Theologian from Austria: "I am the first female Catholic bishop" or the clear and present danger of synod-powered ecumenism

Old Catholic Maria Kubin wears mitre, pectoral cross, and crosier

Theologian from Austria: "I am the first female Catholic bishop"

Maria Kubin is a bishop of the Old Catholic Church of Austria. The trained psychotherapist grew up in a traditional Roman Catholic family and then converted to the Old Catholic Church. In an interview with katholisch.de, she talks about how this came about.

In her Catholic parish, Maria Kubin previously worked as a lector, communion minister, and cantor, and assisted in sacramental preparation, held meditation courses, and retreats. But then the psychotherapist switched to the Old Catholic Church in Austria. In 2023, she was elected as the new bishop by the Synod and consecrated in Vienna. Kubin is thus the first woman to be elected and consecrated to the office of bishop in the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht. She wears a pectoral cross, miter, and collar. In an interview with katholisch.de, she explains the reason for her change of church and talks about what is important to her in her episcopal office.

Question: Ms. Kubin, you became an Old Catholic in your early 40s. What was the reason for that?

Kubin: I stumbled upon the Old Catholic congregation in Graz by chance. Because I lived nearby, I attended a service there once. The communal celebration immediately appealed to me, so I started going often. I felt at home in the congregation. In 2008, I officially converted to the Old Catholic Church in Austria.

Question: Did you want to be an Old Catholic so you could become a priest?

Kubin: No, I didn't change churches because I wanted to be a priest or a bishop. I changed churches because I was looking for a spiritual home at the time. In the Old Catholic Church, I found a way to live my faith. There, I encountered a synodal church and enjoyed the togetherness. Without this community of believers, something would be missing for me today. I grew up in a devout Roman Catholic family. My parents were happy in their church. But at some point, it no longer worked for me because I no longer found what would have made me happy there. I was bothered by the hierarchy, the women's issue, and other issues. For example, I'm married for the second time. The Old Catholic Church is much more merciful to people whose marriages have failed. All of that appealed to me. And once I became an Old Catholic, I learned that I could also become a priest there. I then began studying theology to prepare myself for this path.

Question: Did you then study Roman Catholic theology?

Kubin: 

Yes, in Austria that's the only option, so I studied at the Catholic Theological Faculty in Graz. 

I also took courses at the University of Bonn, as they have an Old Catholic seminary. We don't have our own theological faculty in Austria, but we have started our own educational path, which builds on studies at a theological faculty of another Christian denomination.

Question: Was it a challenge for you, as an Old Catholic, to study Roman Catholic theology?

Kubin: I was very interested in most of the subjects, and with some things I was glad to know that they didn't apply to me. For example, the teachings on Marian dogmas such as the Immaculate Conception of Mary or the Assumption of Mary into Heaven, or questions about papal infallibility or liturgy.

Maria Kubin is a priest and bishop of the Old Catholic Church in Austria. Here she stands at the altar during her ordination service. According to Old Catholic liturgical understanding, the transubstantiation occurs when the congregation together asks God to transform the gifts.

Question: So, as a Bishop, could you change theological content of your church or even prohibit something?

Kubin: 

Yes, I could. But what is special about the Old Catholic Church is our synodality, that is, the joint search for a good solution. 

 To emphasise the equality of all, more lay people than clergy are elected in all assemblies. Almost everything is voted on, and in these areas I also have a vote as a bishop that weighs just as much as that of the others. As a bishop, however, I have a right of veto on theological issues. So I make sure that we preserve our teachings and our principles of faith, i.e. that we neither become too liberal nor too conservative. As a church, we should remain on good Catholic ground and preserve our traditions. At the same time, we don't want to remain conservative and keep opening ourselves up to current issues. On the other hand, there is a pastoral conference at which we decided together, for example, that we would no longer lift up the bread and wine during the words of institution in a church service, because according to our liturgical understanding, the consecration takes place when we all ask God together to transform the gifts with the prayer: "Send down your Spirit upon these gifts". So as a bishop, I cannot order anyone to do anything or tell a priest how to do something, but if we as a body have decided this, it is up to me as a bishop to enforce this decision. This synodal system means that we constantly have to deal with very different opinions. This does not mean that there is no spiritual abuse of power, but the system does not support it.

Question: A crucial difference from the Roman Catholic Church is that Old Catholics do not recognize the Pope and his primacy of jurisdiction. In recent weeks, there has been a lot of hype about the new Pope. Do you envy the Catholic Church for that?

Kubin: I'm happy for the Roman Catholic Church and its new leader. I wish the new Pope all the best in his work. I think he will fulfill his office well. I'm glad that we, as a regional church, don't have to make global decisions, because in such decisions, you always have to focus on the weakest member. I think a broad audience is needed to be able to properly discuss issues. I know that from my own experience. I only have one perspective on a matter, and sometimes I overlook something. Then I'm glad when others help me see things more broadly. I assume that the Pope also has his advisors and committees that support him. Regarding the ordination of women, I'm glad that my church is already a few steps ahead. I am a bishop of a Catholic Church, elected by our synod and called by God. It's a double calling. I feel called to fulfill this service for people and for God.

Question: Do you consciously say that you are Catholic?

Kubin: Yes, I am always Catholic, just not Roman Catholic, but Old Catholic. I'm sensitive about this distinction. Nevertheless, I consciously say that we are a Catholic Church, and I am the first female Catholic bishop in Austria.

Question: What episcopal insignia do you wear as an Old Catholic bishop?

Kubin: I always wear my cross on a chain around my neck. And on liturgical occasions, I also wear my pectoral cross. Both crosses depict a reddish figure with feminine forms and wide-open arms. I like it very much. My crosier is also special. At the top of the curve is a vine, which I once found on a family vacation in Spain. A cross is embroidered on my miter. On the back, I would like to have fish, which the participants at my ordination service drew, incorporated. They are intended to inspire and accompany my ministry.

Question: Do you also wear a collar?

Kubin: Yes, I have different blouses with collars because I am a cleric and want to be recognized as such. I also want to be perceived as a minister at ecumenical celebrations. People are often surprised that I, as a woman, hold the office of bishop, even though women have been ordained as priests in our church since the 1990s. I deliberately wear dresses in the colors violet, blue, and crimson – with a collar – to be recognizable as a bishop on ceremonial occasions. At services or liturgical events, I usually wear my white alb with a rainbow insert, over which I wear a chasuble in the corresponding liturgical color.

Question: What do you want to advance as a Bishop?

Kubin: I want to bring people together and connect them, and show them that our church is attractive. I want to make the Kingdom of God tangible for people today. As a Catholic Church, we are always driven by the longing for ecumenical unity and find many good opportunities for this, both at the parish level and in episcopal fellowship. We share meals with some Episcopal churches, and we pray together with other synodal churches. Everyone is allowed to maintain their own distinctive identity. We pray together, which is beautiful. Even when there are theological difficulties, ecumenism works.

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