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The New Inquisition? The Case of Edward Schillebeeckx and Hans Kung
New Harper & Row, 1980. Trade size paperback, Small 8vo (about 7.5'' to 8'' tall), 173 pages. Index of names,, appendices.
173 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1980
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 19, 2024
A FASCINATING SUMMARY OF THE SCHILLEBEECKX AND KÜNG CENSURE
Peter Hebblethwaite (1930-1994) was a British Jesuit priest (he left the priesthood to marry), editor, journalist and biographer; he has written many other books, such as 'John XXIII: Pope of the Century,' 'The Runaway Church: Post-Conciliar Growth or Decline,' 'Paul VI: The First Modern Pope', etc.
This 1980 book recounts the story of two famous but controversial Catholic theologians---Edward Schillebeeckx and Hans Küng---who censured by the Vatican in 1979 for their writings---Schillebeeckx for his Jesus: An Experiment in Christology, and Küng for his 'Infallible?: An Inquiry'. Hebblethwaite stated in the Preface, "If Schillebeeckx and Küng could be attacked for unorthodoxy, then who would be next? Was this a return to the methods of the Holy Inquisition?... (This book) sets out to provide the material for answering these questions. It is as objective as the circumstances permit."
He states that "One sees here the implicit answer to another frequent Roman argument: theologians... may advance novel ideas in specialist reviews, but they should not air them in the mass media. But in many countries the distinction no longer holds. The theological genie cannot be popped back into the bottle of specialized reviews." (Pg. 19)
Hebblethwaite observes that of the ten cardinals of the CDF, "none of them has made any notable contribution to theological studies, though a number of them... were theology professors." (Pg. 73) He explains that Küng had said since 1973 that "He was prepared at any time for a true dialogue. But he was not prepared to accept a conversation under the conditions that were imposed... There was a not particularly subtle distinction between saying 'Küng refused to dialogue' and 'Küng did not consider that he was being offered a true dialogue.' But it was widely ignored." (Pg. 79)
Hebblethwaite faults Küng's book for not sufficiently distinguishing between a "poorly formulated" dogmatic statement, and an "erroneous" one. But he agrees with Küng that "Catholic theologians have become skeptical about the usefulness and value of the concept of 'infallible' itself." (Pg. 82-83)
Hebblethwaite's book is still of considerable interest to anyone interested in Catholic theology, or issues of intellectual freedom.
Peter Hebblethwaite (1930-1994) was a British Jesuit priest (he left the priesthood to marry), editor, journalist and biographer; he has written many other books, such as 'John XXIII: Pope of the Century,' 'The Runaway Church: Post-Conciliar Growth or Decline,' 'Paul VI: The First Modern Pope', etc.
This 1980 book recounts the story of two famous but controversial Catholic theologians---Edward Schillebeeckx and Hans Küng---who censured by the Vatican in 1979 for their writings---Schillebeeckx for his Jesus: An Experiment in Christology, and Küng for his 'Infallible?: An Inquiry'. Hebblethwaite stated in the Preface, "If Schillebeeckx and Küng could be attacked for unorthodoxy, then who would be next? Was this a return to the methods of the Holy Inquisition?... (This book) sets out to provide the material for answering these questions. It is as objective as the circumstances permit."
He states that "One sees here the implicit answer to another frequent Roman argument: theologians... may advance novel ideas in specialist reviews, but they should not air them in the mass media. But in many countries the distinction no longer holds. The theological genie cannot be popped back into the bottle of specialized reviews." (Pg. 19)
Hebblethwaite observes that of the ten cardinals of the CDF, "none of them has made any notable contribution to theological studies, though a number of them... were theology professors." (Pg. 73) He explains that Küng had said since 1973 that "He was prepared at any time for a true dialogue. But he was not prepared to accept a conversation under the conditions that were imposed... There was a not particularly subtle distinction between saying 'Küng refused to dialogue' and 'Küng did not consider that he was being offered a true dialogue.' But it was widely ignored." (Pg. 79)
Hebblethwaite faults Küng's book for not sufficiently distinguishing between a "poorly formulated" dogmatic statement, and an "erroneous" one. But he agrees with Küng that "Catholic theologians have become skeptical about the usefulness and value of the concept of 'infallible' itself." (Pg. 82-83)
Hebblethwaite's book is still of considerable interest to anyone interested in Catholic theology, or issues of intellectual freedom.
April 11, 2012
Somehow my review 'disappeared'?? Not the first time this has happened. Going to go back writing reviews off line and pasting them in!
I broke down and bought a new copy of this.
Will re-write the entire review and repost later.
Previous comments: I have a copy of this that I have currently mislaid. Adding it to the database as to-investigate as in to-find.
Update to follow when I get the right box of books open!! I have not yet found that box, see above.
I broke down and bought a new copy of this.
Will re-write the entire review and repost later.
Previous comments: I have a copy of this that I have currently mislaid. Adding it to the database as to-investigate as in to-find.
Update to follow when I get the right box of books open!! I have not yet found that box, see above.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews