New CDF prefect discusses liberation theology, SSPX, LCWR
CWN – July 26, 2012
In an interview with L’Osservatore Romano, the newly-appointed prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith discussed the centrality of faith and divine revelation and briefly addressed controversial issues.
The son of an automobile factory worker and a homemaker, Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller said that “the problems that are foreseen are very great if we look at the universal Church, with many challenges that must be addressed and in face of a certain downheartedness that is spreading in some environments but which we must overcome. We also have the problem of groups — of the right and the left, as is usually said — which take up much of our time and our attention. Here the danger easily arises of losing sight of our main task, which is to proclaim the Gospel and to explain concretely the doctrine of the Church.”
“We are convinced that there is no alternative to the revelation of God in Jesus Christ,” he continued. “Revelation responds to the great questions of men of all times. What is the meaning of my life? How can I face suffering? Is there hope that goes beyond death, given that life is brief and difficult? “
“We are fundamentally convinced that the secular and immanentistic vision is not enough,” he added. We cannot find a convincing answer on our own. Because of this, Revelation is a relief, given that we must not seek answers at all costs … The infinite God has manifested himself to us in Christ. Christ is the answer to our most profound questions. Because of this we are willing to face the future with joy and strength.”
Archbishop Müller added:
The Church is first of all a community of faith; hence the revealed faith is the most important good, which we must transmit, proclaim and protect. Jesus entrusted to Peter and to his successors the universal Magisterium, and it is this that the dicastery must serve. Hence the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has the responsibility for what concerns the whole Church in profundity: the faith that leads us to salvation and to communion with God and among ourselves …
The Congregation must first of all promote the faith and render it comprehensible, and this is the decisive factor. To this is added the fact that the faith must be defended against errors and devaluations. In fact at present we are in need of hope and signs to begin again. If we look at the world, especially at our European countries, which, naturally, are the ones I know best, we see many politicians and economists who do extraordinary things; but they are not the first to be looked at when it is a question of transmitting hope and trust … Atheists and enemies of the Church should ask themselves, perhaps, with a spirit of self-criticism if they themselves have means of salvation to offer the men of today.
“For those who proclaim [the faith] is important to be on the terrain of faith, to access its sources, holy Scripture, the Fathers of the Church, documents of Councils and of pontiffs, the great theologians and spiritual writers,” he added. “Where this doesn’t happen, everything is arid and empty. When, instead, the faith is accepted with joy and determination, life is born.”
Turning to the topic of liberation theology, Archbishop Müller said:
In 1988 I was invited to take part in a seminar with Gustavo Gutierrez. I went with a certain reservation as a German theologian, also because I knew well the two statements of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on liberation theology published in 1984 and in 1986. However, I was able to see that it is necessary to distinguish between a mistaken liberation theology and a correct one. I believe that every good theology has to do with the freedom and glory of the children of God. However, certainly a mixture of the doctrine of Marxist self-redemption with the salvation given by God must be rejected.
On the other hand we must ask ourselves sincerely: How can we speak of the love and mercy of God in face of the suffering of so many people who don’t have food, water, health care, who don’t know how to offer a future to their children, where human dignity is truly lacking, where human rights are ignored by the powerful? In the last analysis this is possible only if we are also willing to be with the people, to accept them as brothers and sisters, without paternalism from on high.
Asked, “What do you think of the discussions with the Lefebvrists and with the religious sisters of the United States?”, he replied:
It is important for the future of the Church to overcome ideological clashes no matter where they come from. There is only one revelation of God in Jesus Christ which was entrusted to the whole Church. This is why there are no negotiations on the Word of God and one cannot believe and not believe at the same time. One cannot pronounce the three religious vows and then not take them seriously. I cannot make reference to the tradition of the Church and then accept it only in some of its parts. The path of the Church leads ahead and all are invited not to enclose themselves in a self-referential way of thinking, but rather to accept the full life and the full faith of the Church.
Additional sources for this story: See www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=15045
Müller: “Let us overcome ideological clashes in the Church”
Müller: “May the Church announce Christ”
“L’Osservatore Romano”, the official newspaper of the Holy See holds a wide-ranging interview with the new Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
ANDREA TORNIELLI
vatican city
7/25/2012
vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/the-vatican/detail/articolo/mueller-17083/
“Groups – the so-called traditionalists and progressivists – are also a problem that takes up a great deal of our time and energy. Here there is a danger of slightly losing sight of our main task which is to announce the Gospel and communicate Church doctrine in a concrete way. We are certain that there is no alternative to God’s revelation through Jesus Christ. The Revelation responds to the great questions mankind has always had throughout the ages…” The newly-elected Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Gerhard Müller, said this in an interview with the Holy See’s official daily broadsheet, L’Osservatore Romano.
In response to a question on the transformation of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, instigated by Paul VI, the new Prefect commented: “The Church is above all a community of faith and so revealed faith is the most important asset. We must therefore pass it on, announce and look after it. Jesus entrusted Peter and his successors with the universal magisterium and the dicastery must work in service of this magisterium…I think the most important aspect of the dicastery’s transformation” was to do with “the principal direction of its work. Pope Paul VI wanted the positive aspect to be highlighted: the Congregation must, above all, promote faith and make it understandable. This is crucial. Another important point is that faith must be defended against errors and corruption. At this present time we need hope and impetus to move forward. If we look at the world, particularly at our European countries, which are naturally the ones I most familiar with, we see many politicians and economists accomplishing extraordinary things; but they are not the first people we should look at when it comes to transmitting faith and trust.”
After speaking about his experiences in Latin America, where he met with the poor and witnessed the work the Church is doing to help, Müller answered a question about the Church’s “disputes with the Lefebvrians and the LWCR.” “It is important for the future of the Church – he said – to overcome ideological differences wherever these may stem from. God’s revelation exclusively through Jesus Christ was entrusted to the whole Church. For this reason the Word of God cannot be negotiated and one cannot believe and at the same time not believe. One cannot pronounce the three religious vows and then not take them seriously. One cannot refer to Church tradition and then only accept parts of it. The Church’s path leads forwards and all are invited not to limit themselves to a self-referential way of thinking but to accept the full life and faith of the Church.”
The Prefect went on to state that “In the eyes of the Catholic Church, men and women obviously have equal worth: the story of creation states this and the order of salvation confirms it. Human beings do not need to be emancipated, to create themselves or invent themselves on their own. They are already emancipated and free through God’s grace. Many statements regarding the admission of women to the sacrament of Order fail to take into account an important aspect of the priestly ministry. Being a priest does not mean creating a position for oneself. The priestly ministry should not be considered as a kind of position of earthly power and people should not think that emancipation only comes when everyone can occupy this position. Catholic faith knows it is not us who set the conditions for admission to the priestly ministry and that behind the priesthood lies Christ’s will and calling. Nuns and monks in America have accomplished extraordinary things for the Church, for education and for young people. Christ needs young people to follow along this path and indentify with this important personal choice. The Second Vatican Council did marvellous work in terms of the renewal of religious life and the common vocation to sanctity. It is important to strengthen mutual trust instead of working against one another.”