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Some 19 years ago, Swiss-born Hans Küng accepted from his bishop, who represents the Vatican in such matters, an official mandate to teach Catholic doctrine at the university in Tubingen, Germany. On December 15, 1979, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF)—the Vatican ministry that oversees the teaching of theology—effectively terminated that mandate, declaring that Küng “cannot be considered a Catholic theologian.” The CDF declaration had the explicit approval of Pope John Paul II.

Already in the late Sixties, Küng was warned that he was not fulfilling his promise to teach Catholic doctrine. He paid no attention. As early as 1970, the New York Times reported that he was bracing for an “important battle” with the Vatican. He was warned again in 1975 and yet again in 1977. By the time of the CDF declaration, not even Küng’s most loyal and vociferous defenders denied that the declaration accurately reflected the facts of the case, i.e., that what Küng teaches and holds is indeed not Catholic doctrine.

MM

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Malachi B. Martin

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Some 19 years ago, Swiss-born Hans Küng accepted from his bishop, who represents the Vatican in such matters, an official mandate to teach Catholic doctrine at the university in Tubingen, Germany. On December 15, 1979, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF)—the Vatican ministry that oversees the teaching of theology—effectively terminated that mandate, declaring that Küng “cannot be considered a Catholic theologian.” The CDF declaration had the explicit approval of Pope John Paul II.

Already in the late Sixties, Küng was warned that he was not fulfilling his promise to teach Catholic doctrine. He paid no attention. As early as 1970, the New York Times reported that he was bracing for an “important battle” with the Vatican. He was warned again in 1975 and yet again in 1977. By the time of the CDF declaration, not even Küng’s most loyal and vociferous defenders denied that the declaration accurately reflected the facts of the case, i.e., that what Küng teaches and holds is indeed not Catholic doctrine.