Kung banned in Spain

Catholic New Times, Dec 14, 2003

BARCELONA, Spain -- Banned from giving a lecture in a Barcelona church, Professor Hans Kung has criticised "the limited outlook of senior officials," and challenged the head of the church in Barcelona to a public debate.

The Swiss theologian was scheduled to speak in November in the fourteenth-century church of Santa Maria Del Pi. But the Archbishop of Barcelona, Cardinal Ricard Maria Caries, denied him permission to use any church in his archdiocese.

In a statement explaining the decision, Cardinal Carles's office noted that Kung's canonical mission to teach as a Catholic theologian had been withdrawn by the Vatican. Kung "has marked the 25 years of the papacy of John Paul II by publishing an article on the person of the Holy Father that is disrespectful and lacking in objectivity," the statement said.

The Swiss theologian was in Spain to promote his autobiography. Cardinal Carles had asked the co-organisers of the speaking event--UNESCO and the World Parliament of Religions--to ensure that Kfing did not make his speech in a church. They immediately complied" with the cardinal's request and relocated the meeting to Barcelona University, the statement added.