Becker

German Cardinal Karl J. Becker

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German Cardinal Karl J. Becker, a longtime Jesuit professor of dogmatic theology and consultant to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, died Feb. 10 in Rome. He was 86.

Cardinal Becker was called in 1985 to serve as a consultor for the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation under its then-prefect Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI.

The Jesuit theologian took part in the Vatican’s work on approving the text of the 1999 Catholic-Lutheran Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. He was a part of the doctrinal congregation’s special commission—named by Pope Benedict in 2009—to conduct a dialogue with the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X.

Born in Cologne, Germany, his parents refused to let their four children be enlisted—as was mandatory—in any Hitler youth associations. The devoutly Catholic father was subjected to two trials by German authorities for sticking to his beliefs.

Cardinal Becker and his older brother both entered the Society of Jesus, with the cardinal being ordained in 1958 at the age of 30.

With a licentiate and doctorate in theology, he taught a few years at a Jesuit university in Frankfurt before being called in 1969 to the Jesuit-run Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he taught for more than 30 years.

He published numerous books, including co-authoring the volume, “Catholic Engagement with World Religions,” which clarifies Catholic teaching on the relationship between Christianity and other religious traditions.

Pope Benedict named the then-83-year-old retired professor a cardinal in 2012.

In keeping with the Jesuit promise not to strive for any dignity in the Church, then Cardinal-designate Becker also said he would become a cardinal without becoming a bishop as is recommended by Church law.

Church law says new cardinals must have been ordained at least to the priesthood and should be ordained bishops before entering the College of Cardinals. However, in recent decades, many of the elderly priests named to the college have requested, and received, an exemption from episcopal ordination. —CNS

German Cardinal Karl J. Becker