I know he’s no longer relevant, perhaps never was relevant, but I couldn’t help but laugh when I read this item from Episcopalian Catholic comedian author Hans Küng:
The dissident theologian Hans Küng has suggested that Barack Obama would be a better pope than Benedict XVI. “The mood in the church is oppressive,” Küng told a German outlet. “Benedict is unteachable in matters of birth control and abortion, arrogant and without transparency and restrictive of freedom and human rights.” The theologian who once argued for greater democracy in the Church suggested that the Pope should follow Obama’s example and issue executive orders to bring about radical changes in Church doctrine and discipline, “using the power of his executive office to issue decrees.”
Sooo….the church is oppressive, but Benedict should remake it in the image of Katharine Jefforts-Schori through “executive orders.” But of course Benedict is also “arrogant” (pot, meet kettle) and “unteachable” (defined by the likes of Küng as “doesn’t agree with ME!”), so it’s not likely he’s go down that path. He refuses to throw in with the minions of Molech and endorse the wholesale slaughter of in utero children, and won’t let Hans claim to be a Roman Catholic theologian because the latter is actually a liberal Episcopalian, no matter what the sign on the door of the church he genuflects in says. All in all, a pretty funny shtick–he needs to take it on the road. There are some mainline denominational leaders in America who would love it.
(Via MCJ.)
February 10, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Nothing like a comment from Hans Kung to restore my sympathy for Benedict XVI.
February 10, 2009 at 8:34 pm
It is unreasonable to say that Benedict is unteachable. Benedict is a learned man, and he did not get that way by being “unteachable.” Like any serious theologian, Benedict is careful about who he listens to for advice. That a priori excludes Hans Kung.
February 12, 2009 at 8:28 am
I do like your headline…
February 14, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Just curious did you actually read a respectable translation of the German article written by Kung? I’m thinking not, but I am teachable in so far as if you tell me “yes” I’ll take your word for it…
February 14, 2009 at 6:52 pm
To clarify, the question was intended towards the author of the post, not any of the commentors here…
February 14, 2009 at 8:05 pm
I don’t read German. However, if you doubt the translation, please see the article at Religion Dispatches. The writer of their piece about Kung, Rosemary Ganley, is completely in tune with Kung, and uses the same translation of his words cited in the post.