April 20, 2005

Uta Ranke-Heinemann on Benedict XVI

Like many, I was stunned to learn yesterday that Cardinal Ratzinger, the great Enforcer of church doctrine, had been elected pope. Once the shock wore off, one of my first thoughts was, What does Uta make of all this?

By Uta, Im referring to German theologian Uta Ranke-Heinemannone of Pope John Paul IIs most outspoken critics. She had also been a classmate of Joseph Ratzingers, when they were doctoral students together at the University of Munich in the early 1950s.  

The daughter of the late Gustav Heinemann, president of West Germany from 1969 to 1974, Uta went on to become the worlds first woman professor of Catholic theology when she was given a church-appointed chair at the University of Essen. She also became the bestselling author of several controversial books, including "Eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven" and "Putting Away Childish Things," both of which sold millions of copies around the world. In 1987, the church declared Uta ineligible to teach, after she declared the virgin birth to be a theological belief and not a biological fact. She still holds a chair in religious studies at Essena state chair.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, of course, did not run afoul of the church, which is one reason why he is now the pope and Uta Ranke-Heinemann is not.

I thought of Uta yesterday becauseto make a long story shortI met her in April 1994 when I was working for Harper San Francisco, which had just published "Putting Away Childish Things." Harper had organized a U.S. book tour for Uta, two days into which she claimed to have suffered a "nervous breakdown" and threatened to cancel the tour unless someone was sent to escort her from city to city. I was put on a plane the following day. Over the next two weeks, I heard a great deal about Pope John Paul II (little of it good)and about Cardinal Ratzinger, of whom she spoke highly.

I reached Uta, now 77, by phone last night at her home in Essen, Germany. We spoke for more than an hour. Heres some of what she had to say about the new pope.

What was your reaction when you learned that Cardinal Ratzinger had been elected?

I never in my life would have imagined that I would be happy over the election of a new pope. But I am happy for Cardinal Ratzingeror, I should say Pope Benedict XVIbecause we have had a long-standing mutual respect for one another.

Youre not the only person who might be surprised by your response. After all, you were one of the sharpest critics of John Paul II, whom Ratzinger served as chief theological adviser&

Well, yes, there is obviously a discrepancy between my respect for Ratzinger and my total disagreement with John Paul II. I asked myself this question earlierwhy on earth have I always liked Ratzinger, for more than 51 years, while over the past 26 years John Paul II constantly got on my nerves? I confess Im not sure I know the answer.

Lets back up. When did you first meet Ratzinger?
 
We were doctoral students together at the University of Munich in 1953 and 1954, which was the first time a woman was allowed to get a doctorate in Catholic theology. And our respect for each other deepened when we had to defend our theses in Latin. In preparation, we translated our theses together from German into Latin.

What was the new pope like as a theology student?

He was very intelligent. He was the star studentthe star-male student; there were very few female studentsand we all admired his intelligence. But there was something more about him I admired. He was a rather shy student, not obsessed with his ego. I liked his humble intelligence. I still do like many passages in his books, and Ive quoted them in my books. And all my life, many people have been astonished that Ive always sort of defended Ratzinger, even though Ive said that many of his opinions are totally wrong.  [Read more here.]

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