Leo Scheffczyk

Leo Scheffczyk (February 21, 1920 &ndash Beuthen O.S.; December 8, 2005) was a long-time theologian at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and one of the strongest forces for orthodoxy during the long pontificate of John Paul II. During the 1980s and 1990s, he severely criticized some of his former students, e.g. Leonardo Boff, who advocated a version of liberation theology. What limited evidence is available suggests Scheffczyk likely played a major role in drafting the most controversial documents, such as Ordinatio Sacerdotalis and Ad Tuendam Fidem.Allen, John L. (Jr.); Cardinal Ratzinger: The Vatican's Enforcer of the Faith; page 186; published 2000 by Continuum International Publishing Group.
====Life and career ====
He was born in the city of Beuthen, today Bytom, Poland. He studied during World War II at the famous theological department of the University of Breslau. Moving to the University of Munich, Scheffczyk was ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of Munich on June 29, 1947.
Immediately, Scheffczyk took to theological work and within a year of his ordination he was already a theology professor at the seminary in Königstein im Taunus. He later moved to the more prestigious university at Tübingen. During that time his theological knowledge was already immensely appreciated by his students, including such notables as Walter Kasper. Whilst he was immensely knowledgeable on such subjects as the Virgin Mary, Scheffczyk was not then considered a likely choice for a promotion into the papal curia. Unlike such theologians as Yves Congar, he remained remote from the proceedings of Vatican II, though he undoubtedly understood its thought very well.
His return to the University of Munich in 1965 coincided with long periods of writing on various theological topics. 
After 1978, Scheffczyk became a monsignor. Though still focusing on writing theology, he did an increasing amount of work in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, often being consulted by Ratzinger as the Congregation devoted itself to settling theological questions. However, Scheffczyk never apparently had any desire to become a public figure.Allen, p. 45-47.
John Paul II, responding to requests by Cardinal RatzingerExtract from November 2006 interview with Pope Benedict XVI, on the web here. and by Avery Dulles, appointed Scheffczyk a cardinal on February 21, 2001. Considering his age, Scheffczyk asked for dispensation not to be ordained a bishop (as required by modern canonical law).
He was regarded as an important thinker in late twentieth-century Catholicism.
===Mariology===
Scheffczyk was an enyclopedic mariologist; co-editor and major contributor to Marienlexikon,Remigius Bäumer, Leo Scheffczyk (Hrsg.) Marienlexikon Gesamtausgabe, Institutum Marianum Regensburg, 1994, ISBN 3-88096-891-8 which includes mariological studies on some 4000 pages. In his article on mariology during Vatican II, he opined, that in the justified search for unity among Christians, Marian beliefs and devotions were understated by some representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, starting with the Vatican II document Lumen Gentium, the Marian chapter: "The coldness and reserve of this document can be explained, as it is openly admitted, in showing consideration for the ecumenical dialogues especially with Protestants. The success of this justifiable method, should not be overrated. And it does not stop theology to say more." Leo Cardinal Scheffczyk, Vaticanum II, in Marienlexikon, 571 He disagrees with those who consider the document as not satisfying conservatives, liberals, Orthodox and Protestants, stating that the document contains visible elements for a mariological bridging of positions, a bridging, which he concludes has so far not succeeded. He regretted, however, that: 
The decisive basic statements (on Mary) are compromises, which narrow the richness of the existing faith and invite diverging interpretations,, such as the accusation, the Council eliminated the Mediatrix teachings.Leo Cardinal Scheffczyk, Vaticanum II, in Marienlexikon,570
==Notes==
*Remigius Bäumer, Leo Scheffczyk (Hrsg.) Marienlexikon Gesamtausgabe, Institutum Marianum Regensburg, 1994, ISBN 3-88096-891-8 
==External links==
*http://www.leo-cardinal-scheffczyk.org
Category:1920 births
Category:2005 deaths
Category:German cardinals
Category:German Roman Catholics
Category:Roman Catholic theologians
Category:People from Bytom
Category:People from the Province of Upper Silesia
Category:Roman Catholic Mariology
Category:Cardinals created by Pope John Paul II
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