology professors who signed a declaration critical of the Pope, the Regensburg Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Mueller has relented: Professors Sabine Demel, Burkhard Porzelt and Heinz-Günter Schöttler no longer need to appear before the bishop to make a profession of Faith and take an oath of loyalty. They do not need to dissociate themselves from the statement madeprotesting against the lifting of the excommunication of the four bishops of the traditionalist SSPX Brotherhood protests and expressed concern that Pope Benedict XVI was giving groups a place in the church who reject the Second Vatican Council. From the perspective of the professors had Müllers the Pope assumed that he wanted to harm the church. On Friday, Bishop Mueller and the leadership of the Catholic theological faculty had crisis talks. In a joint statement as now stated, the professors rejected "an interpretation of the petition, which would imply that the Pope lacked personal and Magisterial integrity "- and in addition, they stressed "their obvious loyalty to the Church's Magisterium". The three professors said that they had stated to Bishop Mueller in a letter that t they "from our theological conviction as well as our loyalty to the Church's Magisterium " remains "fully committed to the contents of this petition". They were "ready to clarify in dialogue with the Bishop of Regensburg our concern for the Church “

Conflict with dissident theologians escalates in Regensburg

Theologen trotzen Bischof Müller- sueddeutsche.de

Theologians in spite of their bishop.

Munich - In the Diocese of Regensburg, the conflict with the three theology professors who signed a statement critical of the Pope is likely to escalate. The canon lawyer, Sabine Demel, pastoral theologian, Heinz-Günther Schöttler and religious studies lecturer, Burkard Porzelt according to information given to the Süddeutsche Zeitung until early next week to withdraw their signature, and deliver a written apology to Pope Benedict XVI and appear before Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, to make a profession of Faith and an oath of loyalty. The Regensburg bishop had requested this and threatens appropriate "further steps". These could extend to the withdrawal of the permission to teach.

Before anything Mueller takes exception to the fact that the petition is supported by the lay movement “We Are Church ". The text criticized the lifting of the excommunication of the traditionalist bishop and Holocaust-denier Richard Williamson and expresses the fear that the Pope could allow parts of the church to reject documents of the Second Vatican Council. As a result, the signatories state the Pope had "acted to the detriment of the church," writes the theologian Müller.

According to SZ-information they are not the only ones who have to justify itself: Apparently, the lists after signatories from Regensburg be trimmed, pastors and church employees in the ordinary einbestellt. The canon lawyer Demel called Mueller’s letter "very strange and incomprehensible". She wanted now to discuss with colleagues from the Catholic faculty how to respond to it was. In ecclesiastical circles, it is known that their Department is supporting the three professors .

If the conflict is exacerbated, it is likely to have nationwide, even worldwide religious dimensions. Skilfully, Mueller has also sent his letter to the leaders of the Vatican Congregations for Education and the Doctrine of the Faith and so set myself the spot. The attempts of the Vatican to smooth the waves of excitement around the Holocaust denier Richard Williamson do not make progress. Also, the German bishops at their meeting on 2nd March in Hamburg have to clarify what they think about the tens of thousands of signatories to the petition that protests against the mildness of the Pope towards the anti-Semitic SSPX - just as Christians and Jews were celebrating the "Week of Brotherhood" together.

Cathcon- there has been a meeting between the Bishop and the Faculty today- more soon.

Bishop demands oath of fidelity from three dissident theologians

Professors should apologize to the Pope from the Sueddeutsche Zeitung

The Regensburg bishop Mueller requires an oath of fidelity from the three theologians who signed a petition for the Second Vatican Council .

The Regensburg Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Mueller threatens three professors of the theological faculty in Regensburg with sanctions because they have signed up to a petition for the Second Vatican Council. He accuses them, with their consent to the Petition Vaticanum 2 to have insulted the Pope. The professors had thereby "disqualified themselves" as Catholic theologians. Mueller has given the professors an ultimatum to distance themselves from the Declaration and to apologise to Pope Benedict XVI

The petition to maintain the council decisions was drafted by the retired Heidelberg theology professor Norbert Scholl in response to the lifting of the excommunication of the four SSPX bishops at the end of January. "We Are Church" suppported the petition, which had a nationwideresonance. Among the signatories - allegedly running to several tens of thousands –demanding the "full recognition of the decisions of the Second Vatican Council" are Regensburg pastoral theologian Heinz-Günther Schöttler, religious studies lecturer Burkard Porzelt and canon lawyer Sabine Demel.

Mueller has asked all three in a letter dated 9 February to respond within two weeks by dissociating themselves from the petition. Müller let it be known that he will forward an apology from the Professors to the Pope. As a sign of “recognition of the ecclesiastical Magisterium ", they should appear before him and make confession of faith and take an oath of fidelity to the teachings of the Catholic Church. Otherwise, Müller threatens "further action", which means the withdrawal of their license to teach.

The Regensburg bishop took exception primarily to the passage in the petition, which states: "The undersigned consider it a clear sign that Pope Benedict XVI undertook this repeal (of the excommunication, editor's note.) so near in time to the symbolic 50th anniversary of the announcement of the convening of a Vatican Council by Pope John XXIII. This backward turn can give rise to the fear of return of parts of the Roman Catholic Church to an anti-modernist enclave. Through this backward part, parts of the Roman Catholic Church will be allowed- among many others – to reject the open letter and the spirit of the important documents of the Second Vatican Council. " So, as Mueller believes the professors represent the Pope acting to the detriment of the church.

Müller has sent a copy of the letter to the professors to the Prefect of the Congregation of Faith, William Joseph Levada, the Head of the Congregation for Education, Zenon Grocholewski, the Apostolic Nuncio in Germany, Jean-Claude Périsset, the Dean of the Faculty of Regensburg and the Trier Bishop Robert Brahm skillfully. Meanwhile, many German bishops are also aware of the German Bishops’ Letter. It remains to be seen how they will position themselves relative to the approach of their brother in office in Regensburg. This is because not only the three Regensburg professors, but many religious people and theologians have signed the petition.

Several theological faculties also have writen their own, sometimes sharper statements, such as the faculties of Würzburg, Freiburg and Tübingen. Even at the Catholic University in Eichstätt, professors are rebelling against the readmission of the bishops of the SSPX. The spokesman of the Bishops' Conference, Matthias Kopp did not want to comment on Monday on the action of the bishop against the professors, referring to the jurisdiction of the local bishop.

Ends!

The Bishop is fighting a war on two fronts.

Regensburg Bishop- All four SSPX bishops should resign and the SSPX seminary should close

Katholische Kirche: Interview mit Bischof Gerhard Ludwig Müller Nachrichten auf ZEIT ONLINE

"The SSPX bishops should resign"
The Regensburg Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Mueller about the prohibition of the Holocaust denier, Williamson in his diocese, and what he wants from the Society of St Pius X.

In the diocese the Society of St Pius X runs a Seminary - Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller (left) wants to close it down.

ZEIT ONLINE: The lifting of the excommunication of the Bishop and Holocaust denier Williamson will continue to cause protest. Surely Pope Benedict knew about this beforehand?
Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller: Outwardly the Pope bears the responsibility. But critical for a lifting of excommunication is the internal process, the work of the committees. I do not believe that the Pope knew about the views of Bishop Williamson knew. Pope Benedict, in a generous gesture opened his arms

ZEIT ONLINE How did he decide on this gesture?
Muller: The Pope received an urgent request from the SSPX for the excommunication to be annulled. It was from him a generous act to reach out a hand to a group standing at the border of the Church. The pope in no way signals an agreement with the anti-Semitism of Williamson and other members of the SSPX. Their statements differ from the principles of the Catholic Church.

ZEIT ONLINE: Nevertheless, the Catholic Church and the Pope are in a bad position, because a Holocaust denier seems to be rehabilitated..
Müller: Christ has not redeemed the people and founded the faith communities of Christians so that we now discriminate against other religions. The statements of Williamson are unsustainable and do not have a sense that a true Catholic can represent. Such statements must be rejected with all resolution possible. In addition, a rehabilitation cannot be talked about ...
The bishop of Regensburg, Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, asks the SSPX to follow the procedures of canon law.

ZEIT ONLINE: Why not?
Müller: The bishops and priests are not rehabilitated, the Pope is merely responding to their desire to come to lift the excommunication. Now we have to assess whether they even meet the requirements, which the Catholic Church places on its priests.

ZEIT ONLINE: Is the censure of Bishop Williamson which has been issued by the General Superior of the SSPX enough?
Mueller: No, this is not enough. After removal of the excommunication, Bishop Williamson is under the authority of the Pope - not that of his superiors. The Holy Father will decide what happens with the bishop. I recommend the SSPX free themselves from such persons.

ZEIT ONLINE: You have banned Bishop Williamson from institutions in your diocese banned. How did it happen?

Muller: It was a rather symbolic act, with which I wanted to show that the Catholic Church has nothing to do with Williamson’s theories and also with anti-Semitism. He denied the holocaust in the seminary of Zaitzkofen of the SSPX which is located near Regensburg, have denied the Holocaust. The diocese of Regensburg is distancing themselves.

ZEIT ONLINE: How is it with the seminary Zaitzkofen and Pius Brotherhood in Germany go?

Müller: The SSPX must fully return to the ground of the Catholic Church and recognise the authority of the Pope, the decisions of the Second Vatican Council and recognize existing canon law. If they do, they also accept that the seminary of Zaitzkofen falls under the supervision of the Diocese of Regensburg. The seminary should be closed and the students should go to seminaries in their home countries - if they are suitable for this purpose.

ZEIT ONLINE: So far, the SSPX of regular protests by bishops geschert little. Do you think that this is different now?

Müller: Everything else would be a deception. I have witten a letter to the Vatican and asked for the legal status of the seminary of Zaitzkofen to be verified. Even the Constitution of the SSPX should be critically considered by canon lawyers.

ZEIT ONLINE: What does it mean for the SSPX, if they really unconditionally recognize the authority of the Pope?

Müller: The priests who were consecrated illegally, have no more obligation to obey their bishops, but onlythe Pope. A French bishop of the SSPX us at Rome, of the special teaching his group to follow - this is absurd. A bishop's office should not be misused for speaking personal political views to the detriment of the Church.

ZEIT ONLINE: The representatives of the SSPX have following the lifting of the excommunication have shown themselves not exactly grateful- alongside anti-Semitic statements were also calls to the Vatican to take back reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

Mueller: It seems to me as if there are within the SSPX still strong reservations against the Second Vatican Council. If the group does not keep their promises to the Pope, it working under a false pretense.

ZEIT ONLINE: Can the SSPX be easily integrated into the Catholic Church?

Müller: The theological views of SSPX deviate in part from the Catholic Church. And politically, they are for ideas, which we reject. In France, there are links of the SSPX to the extreme right. From these the SSPX must clearly dissociate themselves.

ZEIT ONLINE: What is now going to happen to the SSPX bishops after the excommunication?

Müller: The illegal Episcopal consecration canot lead to a receipt of office. The bishop is a minister of unity. The four Archbishop Lefebvre consecrated bishops do not have the aptitude for this office.

ZEIT ONLINE: What do you expect now from the bishops of the SSPX?

Müller: The four bishops of the SSPX should all resign and in political and no longer comment on ecclesiastical policy issues. They should lead an exemplary life as a simple priest and chaplain as part of the reparation for the damage that the schism has caused.