Fr Martin Lintner OSM, a well-regarded moral theologian, was elected dean of the Philosophical-Theological University (PHT) of Bressanone (Brixen) in South Tyrol in German-speaking northern Italy for the term of office from September this year until August 2025.
But on 26 June, the PHT announced that the Vatican had refused to give Lintner a nihil obstat, that is the Vatican approval necessary to become dean of a Catholic theological faculty.
“The responsible Dicastery for Culture and Education has informed the diocesan bishop, Dr Ivo Muser, that the approval cannot be given due to questions concerning Fr Lintner’s publications on Catholic sexual morality,” said the PHT statement, signed by Bishop Muser and the present dean, Alexander Notdurfter.
They added that Lintner’s licence to teach theology was not affected by Rome’s refusal of this appointment.
In agreement with Lintner, Bishop Muser, the university’s grand-chancellor, waived his right to appeal against the dicastery’s decision.
On 27 June, the Catholic Theological Faculty Association protested sharply against the Vatican’s decision and expressed its solidarity with Lintner. It said it expected his election as dean to be recognised immediately by the university’s college board.
Lintner was “a highly respected, esteemed and renowned professional colleague”, the association said.
“He is an important voice in the professional and public discourse, who in his publications on relationship ethics tries to develop sexual morality theologically-ethically in such a way that it can be a positive, true-to-life and fruitful contribution for people today.”
It emphasised that his views are not marginal in theological ethics but rather the consensus.
The association called Rome’s refusal to grant Lintner a nihil obstat an exercise of mistrust and control.
“The largely non-transparent nihil obstat procedure contradicts the synodal spirit invoked by Pope Francis. It runs counter to the concern for academic freedom and undermines the self-government of Catholic faculties and Catholic universities.”
In a public statement on 3 July published on the PHT website, Lintner thanked all those who had declared their solidarity with him. The reaction worldwide had been “enormous”, he said.
“It is quite overwhelming to experience all these declarations of appreciation, closeness and approval. They fill me with humility.”
He said that his case reflected an institutional problem. The aim must be “to revise the [nihil obstat] procedure and make it transparent and fair,” he added.
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