Pope taps German theologian to head orthodoxy post

July 02, 2012|Nicole Winfield, Associated Press

The pope named Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Mueller to head the Vatican’s all-important orthodoxy office Monday, tapping a German theologian like himself to head the congregation he presided over for nearly a quarter-century enforcing Catholic doctrine.

The 64-year-old Regensburg bishop replaces American Cardinal William Levada, who turned 76 last month and is retiring after seven years at the helm of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the former Holy Office.

While Mueller is considered a staunchly orthodox, conservative theologian — he has penned some 400 academic articles and founded an institute to publish all the pope’s writings — some of his positions have raised eyebrows in Rome and abroad.

Chief among them is his friendship with the Rev. Gustavo Gutierrez, the Peruvian priest considered the founder of liberation theology, the Marxist-influenced theology advocating for the poor.

Pope Benedict XVI, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, spent much of his tenure at the congregation battling liberation theology, arguing that it misinterpreted Jesus’ preference for the poor into a call for rebellion.

Mueller was a student of Gutierrez, wrote a book with him on liberation theology in 2004 and in 2008 was given an honorary degree at the Pontifical University of Lima, where he delivered a speech “My experiences with Liberation Theology.’’

He has also served on several ecumenical committees, including being named the chief Catholic negotiator in theological talks with Lutherans.

None of this has endeared him to traditionalist, archconservative Catholics, who have for the most part championed Benedict’s conservative line and raised questions about Mueller’s appointment, which has been rumored for months.

In addition to handling clerical sex abuse cases, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is responsible for negotiating with a group of traditionalist Catholics, the Society of St. Pius X, which split from Rome over the liberalizing reforms of the 1962-65 Second Vatican Council.

Among other things, Vatican II called for outreach with other Christians, something the society rejects.

Benedict has made numerous concessions to try to reconcile with the society, and just last month offered its members a special legal status within the church if they were to come into full communion with Rome. But the superior, Bishop Bernard Fellay, has said more talks are necessary and that things were at a “dead end.’’

In a bid to nudge the negotiations forward — and perhaps blunt any negative reaction to a Mueller appointment — Benedict last week tapped a trusted colleague to be the congregation’s No. 2 negotiator with the society.

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