Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst
{{Short description|German Roman Catholic bishop and theologian}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Bishop
| honorific-prefix = The Most Reverend
| name = Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst
| title = Bishop Emeritus of Limburg
| image = FranzPeterTebartzvanElst 2017.jpg
| alt = a young bishop of Limburg
| caption = Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst in 2017
| church = Catholic
| see = Limburg
| term = 28 November 2007 – 26 March 2014
| predecessor = Franz Kamphaus
| successor = Georg Bätzing
| ordination = 26 May 1985
| ordinated_by =
| consecration = 18 January 2004
| consecrated_by = Reinhard Lettmann
| rank =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1959|11|20}}
| birth_place = Twisteden, Kleve, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany
| death_date =
| death_place =
| previous_post = Auxiliary Bishop of Münster
| coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst.svg
}}
{{infobox bishopstyles
| image = Coat of arms of Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst.svg
| name=Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst
| dipstyle=The Most Reverend
| offstyle=Your Excellency
| relstyle=Bishop
}}
Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst (born 20 November 1959) is a German prelate of the Catholic Church and theologian. He was a vicar and an auxiliary bishop in Münster before becoming the Bishop of Limburg in January 2008.
Pope Francis removed him from the exercise of his episcopal office on 23 October 2013 and on 26 March 2014 accepted his resignation as Bishop of Limburg, following a long-standing public dispute about the costs and financing of a diocesan construction project.
Life and ministry
Tebartz-van Elst is the second of five children born on 20 November 1959 to a farming family in Twisteden, near the Catholic pilgrimage village of Kevelaer in North Rhine-Westphalia.{{cite web|url=http://www.bistumlimburg.de/bistum-limburg/bischof.html|title=Bistum Limburg: Bischof|work=Bistum Limburg|year=2012|accessdate=13 October 2013|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019151227/http://www.bistumlimburg.de/bistum-limburg/bischof.html|archive-date=19 October 2013|url-status=dead}} The name "Van Elst" suggests that one of his ancestors came from the Dutch city of Elst, Gelderland.
He studied philosophy and Catholic theology at the Wilhelms University of Münster and the Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg. He completed further theological studies at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. From 1990 to 1996 he was vicar and chaplain at St. Paul's Cathedral in Münster, before receiving a teaching appointment at the University of Münster. His work in pastoral theology focused on the baptism and catechism for adults, and his manual for adult baptism reflects his focus on the Catholic evangelism of adults in an increasingly secular Germany.Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst,, Handbook of Adult Baptism: liturgy and preaching in the catechumenate (Aschendorff Verlag, 2002)Peter Krämer,, Right to religious freedom versus Mission: Christian Europe to the test (LIT Verlag Münster, 2007), including S. 154
In 2003, Pope John Paul II named him titular bishop of Girus Tarasii and auxiliary for the Diocese of Münster. On 28 November 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Limburg. In Limburg, he replaced Franz Kamphaus, whose liberal views had brought him into conflict with Pope John Paul II. In 1999, Kamphaus had refused to follow a Vatican instruction that Catholic organisations cease cooperation with medical clinics that issue referrals for abortions. He even refused when faced with a direct ultimatum from the Pope in March 2002, and the Vatican then stripped him of authority over counseling centres for pregnant women. Tebartz-van Elst, named a few years later to replace Kamphaus, who had been popular with his clergy, was seen as a representative of Roman discipline and authority.{{cite web |url=http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/world-news/detail/articolo/germania-germany-alemania-28860/ |title=Limburg's "big spender" bishop meets Francis face to face |work=La Stampa |accessdate=9 November 2015 |date=21 October 2013 |archive-date=21 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221153346/http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/world-news/detail/articolo/germania-germany-alemania-28860/ |url-status=dead }}
Early controversies
In 2008, Tebartz-van Elst admonished one of his priests, the Rev. Peter Kollas, for joining a Lutheran pastor in blessing a homosexual couple. The bishop argued that the relationship did not conform to Catholic teachings; Kollas argued that offering a blessing contradicted no norms of Catholic practice. Citing broken trust, the bishop removed Kollas from an administrative appointment within the diocese, while leaving him as parish priest of his local church in Wetzlar.{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/gesellschaft/homosexuellen-segnung-limburger-bischof-beruft-dekan-ab-a-573282.html | accessdate=9 November 2015| date= 20 August 2008| title= Homosexuellen-Segnung: Limburger Bischof beruft Dekan ab | work=Der Spiegel|language=de}}
In 2012 Der Spiegel reported that Tebartz-van Elst's and a travel companion flew to India in first class earlier that year, contradicting the Catholic Church's position on personal austerity. Tebartz-van Elst sued the magazine and swore in affidavits submitted to the court that he had travelled in business class using accumulated bonus miles. The state's attorney determined that he had actually flown in first class and cited him for perjury, for which he was fined €20,000.{{cite web|url=https://magazin.spiegel.de/reader/index_SP.html#j=2013&h=42&a=116119630 |title=Das Lügengebäude|work=Der Spiegel|date=14 October 2013|accessdate=14 October 2013|language=de}}{{cite news|first=Carol J. |last=Williams |url=http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-germany-shamed-bishop-of-bling-fine-20131118,0,302110.story.html |title= Germany's shamed 'Bishop of Bling' pays fine to settle court case |work=Los Angeles Times |date= 18 November 2013 }}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite news|url=http://www.dw.de/german-luxury-bishop-tebartz-van-elst-pays-fine-for-lying-under-oath/a-17237815 |title=German 'Luxury Bishop' Tebartz-van Elst pays fine for lying under oath| publisher= dw.de |accessdate= 15 August 2015 |language=de }}
Diocesan Centre St. Nicholas
File:Diözesanes Zentrum St. Nikolaus 2013.JPG
File:Neue Kapelle Limburg 2013.JPG
In 2002, the Diocese of Limburg committed to financial austerity, cutting salaries and expenses.{{cite web |url=http://sparen-und-erneuern.bistumlimburg.de/Sparen_und_Erneuern_Archiv.html |title=Bistum Limburg – Sparen und Erneuern – Archiv Sparen und erneuern |publisher=Sparen-und-erneuern.bistumlimburg.de |accessdate=24 October 2013 |language=de |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023034107/http://sparen-und-erneuern.bistumlimburg.de/Sparen_und_Erneuern_Archiv.html |archivedate=23 October 2013 |df=dmy-all }} In that context, the diocese's 2007 announcement of plans for a €6 million building renovation project was criticised by some of the laity.{{cite web|url=http://www.wir-sind-kirche.de/?id=129%C3%83%C6%92%C3%A2%E2%82%A^C%C5%A1%C3%83%E2%80%9A%C3%82%C2%A8id_entry=1842&id_entry=1183 |title=Wir sind Kirche Deutschland |publisher=Wir-sind-kirche.de |date=29 December 2007 |accessdate=24 October 2013 |language=de}} The diocese announced it was allocating €5.5 million, with €200,000 for the bishop's apartment, €300,000 for his private chapel, €500,000 for the administrative and guest area, €2 million for the renovation of the historic walls and display of archaeological finds and €2.5 million for the rehabilitation of the old clergy house.{{cite web |url=http://www.fnp.de/rhein-main/limburg-lahn/Der-Bischof-zeigt-sein-Haus;art680,280289 |title=Der Bischof zeigt sein Haus |work=Frankfurter Neue Presse |accessdate=24 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012044146/http://www.fnp.de/rhein-main/limburg-lahn/Der-Bischof-zeigt-sein-Haus;art680,280289 |archive-date=12 October 2013 |url-status=dead }} Years later, on 14 October 2013, as the controversy continued, the project's architect Michael Frielinghaus said that the 2010 figure of €5.5 million was always understood to be well below the true cost of the project.{{cite web|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/panorama/bistum-limburg-architekt-belastet-bischof-tebartz-van-elst-1.1793980|title=Bistum Limburg – Architekt belastet Bischof Tebartz-van Elst|work=Süddeutsche Zeitung|accessdate=24 October 2013|language=de}} When the building complex opened on 29 June 2013, the diocese announced that the final costs would be €9,850,000. It revised that number the next day after an internal audit committee complained that the number was totally unrealistic.{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article120863797/Limburger-Bischofssitz-wird-nochmals-deutlich-teurer.html |title=Limburger Bischofssitz wird nochmals deutlich teurer |work=Die Welt}}
In September 2013, a Vatican inspector, Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, visited Limburg to hold discussions with diocesan officials. A Vatican audit of the construction project determined that the costs of the project had grown to €31 million. Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, chair of the German Bishops' Conference warned that the Limburg scandal was affecting the Catholic Church throughout Germany and said he would discuss that impact with Pope Francis.{{cite web|title=Bishop under fire for luxury residence|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/world/10/14/13/bishop-under-fire-luxury-residence|work=ABS-CBN|publisher=abs-cbnnews.Com|accessdate=14 October 2013}} He also set up a commission to investigate the finances of the Limburg diocese.{{cite web|title=Germany's 'luxury bishop' makes plea to Pope Francis |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24516983|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=14 October 2013}} A spokesman for the Limburg diocese said Tebartz-van Elst was "concerned about the escalation of the current discussion" and that "It is obvious to the bishop that the decision on his episcopal ministry in Limburg lies in the hands of the Holy Father."{{cite web|title=German bishop could face Vatican inquisition on lavish spending|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/10377225/German-bishop-could-face-Vatican-inquisition-on-lavish-spending.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014175205/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/10377225/German-bishop-could-face-Vatican-inquisition-on-lavish-spending.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 October 2013|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=14 October 2013}}
Suspension and resignation
On 21 October 2013, Tebartz-van Elst met in Rome with Pope Francis, just after Cardinal Joachim Meisner, Archbishop of Cologne, met with the Pope. On 23 October 2013, Pope Francis suspended Tebartz-van Elst from the exercise of his episcopal office as Bishop of Limburg because he thought Tebartz van Elst could no longer exercise his duties as bishop. His statement noted the recent visit of the Vatican monitor and the investigation of the diocese's finances by the German Bishops. The pope named Wolfgang Rösch as vicar general, with the appointment to take effect immediately.{{cite news|publisher=BBC News|title=Vatican suspends 'bishop of bling'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24638430|accessdate=24 October 2013}}{{cite press release| url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2013/10/23/0686/01541.html | title= Pressemotteilung des Heiligen Stuhls hinsichtlich der Diocese Limburg (Deutschland)| accessdate=9 November 2015|date=23 October 2013}}
In January and February 2014, details of the German Bishops commission's investigation became known, including material sufficient to require an investigation by the public prosecutor,{{cite news|url=http://de.nachrichten.yahoo.com/bericht-untersuchung-belastet-bischof-tebartz-van-elst-112138643.html |title=Bericht: Untersuchung belastet Bischof Tebartz-van Elst| accessdate=9 November 2015| date=9 February 2014 |language=de }} including evidence of the misuse of funds.[http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/skandalbischof-tebartz-van-elst-kommission-praesentiert-beweise-a-952269.html Skandalbischof: Kommission präsentiert Beweise], spiegel.de; accessed 15 August 2015. The commission finalised its report on 4 March 2014.{{cite web|title=Untersuchung abgeschlossen, Bericht im VatikanPapst entscheidet über Tebartz-van Elst|url=http://www.n-tv.de/panorama/Papst-entscheidet-ueber-Tebartz-van-Elst-article12385436.html|publisher=German N-TV|language=de|accessdate=4 March 2014}}
On 26 March 2014, Pope Francis accepted Tebartz-van Elst's resignation as Bishop of Limburg.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/gesellschaft/papst-entscheidung-tebartz-van-elst-kehrt-nicht-nach-limburg-zurueck-a-960841.html|title=Papst-Entscheidung: Tebartz-van Elst kehrt nicht nach Limburg zurück|date=26 March 2014|via=www.spiegel.de}}{{cite web |title=3D imagery of construction zones |url=http://de.nachrichten.yahoo.com/fotos/umstrittene-neubau-bischofssitzes-limburg-photo-114118593.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326152123/http://de.nachrichten.yahoo.com/fotos/umstrittene-neubau-bischofssitzes-limburg-photo-114118593.html |archivedate=26 March 2014 |df=dmy-all }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.msn.com/de-de/nachrichten|title=MSN Nachrichten | News zu Politik, Panorama, Digital & Wetter|website=MSN}} The Vatican statement said that a fruitful execution of a bishop's duty could no longer be expected from Tebartz-van Elst.{{cite web|title=Vatican statement word by word|url=http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/tebartz-van-elst-die-entscheidung-des-heiligen-stuhls-im-wortlaut-a-960865.html|work=Der Spiegel|publisher= Der Spiegel|accessdate=27 March 2014|language=de}}
On 28 March 2014, Tebartz-van Elst met again with Pope Francis for a quarter-hour. Afterwards he told reporters that "with today's knowledge I realize I have made mistakes. Though I never intended to, I have destroyed trust."{{cite web|url=http://www.n-tv.de/panorama/Tebartz-van-Elst-gesteht-Fehler-ein-article12558266.html|title=Tebartz van Elst admits to failures|work=German NTV|accessdate=15 August 2015}}
Tebartz-van Elst defended himself and remained unapologetic.{{cite web|title=Tebartz van Elst accuses vicar general for being responsible (for the deteriorating situation)|url=http://de.nachrichten.yahoo.com/tebartz-van-elst-verteidigt-sich-generalvikar-war-verantwortlich-075816617.html|work=DPA|publisher=news.yahoo.de|accessdate=27 March 2014|language=de}} He said the vicar general was responsible for the deteriorating situation and that when he arrived he found the diocese had "an administrative situation which was ... hardly factual and disordered". He said he wanted to invest in high-quality construction in light of earlier problems with construction projects in the diocese.{{cite web|title=Religion: Vicar general was responsible|url=http://religion.orf.at/stories/2638496/|work=Austrian Television-ORF|publisher=Austrian Television-ORF|accessdate=27 March 2014|language=de}}
After obtaining the report from the German Bishops commission, the state attorney in Limburg was examining whether Tebartz van-Elst's actions constituted a criminal offence.{{cite web|title=Staatsanwaltschaft prüft Limburg-Bericht|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/staatsanwaltschaft-prueft-limburg-bericht-tebartz-van-elst-verteidigt-sich-12866374.html|work=Frankfurt's Allgemeine Zeitung|publisher= FAZ.de|accessdate=27 March 2014}}{{cite web|title=Taz:picture of vicar|url=http://taz.de/Tebartz-van-Elst-verteidigt-sich/!135668/|work=taz.de|accessdate=27 March 2014}}
Later career
Following his resignation, Tebartz-van Elst moved to Regensburg.{{cite news|work=Frankfurter Allgemeine |title=Tebartz-Wohnung 'besenrein' übergeben | url= https://www.faz.net/aktuell/rhein-main/limburg-tebartz-wohnung-besenrein-uebergeben-13158740.html |accessdate=10 November 2015| date= 17 September 2014}} In December 2014, he was appointed to a position in the Roman Curia beginning in March 2015 as a delegate to the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelisation, assigned to the International Council for catechesis.{{cite news|accessdate= 10 November 2015| url= http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/bishop-tebartz-van-elst-appointed-to-pontifical-council| date= 9 February 2015| title= Bishop Tebartz Van Elst Appointed to Pontifical Council |first=Edward |last=Petin | work= National Catholic Register}}{{cite news|work=Radio Vatican |accessdate = 10 November 2015|date= 16 April 2015 | title= Bischof Tebartz-Van Elst offiziell im Vatikan |url= http://de.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/04/16/vatikan-bischof_tebartz-van_elst/1137231 |language=de}}
For several months in 2015, Apostolic Administrator Grothe and other officials of the Limburg diocese sought to hold Tebartz-van Elst personally liable for the construction costs. This raised legal questions that only the Vatican could resolve. In September, the Holy See announced following discussions between Grothe, the Congregation for Bishops, and the Secretariat of State, that the diocese would not initiate legal proceedings against Tebartz-van Elst.{{cite news| work=Vatican radio| accessdate = 10 November 2015 | date= 23 July 2015| url= http://de.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/07/25/d_bistum_limburg_fordert_schadenersatz_von_bischof_tebartz_/1160248 |title= Bistum Limburg fordert Schadenersatz von Bischof Tebartz |language=de}}{{cite news| work=Vatican radio| accessdate = 10 November 2015 | date= 13 August 2015| url= http://de.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/08/14/vatikan_staatssekretariat_widerspricht_bild-bericht/1164820 |title= Vatikan: Staatssekretariat widerspricht BILD-Bericht |language=de }}{{cite news| work=Vatican radio| accessdate = 10 November 2015 | date= 9 September 2015| url= http://de.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/09/10/d_kein_schadenersatz_f%C3%BCr_bistum_limburg/1170533 |title= Kein Schadenersatz für Bistum Limburg |language=de }}
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
Sources
- Joachim Valentin (editor): Der „Fall“ Tebartz-van Elst. Herder, Freiburg 2014, {{ISBN|978-3-451-31244-1}}.
- Otto Kettmann (editor): Limburg 2013 – Anatomie eines Skandals. LIT, Berlin 2016, {{ISBN|978-3-643-13337-3}}.
- Barbara Stühlmeyer (editress): Auf Christus getauft. Glauben leben und verkünden im 21. Jahrhundert. Butzon & Bercker, Kevelaer 2019, {{ISBN|978-3-7666-2488-8}}.
External links
{{wikiquote}}
{{commonscat}}
- [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bteve.html Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst [Catholic-Hierarchy]]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tebartz-van Elst, Franz-Peter}}
Category:21st-century German Roman Catholic bishops