Leading theologian forgets doctrine. "Ecumenism today is more of a political-psychological problem, especially on the Roman Catholic side".

Emeritus professor of theology from Tübingen turns 75 - Theologically, he sees all issues that could have the effect of separating the churches as having been dealt with: "Ecumenism today is more of a political-psychological problem, especially on the Roman Catholic side".

In view of continuing theological debates on the relationship between the Christian churches, the Catholic theologian Bernd Jochen Hilberath, emeritus from Tübingen, sees no alternative to practical ecumenism on the ground. People in Protestant and Catholic congregations should live what they are convinced of, Hilberath said in an interview with the German Catholic News Agency (KNA). He spoke of an "ecumenism of life".

For himself, he says, "I don't feel like arguing ecumenically-theologically any more, and I don't need to give another lecture on the doctrine of transubstantiation." This is about the Catholic doctrine of the transformation of bread and wine in a church service. Theologically, according to Hilberath, all issues that could have a church-dividing effect have been dealt with: "Ecumenism today is more a political-psychological problem, especially on the Roman Catholic side."

In the CBA interview, Hilberath also expressed great concern about the situation in the Catholic Church. He was burdened by the fact that "theological arguments still do not count among the powerful in the Church. There have been "plenty of arguments for decades" on the current controversial issues.

The theologian considers the Roman centralism strengthened by the First Vatican Council to be a problem. Dogmatists say that doctrine must be developed further. Tradition shows that there was and is "a great deal of room for manoeuvre". Theologically, "the question of power and faith, of democracy and church constitution must be dealt with more strongly. The inner-church defence of democracy is based on a distorted image."

Hilberath turns 75 on 29 June. He taught Catholic dogmatics in Mainz and, from 1992, in Tübingen for more than two decades. After the theologian Hans Küng left Tübingen, Hilberath also headed his Institute for Ecumenical Theology. The Faculty of Catholic Theology will honour the father of four children and grandfather of seven on his milestone birthday with an academic event on 17 November in Tübingen.

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Cathcon: Further proof that ecumenism evacuates Catholicism of all meaning and purpose.