Cardinal Bertone reportedly overrules CDF prefect, confirms action against Peruvian university

February 20, 2013

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State, has reportedly overruled objections by Archbishop Gerhard Müller, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and confirmed a policy barring theologians from teaching at a Peruvian university that has lost its Vatican accreditation.

After a meeting in Rome that Vatican-watchers describe as contentious, Cardinal Bertone is said to have ruled that Lima’s Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani acted properly when he removed permission for theologians to teach at the institution formerly known as the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP). After years of conflict with administrators at the university, who had refused to accept guidelines from the Holy See, the Vatican announced last July that PUCP could no longer identify itself as a “Catholic” or “Pontifical” university.

However, when theology professors appealed Cardinal Cipriani’s decision, Archbishop Müller wrote to the Peruvian prelate, questioning his action. PUCP officials had claimed Archbishop Müller’s intervention as a victory. Cardinal Bertone's intervention, if it has been accurately reported, vindicates the Cardinal Cipriani's decision.

(See Phil Lawler’s comment and caution regarding this news report.)

 

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Further information:

• Le Secrétaire d’État invalide une décision du préfet de la Congrégation pour la doctrine de la foi sur l’Université pontificale de Lima (La Croix)
• Battle in Vatican leaves Archbishop Müller routed by Cardinal Bertone (CathCon)
• CDF prefect intervening on behalf of rebellious Peruvian university? (CWN, 2/6)