Nearly a year after the Vatican blocked an Italian theologian’s candidacy to become the dean of an influential German and Italian academy due to his progressive writings on sexuality and gender, the Vatican finally approved of his appointment without comment, according to the theologian.
“The reasons why the decision was revised were not communicated,” said the Rev Martin Lintner, in an email to RNS, adding that “the matter was clarified internally.”
“The important thing for me is that my publications are obviously not a stumbling block,” he said.
Bishop Ivo Muser of Bolzano-Bressanone, whose diocese includes the Philosophical-Theological College of Brixen/Bressanone, was notified of the Vatican’s approval shortly after Easter. Lintner is scheduled to begin his tenure as university dean on Sept 1.