Peace offering stirs new debate

National Catholic Reporter, Nov 13, 1998 by John L. Jr. Allen

"This event was simply a very nice occasion to show Ratzinger as a smiling Inquisitor who can talk about highly theological subjects in a serene manner," Kung said. "He thought everybody would be impressed."

In 1979, when Ratzinger blocked Metz from an appointment at the University of Munich, his action provoked an outcry from the theological community in Germany. Jesuit Fr. Karl Rahner, for example, said of Ratzinger's move, "We can truly say that sensitivity to basic human rights must still develop within the church."

Metz later joined a number of other European theologians in the 1989 "Cologne Declaration," which criticized the papacy for the appointment of bishops without local consultation, for overstepping its competence in doctrinal matters, and for interfering in the academic freedom of European universities.

During their dialogue, Ratzinger agreed with Metz that "the suffering of others must be the central standard of action, not only for Christians, but also in secular politics and society." Metz in turn picked up a favorite theme of both Ratzinger and John Paul, arguing that an apocalyptic understanding of the preciousness of time should be asserted against "an intoxicating relativism."