Vatican changes course, reinstates Jesuit head of German university

Father Ansgar Wucherpfennig says he hopes church teaching on homosexuality and women's roles in the Church would develop and become more open

Father Johannes Siebner displaying the confirmatio from Rome. (Photo: © SJ-Bild:HfPh)

The Vatican has reversed a decision made earlier this year and has confirmed that a Jesuit theologian who voiced positive views on homosexuality and the ordination of women deacons may begin a third term as head of a prestigious university in Germany.

Father Arturo Sosa, general superior of the Society of Jesus, announced on Nov. 15 that Father Ansgar Wucherpfennig has been reinstated "with immediate effect" as rector of the Jesuit-run Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology at Frankfurt am Main, an institute Father Sosa oversees as Grand Chancellor.

The move breaks an impasse dating from last June when the Congregation for Catholic Education privately informed the Jesuit general that it would not be renewing its canonically required confirmatio (approval) of Father Wucherpfennig.

That decision was finally made public in October, provoking protests among theologians and some bishops in Germany.

Rector commits to present Church teaching

But the congregation apparently reconsidered in the past few weeks after Father Wucherpfennig promised to uphold Church teaching.

In a declaration to Father Sosa, the 52-year-old rector committed himself, as a religious and a priest, to upholding the Church's authentic Magisterium, presenting it "completely and comprehensively" and making it clear in the future when his critiques of the teaching are only his own personal opinion.

The priest said that as a Christian and theologian he hopes church teaching on homosexuality and women's roles in the Church would develop and become more open.

Father Sosa said he forwarded Wucherpfennig's declaration to the Congregation for Education and added that the rector would now publish the results of his research on both issues "in loyal and creative continuity with fundamental church doctrine."

Church officials breathe sigh of relief

Bishop Georg Bätzing, head of Limburg diocese where Sankt Georgen is located and a supporter of Wucherpfennig, said he was greatly relieved by the resolution.

"Together with many others, I hoped for and expected this decision (on the part of the Vatican)," the 57-year-old bishop said in a statement to the graduate school.

Father Johannes Siebner, the Jesuit provincial superior in Germany, echoed those sentiments.

"I am deeply grateful for the widespread support that Father Wucherpfennig and the Sankt Georgen School have experienced in recent weeks," Siebner said in a statement the Jesuit college published on its website along with a photo of the 57-year-old provincial proudly displaying the confirmatio from Rome.

"Rome has obviously shown discernment and reacted to the many inter-church character references declaring Father Wucherpfennig an irreproachable priest," said Peter Lückemeier, chairman of the "Friends of Sankt Georgen."

The association, which was founded in 1972 and counts some 450 members, supports Sankt Georgen and helps to finance its projects.

Wucherpfennig vows to continue research

Father Wucherpfennig was asked if he was forced to recant in order to be reinstated in his post.

"No, I did not recant," he said on Nov. 17 in a long interview for the German Church's official website katholische.de.

"My declaration was addressed to the Jesuit superior general, Father Arturo Sosa, who then passed it on to the Vatican," the priest said.

"I declared that (in my lectures) on the question of the diaconate for women and the moral judgement of homosexuality I take the relevant church teaching into consideration and convey it correctly and fairly, but I also pose my own questions on both topics and discuss them with my students," he said.

"Moreover, as a Christian and an academic scholar, I also expressed my hope that church teaching on both these points would change and develop. That, in my opinion, is not recanting but belongs to the business of science – namely, to present other opinions correctly first before questioning or criticizing them," Wucherpfennig explained.

He said Father Sosa had asked him to do further research on both topics and to develop the Church's teaching "in creative loyalty." The rector said he believed homosexuality was connected to the general subject of "identity and sexuality," an issue he will be lecturing on next term.

Father Wucherpfennig said he plans to continue doing research on the historical-critical exegesis of St. Paul's Letters and possibly write a book on women deacons.

Christa Pongratz-Lippitt writes from Vienna where she has spent many years as a reporter and commentator on Church affairs in the German-speaking world.