Dissident Kueng criticises pope during German visit

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Wednesday September 13, 2006

Tuebingen, Germany- Hans Kueng, the Swiss-born Catholic theologian who has been a long-time critic of the Vatican, slammed Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday for not offering dialogue during a six-day visit to Germany. There had not been "a single future-oriented signal" from the pope, nor were there any suggestions of reforms on the way, Kueng told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa in an interview.

Kueng, who was invited to a long lunch and talk with Benedict in Italy last year, said the visit had made a contradictory impression.

"He didn't fulfil any of the hopes of reform-oriented Catholics.

"But on a personal level, he made a nice impression and was on the wavelength of the faithful. He's not a media pope with acting talent trying to pull in applause. Rather he is someone who concentrates on the central truth of Christianity, belief in God," he said.

Speaking at his home in Tuebingen, Germany, the retired theologian said Benedict had been "tactically smart to stay silent about the rule of celibacy for priests, or the ban on contraceptives and other uncomfortable Roman rules.

"He was always stressing the nice side of faith and the church and leaving the harsh church rules that still exist unmentioned."

Kueng added, "I don't see dialogue in practice."

Asked how he judged the one-year-old Benedict papacy, Kueng said, "His trademark is still unclear. But I still hope that the pope will manage to leave behind the dark shadows of the former doctrine watchdog and offer constructive solutions for the church and ecumenism."

Kueng said theologians had offered the Vatican many ways of letting Protestants share in the Catholic communion ceremony and said, "It's up to the pope to act."

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur