I did not realize when I posted William Oddie's commentary on the new CDF Prefect in the preceding page that Andrea Tornielli had, in fact, sought out theologian-liturgist Don Nicola Bux - a consultor to both the CDF and the Congregation for Divine Worship, as well as to the Office of Pontifical Liturgical Celebration - to ask him about the major theological 'issues' that have been raised about Mons. Mueller. His answers should dissipate undue alarm. (Of course, it would be best to hear from Mueller himself!] I have not had a chance to read any of Mueller's theological writings, but if his friend Gustavo Gutierrez was careful enough not to overstep the limits of orthodoxy in his writings on liberation theology, then I imagine Mueller is intelligent enough not to do so himself in his own theology. And if he had, Joseph Ratzinger would not have given him a pass.
Fr. Bux on Mueller's theology:
'If statements are taken out of context,
it's easy to condemn anyone'
by Andrea Tornielli
Translated from the Italian service of
VATICAN CITY, July 5 - The appointment of the Bishop of Regensburg, Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, to be the new Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was preceded and followed by the dissemination - first through anonymous e-mails, and then through online articles, including the website of the FSSPX's Italian district - of fragments excerpted from his writings presented as questionable statements with respect to Catholic doctrine.
Are they? VATICAN INSIDER interviewed Vatican theologian Don Nicola Bux on the specific issues raised.
In his book on dogma, Mueller writes that the doctrine on the virginity of Mary "does not really refer to specific physiological characteristics of the natural process of childbirth".
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the corporeal aspect of Mary's virginity all has to do with the fact that Jesus was conceived without human semen, but by the action of the Holy Spirit. It is a divine action that surpasses every human understanding and possibility. The Church professes the real and perpetual virginity of Mary but does not go into physical specifics. Neither did the Councils nor the Fathers of the Church.
I think that is how one must understand what Mueller wrote, who is not proposing a 'doctrine' nor does he deny the perpetual virginity of Mary, but was warning against what one might call 'Capharnaumism', that manner of reasoning 'according to the flesh' and not 'according to the spirit', which emerged in Capharnaum among the Jews after Jesus's discourse on the bread of life.
In 2002, Mueller in his book Die Messe - Quelle des christlichen Lebens (The Mass - Spring of Christian Living), writing about the Eucharistic sacrament, wrote that "the body and blood of Christ do not indicate material components of the human person of Jesus during his earthly life nor in his transfigured corporeality. Here, Body and Blood signify the presence of Christ in the signs of bread and wine".
It was precisely in Capharnaum that the terms used by Jesus - body and blood - were misunderstood to be anthropomorphic, and the Lord had to underscore their spiritual sense, which does not mean that his presence is less real, true abd substantial. One can look it up in the Catechism.
St. Ambrose said that the Eucharist does not have to do with 'body and blood' constituted in nature, but of the substance 'produced' by the formula of Consecration: nature itself is transformed, and bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ, the being of Jesus himself.
The Council of Trent said that our Lord, true God and true man, is 'substantially' present in the Eucharist. He is present sacramentally in his substance - a mysterious way of being that is possible for God and which we accept on faith.
St. Thomas said that what characterizes the presence of Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist is 'substance' not 'quantity'. The appearance of bread and wine mediates our access to that substance, which becomes direct at communion.
The Council of Trent did not see any contradiction between the natural presence of Christ in heaven and his sacramental presence in many other places. All of this was reiterated by Paul VI in an unfortunately rather forgotten encyclical,
Mysterium Fidei. Our senses alone do not suffice our faith is required. And the Eucharist is
mysterium fidei, a mystery of faith.
Regarding Protestantism and Jesus's salvific uniqueness, Mueller in October 2011 said that "Baptism is the fundamental sign that unites us sacramentally in Christ and which presents us as one Church before the world. Therefore, we as Catholics and evangelical Christians afre already united even in what we call the visible Church".
St. Augustine, against the Donatists, defended the truth that baptism is an indestructible bond, that the fraternity of Christians cannot be abolished even when some are schismatic or heretic. Unfortunately in the Church today, theological debate is feared, and those who think differently are ostracized. And of course, theology can be a matter of opinion. [This could be misinterpreted easily to mean that any theological dissent is valid. This must be qualified by the fact that diverse opinions, to be valid for the faith, must remain within the accepted doctrine - sentire cum ecclesia - and not stray from it, such as specific 'teachings' advanced by theologians who have been censured by the CDF or by their own bishops in recent history.]
Nonetheless, doctrinal development benefits from debate. He who has better arguments can convince. The accusations against Mons. Mueller have to do with statements taken out of context - doing so, it is easy to condemn anyone.
A true Catholic must trust the authority of the Pope, always. In this case, I believe Benedict XVI knows what he is doing... And I take the occasion to renew to the FSSPX the invitation to trust the Pope.
It has been said that new CDF Prefect has not been very approving of Summorum Pontificum, even now.
I am sure he understands the reasons that led the Pope to promulgate it and that he will work aaccording to the spirit and the letter of the motu proprio.
[He has no choice. Not only because this is one of Benedict XVI's key initiatives and obviously very daar to his heart, but because the CDF promulgated Universae Ecclesiae last year setting down guidelines for the universal Church in implementing Summorum Pontificum. But a clear statement from him would be welcome. Especially considering that the CDF's patron is St. Pius V, the Pope of the Council of Trent.]
Regarding the excerpts of Mueller's theology that have been extrapolated, it must be remembered he wrote them when he was a theologian. A theologian does not produce doctrine - at least not right away. As a bishop, he has to defend and disseminate not his doctirne, but that of the Church, and I think he has done that. As Prefect, he will continue to do so under the leadership of the Holy Father.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 10/07/2012 04:03]