CARDINAL MULLER: AN EMBARRASSMENT TO HIMSELF AND THE CHURCH

Cardinal Gerhard Muller.  A legend in his own mind.  The arrogance of this man!

Every time His Eminence decides to speak, I am convinced even more that the Holy Father made a wise and prudent decision in dismissing him as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In a recent interview during a presentation of his latest book, the Cardinal  criticized Pope Francis for lacking “theological rigor”.  

Since that is not familiar to me as a technically theological term, I am not quite sure what he means in applying it to the Holy Father.

Personally, I find the Pope’s impromptu statements and the sound bites quoted from his homilies at morning Mass in the chapel of Santa Marta more than a bit bothersome at times.  However, to openly criticize the Pope by implying that his official writings are theologically sloppy is not only unfair but publicly disrespectful.

But that’s not what is upsetting me really about the Cardinal’s recent remarks.  

During the same interview, His Eminence hinted that he is ready and able to return to the ranks of the Roman Curia!

As though the Pope would have him!  Imagine!

And just listen to how this arrogant cleric envisions himself.  In his remarks, he recalled how the Jesuit Cardinal Saint Robert Bellarmine told Pope Clement VIII that he did not understand anything about theology.

He goes on to recount the fact that Saint Robert was fired from the Curia three times.

Well, I will never make any association between the likes of Saint Robert Bellarmine and Gerhard Muller, but I might agree that Muller could easily be fired from the Curia more than once, if any Pope would be foolish enough to hire him again.

Muller goes even further in his effort to insult not only the Holy Father but all theological reflections which are non-European and especially non-German.

The Cardinal took occasion to criticize what he refers to as the  “Latin American approach to theology”.  

“In Europe, theologians immediately have to have the exact Council text ready when words like ‘faith’ or ‘mercy’ are used. This kind of theology with which we are familiar doesn’t exist in Latin America. They are more intuitive there,” Cardinal Muller said. 

“They look at a text without considering it as part of a whole. We must somehow respect and accept this style. But I nevertheless wish that as far as teaching documents are concerned clear theological preparation must take place.”

Müller also stressed that theology itself is suffering under the Pontificate of  Pope Francis.

In a thinly-veiled attack upon Cardinal Parolin, Muller alleged that the Holy See’s Secretariat of State has become the most important authority in the Vatican.

In the past, it was his former dicastery, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, had a more authoritative role.

“Diplomacy and  power issues have priority today and that is a wrong strategic move which must be corrected”, the Cardinal said. “Something has always gone wrong when the Church seeks power.”

Sour grapes from a disgruntled cleric!

Muller said he will remain based in Rome focussing on pastoral care and scholarly work, and is also reportedly planning to make regular visits back to Germany.  

He certainly is free to do so, particularly in view of the fact that the Holy Father has given him no assignment whatsoever.

Simply put, Cardinal Muller is an embarrassment to himself and the Church.  

The quieter he remains, the better for all.