One of Pope Benedict's favourite academic establishments, Heiligenkreuz responds to accusations of extremism
Dear Dr. Sigrid Rettenbacher,
You have addressed a letter and a dossier to the Austrian Bishops' Conference and to the deans of the theological faculties because you are concerned about problematic developments of an anti-democratic nature and associate them with violence and threats against theologians.
In this context, the name of Father Dr. Edmund Waldstein who is a member of the Convent of Heiligenkreuz Abbey and teaches at the Heiligenkreuz University, among other places, comes up.
We would therefore like to comment on this:
We assure you that we are committed to open, liberal democracy and are firmly committed to it – especially in times like ours. We see ourselves as united with you in our concern to protect the foundations of democracy and the rule of law, such as freedom of speech, conscience, and academic freedom, and to ensure that these foundations of our coexistence are not compromised. We condemn the quotes from Father Dr. Edmund Waldstein you cited and consider them unacceptable. We view so-called "integralism" in a similarly negative light as you do. We have been in discussion with Father Dr. Edmund Waldstein about this for some time and will continue to do so in the future. However, we have also gratefully noted his corrections and clarifications in this regard. Perhaps we should have taken a closer look at this earlier.
We do not tolerate anti-democratic tendencies at Heiligenkreuz University either now or in the future.
However, we also emphasize that we know Father Dr. Edmund Waldstein as an open, friendly, and open-minded person who has earned merit in pastoral care and scholarship, and we also perceive a willingness to learn in him.
At the same time, however, we also have questions for you, and we would be grateful for an open, transparent, and respectful dialogue about this:
Where do you see signs that there is a connection between violence and threats against theologians and Father Dr. Edmund Waldstein?
In your posts, you assume this without providing any evidence.
Where do you see signs of systematic attempts by what you assume to be a "network" to violate democratic rules and to harbor systematic plans for subversion? We would also view such attempts critically.
``` (Just by the way: Isn't the ESWTR also a "network"?)
Why did you never contact us and ask for our assessment, as journalistic and academic standards would require, especially in a church that sees itself as synodal?
Where do you see any indications that Heiligenkreuz as a whole is a center of "integralist ideas"? We don't perceive it that way. We place great value on openness, plurality, and dialogue. We feel like the victims of a blanket condemnation here. Even if we agree with you that there were very few such voices, this certainly doesn't apply to the entire teaching staff.
The accusations you have made also affect us personally. In our families there were several victims of National Socialism. An uncle of Abbot Maximilian was euthanised during the Nazi dictatorship due to a disability. A great-grandfather and a great-grandmother of Father Johannes Paul were imprisoned by the GESTAPO. The latter, because she was active in the political resistance against Hitler. His grandfather told him a few months before his death, in tears, how he deserted from the Wehrmacht and joined a military resistance group. One of our confreres, Father Cornelius Steffek (died 2008), was also in so-called "protective custody" because he held unauthorised Bible lessons for young people.
We should all pay close attention to the developments in our society and strengthen freedom, justice, the capacity for dialogue and democratic awareness. We see ourselves connected with you here.
For us, however, this also means that prejudgements, generalised suspicions and public pressure should be replaced by direct, open dialogue based on trust. We are counting on your willingness to engage in dialogue and a hopeful future.
Yours sincerely,
Abbot Dr Maximilian Heim OCist, Grand Chancellor
University Professor Dr Wolfgang Klausnitzer, Rector
Professor Father Dr Johannes Paul Chavanne OCist, Prior and Professor for
Liturgical Science
See Background
Angelika Walser has form. See especially the article "Sexual morality is the corpse in the cellar of the church, and the stench that emanates from this corpse corrupts everything else"
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