Catholic Theologians in Nazi Germany

Description

Catholic and Protestant bishops during the period of the Third Reich are often accused of being either sympathetic to the Nazi regime or at least generally tolerant of its anti-Jewish stance so long as the latter did not infringe on the functions of the church. With some notable exceptions that accusation is extended to many lesser figures, including seminary professors and pastors. Most notably the exceptions include such martyred heroes as Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Max Metzger, religious activists and writers still of great influence. Among Catholic theologians the record is no less cloudy. Theology and Politics while discussing a range of religious scholars, focuses on five major theologians who were born during the Kulturkampf; came to maturity and international recognition during the Hitler era; and had an influence on Catholicism in the English-speaking world. Three were in varying degrees and for varying lengths of time sympathetic to the professed goals of the Third Reich: Karl Adam, Karl Eschweiler, and Joseph Lortz. The other two, Romano Guardini and Engelbert Krebs, were publicly critical of the new regime. Interestingly, the two theologians who have had the greatest influence in the English-speaking world, Guardini and Adam, were initially on opposite sides of the Nazi divide. The interplay of theology and politics to which the title refers is evident in the fact that while all the theologians differed from the classic theology of the church as a 'perfect society', and were 'progressive' in their rejection of neo-scholastic methodology, they differed among themselves in envisaging the church either as the enemy of modernity or as its religious dialogue partner. The first group, initially approving the Reich agenda, were Adam, Eschweiler (the most ardent supporter), and Lortz; the second included Guardini and Krebs (the most ardent opponent).

Robert A.Krieg has been described by Cardinal Walter Kasper as an outstanding and thoughtful researcher of German theology and culture. He is Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, author of three previous books,contributor to major journals in the field, and recipient of the Henry Luce Award from the Association of Theological Schools.

"Among a spate of books published in recent years that deal with the checkered history of the relations between the Christian Church and the Third Reich, Robert Krieg's latest volume deserves special mention. Lauded by Cardinal Walter Kasper for his work on German theology and culture, Krieg has crafted another well-written and researched book that especially focuses on how five notable German Catholic scholars reacted to Hitler and the Nazi Program." - Peter Bernardi, S.J., Loyola University, Catholic Books Review, 2004 "This excellent book profiles five highly regarded German Catholic theologians whose careers were at their height during the Nazi era.... This book tells a fascinating story... Two main insights emerge from this book. One is that any kind of claim that either German Catholic leaders or the Vatican were enthusiastic about Nazism must be rejected." -JCS (Journal of Church and State), Autumn 2004 "Drawing on a wide variety of German and English sources, Krieg has written an informative book on an important and neglected topic. His evaluations of individuals are balanced and nuanced, with due attention to their historical context....makes an important contribution toward a better understanding of an important period of Catholic theology." -America, 12/13/04 "While written for an academic audience, I recommend this book to all who wish to understand the evolution of theology from its focus on protection of the institution to one that recognizes the church's mission to include the promotion of justice and human rights." -Catholic New Times, 1/30/05 "Robert Krieg's work offers historians a very readable, understandable account of five major German Catholic theologians and their views on the mission of the Catholic Church in a modern world...By examining [their] teachings, Krieg demonstrates the conflicting and evolving notions of what the Church should be while he simultaneously impresses on the readers the idea that what these theologians believed had a substantial impact on the world as they were teaching their ideas to hundreds of seminarians each day...Krieg's excellent work underscores the idea that the Catholic Church's self-image had to be clarified after living through the darkness of the Hitlerzeit." - Beth A. Griech-Polelle, H-Net Reviews, April 2005 "Krieg's ability to combine close reading of texts...and his clear explanations of the intersection of philosophical, historical, and religious thought that resulted in the massacre of six million Jews, render his work imminently readable and informative...Krieg's work is particularly relevant today, when fundamentalist strains in all of the world's major religions are growing stronger and more violent." -Altar Magazine, 2004 This is a carefully researched and lucidly written explication of the difficulties that faced German bishops and leading theologians in their confrontation with National Socialism. Professor Krieg makes a seminal contribution to our understanding of how and why such influential Catholics could find theological justification for making accommodation with Hitler's regime. Yet he gives special place to those who resisted the Third Reich on religious grounds (Guardini and Krebs), and in doing so shows how they broke new ground in revealing the moral linkages between Catholic theology and the challenges of modernization. Krieg's book is required reading for those who seek not just a deeper understanding of German theologians and Nazism but how that experience contributed to the new theology that informed the Second Vatican Council. -- Jay P. Corrin, Professor and Chairman, Division of Social Science, College of General Studies, Boston University -- Jay P. Corrin * Blurb from reviewer * "This volume is a most important addition to contemporary Catholic discussion on several counts.... In short, Krieg has given us a masterful study in history and ecclesiology. We owe him a great debt of thanks." -Catholic Library World, 75.3, 3/05 * Catholic Library World * "Dr. Krieg's book is a well-written survey of the attitude of Catholic theologians toward Hitler." - National Catholic Reporter, October 7, 2005 * National Catholic Reporter *