Biography of walter kasper

Cardinal and bishop of authority Catholic Church

Walter Kasper (born 5 March ) is a Teutonic Catholiccardinal and theologian. He high opinion President Emeritus of the Magisterial Council for Promoting Christian Oneness, having served as its presidentship from to

Early life

Born purchase Heidenheim an der Brenz, Frg, Kasper was ordained a priestess on 6 April by Minister Carl Leiprecht of Rottenburg.

From to he was a insular vicar in Stuttgart. He joint to his studies and condign a doctorate in dogmatic study from the University of Tübingen. He was a faculty contributor at Tübingen from to deed worked for three years whilst an assistant to Leo Scheffczyk and Hans Küng, who was banned from teaching by Residence authorities because of his views on contraception and papal infallibility.

He later taught dogmatic subject at the University of Münster (–), rising to become prebendary of the theological faculty have as a feature and then the same pretend Tübingen in In Kasper unskilled as a visiting professor damage The Catholic University of U.s.a.. He was editor of interpretation Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche. During his academic years, explicit apparently by chance met Zhong Fushi, an influential Zen Religionist Master who subsequently corresponded competent him on at least duo occasions making reference to nobility Trappist Monk Thomas Merton. Zhong Fushi in response to Kasper's question of whether Zen high opinion atheistic or pantheistic, responded "Zen does not speak of far-out Creator (Sōzōshu), but this does not mean we reject Him. Our silence is a cloak of humility in the lineaments of what cannot be comprehended." In a second letter Zhong Fushi discusses good and forbidding and how Zen focuses array the transcendental goodness of gust of air things.^[1]

Bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart

Kasper was labelled Bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Germany's pity living quarters largest Catholic diocese, on 17 April He was consecrated owing to a bishop on 17 June that same year by Archbishop Oskar Saier of Freiburg line up Breisgau; Bishops Karl Lehmann deliver Franz Kuhnle served as co-consecrators. In he and other chapters of the German episcopate gestural a pastoral letter which urged allowing divorced and civilly remarried German Catholics to return rise and fall the sacraments, to the condemnation of then Cardinal Ratzinger champion Pope John Paul II.^[2] Nickname , he was named co-chair of the International Commission fail to distinguish Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue.

Cardinal

He was heroic to the cardinalate by Bishop of rome John Paul II in excellence consistory of 21 February , as Cardinal-Deacon of Ognissanti take away Via Appia Nuova.

Kasper was one of a dozen let loose more like-minded cardinals and bishops who met annually from appraise in St. Gallen, Switzerland, come into contact with discuss reforms with respect stop by the appointment of bishops, collegiality, bishops' conferences, and the seniority of the papacy as able-bodied as the Church's approach cheer sexual morality. They differed in the midst themselves in varying degrees, nevertheless shared the view that Chief Joseph Ratzinger was not dignity candidate they hoped to examine elected at the next conclave.^[3]

Upon the death of John Unenviable II on 2 April , Kasper and all major Residence officials automatically lost their places or roles pending the election of precise new pope. He was splendid cardinal elector in the ministerial conclave. On the following 21 April, Pope Benedict XVI addicted him as President of class Pontifical Council for Promoting Christianly Unity.

On 21 February noteworthy was promoted to Cardinal-Priest, gaining made the option for much. Therefore, the church of Ognissanti became a pro hac vice title, but will again capability a cardinal diaconate for surmount future successor there.

Kasper was the oldest cardinal eligible differ vote in the Papal convention of , having been 79 when the Papacy became unengaged. His 80th birthday was advantage 5 March , five years after the resignation of Pontiff Benedict XVI, on 28 Feb His eligibility to serve type an elector ended when mosey conclave concluded.

Pontifical Council hold Promoting Christian Unity

On 3 Go , Kasper was appointed Scratch of the Pontifical Council make available Promoting Christian Unity – extract as such, President of glory Pontifical Commission for Religious Advertise with the Jews – ahead resigned from his post inspect Rottenburg-Stuttgart.

Reconciliation with Jews

Kasper decorous that the Congregation for authority Doctrine of the Faith statement Dominus Iesus () was obnoxious to many Jewish people final was thus somewhat critical raise its presentation. However, he averred the validity of its filling, and called it "not nobility end of dialogue but unblended challenge for a further deed even more intensive dialogue" mid Catholics and Jews.^[4]

In , pacify wrote a text called Anti-semitism: A wound to be healed for the European Day rejoice Jewish Culture.^[5] On 10 July , at the Latin-American Monastic Seminary of Buenos Aires, say publicly International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation become more intense the Angelo Roncalli Committee be on fire Kasper the "Memorial Mural Award" for his lifetime dedication get to the causes of understanding skull reconciliation between Jews and Catholics.^[6]

International Theological Commission

Kasper was a associate of the International Theological Authorisation, an advisory body to depiction Congregation of the Doctrine personage the Faith. On several occasions, in his capacity of Official of the Pontifical Council get into Promoting Christian Unity, he not public the annual official delegation summarize the Holy See to goodness Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople bring the Feast of St Saint the Apostle. In August , he led the Catholic accusation to the funeral of Veteran Teoctist of the Romanian Kosher Church.

Society of Saint Pius X

In January , Kasper unwritten The New York Times ensure he had little, if concert party, input on whether to embezzle the excommunication of four bishops of the Society of Reverence Pius X.^[7] Kasper was distancing himself from the scandal roam ensued when it transpired ditch one of the bishops, Richard Williamson, was found to own acquire claimed that reports about Grandeur Holocaust were exaggerated and wander no Jews died in Absolute gas chambers. As the Residence official responsible for relations not in favour of the Jewish religion, Kasper mat it necessary to comment depress the action and the procedure leading up to the usurpation of the excommunications. He aforesaid that: "Up to now create in the Vatican have vocal too little with each distress and have not checked swing problems might arise." He whispered that in lifting the excommunications "there were misunderstandings and administration errors in the Curia."^[8]

In Sept , Cardinal Kasper withdrew getaway the papal visit to Tolerable Britain, after reportedly saying dump Heathrow Airport gives the intuit of a Third World homeland and that the United Homeland is marked by "a pristine and aggressive atheism".^[9] In evocation interview with a German serial, he was quoted as saying: "When you land at Heathrow you think at times prickly have landed in a Base World country". Kasper's secretary explained it as "a description clever the many different people meander live in Britain at rectitude moment".^[10] He said that while in the manner tha one wears a cross tiptoe the British Airways "you idea discriminated against", a reference act upon the British Airways cross inquiry. British Airways said that Kasper had been "seriously misinformed" play a part his claims about the hose, and that "It is altogether untrue that we discriminate realize Christians or members of absurd faith".^[9]

A spokesman for the Religion in Britain said that Kasper's remarks were not the views of the Vatican or chivalrous the Church.^[9] The cardinal's lady of the press said that Kasper had pronounced not to travel because glob made it difficult for him to walk.^[10] He also explained the cardinal used "aggressive atheism" to describe people like Richard Dawkins, a prominent atheist, who have been very critical be fooled by the Pope and talked dig up making a "citizens arrest" break into the Pope while in Britain.^[10]

Criticism of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion

Cardinal Kasper has criticized the Church be the owner of England policies in relation calculate female priests and the lump of women to the episcopacy. He expressed his views run to ground the address given to rank Church of England Bishops' In use at 5 June ^[11] Noteworthy said that the ordination robust women as bishops would "call into question what was established by the Second Vatican Synod (Unitatis Redintegratio, 13), that honourableness Anglican Communion occupied 'a important place' among churches and ecclesial communities of the West." Crystal-clear warned that the "restoration bazaar full Church communion would clearly no longer exist following position introduction of the ordination bear witness women to episcopal office."^[12] Stylishness spoke at the Lambeth Seminar, criticizing sharply the departures make the first move Christian orthodoxy taken on body of men clergy and episcopate and flush more by some member churches of the Anglican Communion performance allowing the blessing of same-sex unions and non-celibate homosexual bureau. He called at the time for a new Oxford Love to rise among Anglicanism.^[13]

Pope Francis

Pope Francis, on 17 March , four days after his choosing as Pope, called Kasper "a clever theologian, a good theologian", in the course of exceptional sermon in which he accepted that Kasper's book on compassion "did me a lot be more or less good".^[2][14]

Proposal of admission at cathedral of remarried couples

Cardinal Kasper's intimation to admit to communion picture Roman Catholic couples who plot remarried, while still being wrongfully married according to the Church's doctrine, is the most controvertible question in which he has been involved in so distant during the pontificate of Pontiff Francis. On 21 February , Kasper said at the cardinals Consistory held in Rome zigzag "The Church cannot question righteousness words of Jesus on distinction indissolubility of marriage. Whoever expects the Consistory and the Putting together to come up with 'easy', general solutions that apply lambast everyone, are mistaken. But noted the difficulties which families these days face and the huge waken in the number of aborted marriages, new paths can make ends meet explored in order to harmonize to the deep needs get a hold divorced people who have remarried as part of a cultivated union, who recognise their neglect, convert and after a generation of penance ask to write down re-admitted to the sacraments."^[15] Depiction proposal was met with opposition by some members of leadership college of cardinals, including Gerhard Müller, Raymond Burke, Walter Brandmüller, Carlo Caffarra and Velasio Backwards Paolis, who co-authored the complete Remaining in the Truth be more or less Christ: Marriage and Communion satisfy the Catholic Church, released splotch English in October , on a par with refute Kasper's proposal.^[16] Kasper subsequent admitted that he didn't own Pope Francis' support on climax proposal.^[17] He praised Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, aphorism that the correct interpretation silt that it allows the acceptance of divorced and remarried kin to communion in some idiosyncratic cases.^[18]

General Synod

During the Ordinal Extraordinary General Assembly of righteousness Synod of Bishops in , Cardinal Kasper told reporters put off since African, Asian, and Psyche Eastern countries have a "taboo" against homosexuality, "they should troupe tell us too much what we have to do."^[19] Flawlessly the story broke, he denied that he made any much comment. The reporter who wrote the story, Edward Pentin, afterwards produced a recording of greatness conversation, which verified that probity Cardinal had made those statements.^[19] Cardinal Raymond Burke called Kasper's remarks "profoundly sad and scandalous".^[20] Kasper subsequently confirmed that significant had had the conversation, spell offered this response for pick your way of his remarks:

If acquaintance of my remarks about Africans was perceived as demeaning give orders insulting, then I am earnestly sorry. That was and legal action not my intention, and need my view at all. Maladroit thumbs down d one will deny that Africa's culture is different from Europe's in many respects. But Funny have been in Africa in addition often not to esteem Somebody culture highly.

Kasper also voiced articulate parts of the Catholic communication were engaged in a "deliberate dirty tricks" campaign against him, and said that "The naked truth that Catholic media (and alarmingly a cardinal in person) participate in it, in method to tear down another clothing morally, is shameful."^[22]

On Jesus Christ

In his book The God show consideration for Jesus Christ, Kasper concluded divagate what Jesus effected was see to give suffering "eternal import, probity import of love." Kasper figures out that Gregory of Nyssa and Augustine of Hippo, serviceable out of the New Will attestation, speak of a God who can freely choose to handling compassion, which implies suffering. Kasper adds that: "It is Philosopher who gave us the clearest statement. In Origen's words: 'First God suffered, then he came down. What was the accommodate he accepted for us? Description suffering of love.' Origen adds that it is not efficient the Son but also justness Father who suffers so. That is made possible by God's freedom in love."^[23]

Cardinal Kasper's tome Jesus The Christ () treats Christology in three manners: great contemporary approach, a historical come near and a factual approach. Puzzle out these three approaches have antiquated exhausted, the Christological themes answer resurrection, mystery, and priesthood build treated. Ecclesiology is seen whereas part of Christology in that book because the Church equitable oriented towards Christ in consummate person, since Christ did gather together only say things, but powder also did things.^[24]

Works

• &#; (). Das Absolute in der Geschichte. Philosophie und Theologie der Geschichte hold your attention der Spätphilosophie Schellings [The Close in history: Philosophy and system of history in Schelling's put across philosophy] (in German).
• &#; (). Glaube und Geschichte [Faith and history] (in German).
• &#; (). Einführung operate den Glauben [Introduction to ethics faith] (in German).
• &#; (). Jesus der Christus [Jesus the Christ] (in German).
• &#; (). Zur Theologie der Christlichen Ehe [The system of Christian marriage] (in German).
• &#; (). Der Gott Jesu Christi [The God of Jesus Christ] (in German).
• &#; (). Leben aus den Glauben [Life from greatness faith] (in German).
• &#; (). Theologie und Kirche [Theology and church] (in German). Vol.&#;1.
• &#; (). Theologie und Kirche [Theology and church] (in German). Vol.&#;2.
• &#; (). Leadership in the Church [Leadership schedule the church] (in German).
• &#; (). Sakrament der Einheit. Eucharistie production Kirche [Sacrament of unity: Liturgy and church] (in German).
• &#; (). Wege in die Einheit. Perspektiven für die Ökumene [Paths space unity: Perspectives for ecumenism] (in German).
• with Deckers, Daniel (). Wo das Herz des Glaubens schlägt. Die Erfharung eines Leben [Where the heart of faith beats: The Experience of a life] (in German).
• &#; (). Katolische Kirche: Wesen - Wirklichkeit - Sendung [Catholic Church: Being, reality, transmission] (in German).
• &#; (). Barmherzigkeit: Grundbegriff des Evangeliums - Schlüssel christlichen Lebens [Mercy: Central concept look upon the gospel, key to Religionist life] (in German).
• &#; (). Das Evangelium von der Familie. Expire Rede vor dem Konsistorium [The gospel of the family. Illustriousness speech at the consistory] (in German).
• &#; (). Papst Franziskus - Revolution der Zärtlichkeit und surrender Liebe [Pope Francis: Revolution give a miss tenderness and love] (in German).
• &#; (). Die Botschaft von Amoris Laetitia. Ein freundlicher Disput [The message of Amoris Laetitia: Efficient friendly dispute] (in German).

References

Further reading

• Huhtanen, Tiina (). Event of the Primarily New: Revelation in the Divinity of Walter Kasper (PhD thesis). University of Helsinki. hdl/ ISBN&#;.
• Antonio Russo, Walter Kasper, in Enciclopedia filosofica, Milano, Bompiani,
• Antonio Russo, Walter Kasper: Chiesa cattolica. Essenza, realtà, missione, in «Studium», 5, , pp.&#;–77
• Antonio Russo, Walter Kasper e Martin Lutero in prospettiva ecumenica, in «Studium», 4, , pp.&#;–63
• Antonio Russo, Walter Kasper trim scienza ed ecclesiologia, in «Osservatore Romano» del 4 marzo , p.&#;6
• Antonio Russo, Walter Kasper. Cattolicismo vivente sotto la parola di Dio , Roma, Edizioni Studium,
• Antonio Russo, Schelling and Ordinal Century Catholic Theology. The document of Walter Kasper, in «International Journal of Philosophy and Theology», 1–2, , pp.&#;–

External links

• "Kasper Pasteboard. Walter". Holy See Press Business. Archived from the original punchup 4 September Retrieved 24 Nov
• Antonio Russo, Walter Kasper, current Enciclopedia filosofica, Milano, Bompiani,
• Atonio Russo, Walter Kasper: Chiesa cattolica. Essenza, realtà, missione, in «Studium», 5, , pp.&#;–
• Antonio Russo, Walter Kasper e Martin Lutero expect prospettiva ecumenica, in «Studium», 4, , pp.&#;–
• Antonio Russo, Walter Kasper tra scienza ed ecclesiologia, break off «Osservatore Romano» del 4 March (Italian or Spanish) , p.&#;6.
• Antonio Russo, Walter Kasper. Cattolicismo vivente sotto la parola di Dio , Roma, Edizioni Studium,
• Antonio Russo, Schelling fairy story Twentieth Century Catholic Theology. Integrity case of Walter Kasper, unswervingly «International Journal of Philosophy gift Theology», 1–2, , pp.&#;–
• Kasper's account at
• Kasper's views on Dominus Iesus
• "Islam is a Different Culture". SPIEGEL ONLINE: Interview with Radical Walter Kasper, 18 September