Hans Küng’s Priestly Faculties

[PPKaulI]

Hans Kung, was understood in the paradox of Christian liturgy, for ex. Pope Paul VI, stressed-out authority based on the “Gospel” (Hans Kung, 2009).

Kin Bueno

 

[Dovekin]

He has continued to say many heretical things since then and I can find no record of further punishment. How has he been able to get away with saying so many insane things since then (since 1979!) and not be excommunicated or defrocked? You’d have to ask the Vatican.

As far as I know, nothing Küng has ever said is “heretical.” The documentation shows a path towards the obstinate denial of the faith, but it never reaches it. Without obstinacy, there is no heresy. People who accuse others of heresy are usually confusing material heresy with formal heresy, giving the impression that material heresy can be punished when punishment is characteristic only of formal heresy. (Or something along those lines.)

When the Vatican decreed that he could not teach Catholic theology, he became a professor of Ecumenical theology, which maintained his tenure at Tübingen. This embodies some of his ideas, since Catholic signifies the whole Church, but Ecumenical implies even more of the Church, a wholer Church if you will. I do not find this solution very comprehensible, so many others also do not know quite wnat to make of it.

His doctoral dissertation, in the 1950s, showed how Barth’s understanding of justification could be reconciled with a Catholic understanding. So I suspect he had some influence on the Joint Lutheran Catholic statement on Justification, maybe behind the scenes but maybe not. As Catholic who teaches theology, though not a Catholic theologian, he has continued to display professorial expertise, ie continued to say things others find controversial.

 

[edwest211]

When Pope Benedict decided to wear old vestments to celebrate a Mass, Hans Küng remarked, “The Pope wants to return the Church to the Middle Ages.” He should know better.

 

[InThePew]

Being forbidden to teach in a Catholic institution is one thing - suspension of priestly faculties (or excommunication) is a very different thing altogether. As I understand it, Küng has never gone so far as to outright deny Papal authority or dogma but has expressed disagreement with some aspect of it and, to a greater extent, caled for debate and discussion on a number of “hot button” topics. While that more than justifies a restriction on his ability to teach (and publish) restriction of priestly faculties would be a disproportionate sanction especially given his age.

Granted, there’s a fair few dissident priests out there and, for any organisation to function effectively, rules and order are essential. That said it’s important that we don’t go too far in the opposite direction.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Thank you, that’s very helpful. I agree that to start changing his status now unless some McCarrick-type crime came to light would be uncharitable.

 

[Dovekin]

When Pope Benedict decided to wear old vestments to celebrate a Mass, Hans Küng remarked, “The Pope wants to return the Church to the Middle Ages.” He should know better.

The priest shortage would be much more critical if they defrocked everyone who said anything as stupid and rude as this.

 

[TMC]

First, I apologize for not putting an umlaut over the u in Kung, but I’m on a mobile that makes that hard to do.

Second, I understand Kung is an ordained priest and theologian but due to a disagreement with the Vatican over his teachings, he was forbidden to teach as a Catholic theologian. However, he has neither been excommunicated nor laicized, despite him going farther and farther off the rails with his teachings over the years.

How does this guy still have priestly faculties?
Does he still say Mass and read the breviary prayers?

I think it is because having a theological difference with the Church is not necessarily a bar to the priesthood. As I recall, the core of Kung’s beef with the Church is over infallibility, although I am sure there are other areas. I believe the Church no longer lets him call himself a Catholic Theologian, because he is too heterodox to use that title. But that does not necessarily mean that he cannot be a good priest. If we threw out every priest that had some theological difference with the Church we would probably get low on priests fast. At least Kung is upfront about his disagreements. I prefer that to those that quietly undermine the Church while holding themselves out as faithful.

 

[Dovekin]

Thank you for explaining it better than I did:

Hans Küng may, or may not, subscribe to a material heresy. He has not been judged to have the disposition needed to be called a formal heretic. I think the case for his obstinacy was being prepared, but it was never taken to a condemnation. Lacking the disposition of a formal heretic, he has not been punished.