An Austrian Cistercian moral theologian has received both criticism and support after being suspended from his teaching position for comments defending past popes for executing heretics — despite his insistence that he does not advocate such a punishment today.
Father Wolfgang Klausnitzer, rector of the Benedict XVI Philosophical-Theological University in Heiligenkreuz, Austria, suspended Father Edmund Waldstein Sept. 4 from teaching at the college, saying he would not be able to return while the rector served out his term, and redirected Father Waldstein to doctoral study in Rome.
Father Klausnitzer called Father Waldstein’s comments “unspeakable,” adding that he would not accept such theological principles from a first-year student. According to the rector, Father Waldstein did not withdraw the comments when the rector asked for a scholarly explanation; the Austrian priest was on leave when the rector’s decision was reported.
The apparent trigger for Father Waldstein’s suspension relates to remarks he made in a 2019 blog post. After calling for prudence when tending to the baptized, he wrote that sometimes to protect the common good, punishment is required for those who “violate their baptismal obligations,” while at the same time being careful “not to scrape off the rust too violently, lest she
