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Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Title:Discussions from a Christian Perspective
Notice:Prostitutes and tax collectors welcome!
Moderator:CSC32::J_CHRISTIE
Created:Mon Sep 17 1990
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1362
Total number of notes:61362

246.0. "Hans Kung" by NYTP07::LAM () Sun Jun 02 1991 05:21

    Does anyone know anything or have heard anything of the theologian Hans
    Kung?  I heard some years ago that the Roman Catholic Church has
    threatened to excommunicate him for heresy.  Does anyone know why and
    whether they did or not?
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246.1DECWIN::MESSENGERBob MessengerSun Jun 02 1991 16:316
Kung is a proponent of modernism, which is the idea that the Church's moral
teaching should change with the times.  The last I heard his teaching
privileges at Catholic institutions had been revoked, but I don't know whether
he has been excommunicated.

				-- Bob
246.2JURAN::VALENZAStop picking your notes!Mon Jun 03 1991 00:1813
    Kung is a proponent of the concept of "paradigm change" within
    theology.  This concept was first developed by Thomas Kuhn, a
    philosopher of science, but Kung believes that it can also be applied
    to theology.

    He is also the author of "On Being a Christian", a very well written
    and comprehensive explanation of Christianity.  Lately he has been
    involved in several interesting and important dialogues between
    Christianity and other faiths.  His book "Christianity and the World
    Religions", which he co-wrote with individuals associated each of
    several major world religions, is a product of that effort.

    -- Mike
246.3CARTUN::BERGGRENFollow your raptureMon Jun 03 1991 16:1417
    Hans Kung is currently the professor of Dogmatics and Theology and 
    director of the Institute of Ecumenical Studies at the University 
    of Tubingen, Germany.  
    
    I don't know if he was excommunicated, but according to an article 
    regarding his new book, _Global Responsibility: In Search of a New World 
    Ethic_ (May/June 91 issue of UU publication "World") he was "censured 
    in 1979" and "told that he was no longer a Catholic theologian."
    
    Hans Kung has devoted his life trying to building bridges between 
    Catholic and Protestant and Christians and non-Christians alike.  
    His actions have and continue to anger the Catholic hierachical
    conservatives.
    
    Hans Kung is a man and theologian I greatly admire.
    
    Karen
246.4non-update on Hans KungSDSVAX::SWEENEYPatrick Sweeney in New YorkTue Jul 23 1991 11:1621
    I read the previous notes and went to the library to see if I could get
    an update on Hans Kung.

    According to the Readers Guide to Periodical Literature, there's no
    citation for him since 1987.  In 1987 he gave an interview in
    Commonweal.  He's not a young man.

    Hans Kung is not excommunicated.  He has the same status as Fr. Charles
    Curran.  At one point in their lives, there were accredited by the
    Church as teachers of Roman Catholic theology.  Over time, their own
    public theological opinions began to contradict what the Bishops and
    the Pope regard as authentic Roman Catholic teaching and accordingly
    they lost their accreditation while remaining Catholic and Catholic
    priests and free to teach theology at schools which themselves are not
    accredited Catholic universities.

    This is in my opinion a matter of truth in labeling: these priests are
    free to speak but not to confuse their students and public that they
    speak for the Church in theological matters.  Indeed, their lose of
    credentials advances them as victims of persecution in the minds of
    some.