In an interview appearing in a popular Bavarian newspaper, Cardinal Gerhard Müller has publicly criticized Pope Francis for the “unacceptable” way in which the Pope recently dismissed him as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith (CDF).
“On the very last day of my mandate as CDF prefect, the Pope informed me within one minute of his decision not to prolong me. He did not give a reason – just as he gave no reason for dismissing three highly competent members of the CDF a few months earlier,” the 69-year-old Cardinal said.
“I cannot accept this way of doing things. As a Bishop, one cannot treat people in this way,” he said in the interview, which was published on July 6th.“I have said this before – the Church’s social teaching must also be applied to the way employees are treated here in the Vatican,” he added.
Pope Francis told Cardinal Müller in a private meeting at the Vatican on June 30th that his mandate as doctrinal chief would not be renewed. The five-year term officially came to an end on July 2nd.
Cardinal Müller indicated that the recently deceased Cardinal Joachim Meisner, one of the four cardinals to publicly challenge the Pope on issues concerning marriage and divorce, was “particularly upset” to hear of Francis’ decision.The former CDF prefect said he spoke to the 83-year-old Cardinal about his dismissal in a long telephone conversation on the evening of July 4th.“It moved and hurt him personally. He thought it would harm the Church,” said Müller.
“That naturally speaks for me,” he added
“I was always loyal to the Pope and always will be as a Catholic, a Bishop and a Cardinal,” he insisted.But he also emphasized that it was the task of the Pope and the Bishops to adhere to the truth of the Gospels and to preserve church unity.“And this is where I must stress with all due clarity that the attempts up to now by Cardinals Schönborn, Kasper and others to explain how we can achieve a balancing act between dogma, that is church teaching, and pastoral practice (concerning communion for remarried divorcees), are simply not convincing,” Müller said.
When asked if he thought Pope Francis should discuss the dubia with the remaining three cardinals who signed the letter, he said:“I would suggest that the pope entrust me with the dialogue as I have the competence and the necessary sense of responsibility required. I could moderate the discussion between the pope and the cardinals.”He said he would not allow himself to be “harnessed to a movement which is critical of the pope”. Instead, he said dialogue and cooperation was called for.“Bridges are needed to prevent a schism,” he warned. And he added that as a Cardinal he continued to be responsible for preserving church unity and to avoiding polarizations as far as possible.“
The German media has given wide coverage to Müller’s dismissal as the head of the doctrinal congregation. Die Zeit, the high-quality 60-page weekly, devoted a whole page to him entitled, “His deep Fall”.
One of the most arresting lines in the article was a comment attributed to an unnamed Vatican diplomat.“His task should have been to explain the reforms and translate them for the world at large; not to break with tradition, but to write a new chapter of tradition,” the diplomat said.“Instead he acted as the pope’s inquisitor.”
Perhaps, as one listens to Cardinal Muller’s assessment of his abilities and talents, it is a bit easier to understand why the Holy Father did not renew his appointment as Prefect of the Congregation and why the Pope has yet to assign the Prefect-emeritus to any other position, administrative or pastoral.
Sadly, it seems the only one who does not think that Muller’s haughty attitude and self-assessment is his greatest fault is Muller himself.
But, isn’t that the way of things. Aren’t we most blind to the things of our own making which are the cause of so many of our challenges and defeats!
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