The International Theological Institute dismisses three longtime professors
The International Theological Institute (ITI) in Trumau, south of Vienna, which teaches in English, will dismiss three leading professors and five members of the administrative staff. The President of the ITI, Christiaan Alting of Geusau, confirmed this at a meeting with students on Monday. The three professors are:
• the fundamental theologian and Thomist Father Rupert Mayer OP.
• the philosopher Markus Riedenauer, married, 3 children.
• the Ukrainian Byzantine Studies, Father Yosyp Veresh.
Two visiting professors will be invited to teach for less pay: the British moral theologian William Newton (married, 6 children), and the Austrian politician Gudrun Kugler (married, 4 children).
Persistent criticism against the President of the ITI
Beginning last week president Alting informed the 22-member faculty about the layoffs. The message spread quickly. Last Friday Alting invited the students for an information meeting, which was scheduled for Monday early afternoon.
Last Saturday, the students gathered to discuss the situation. They expressed their dismay about the news and concluded that those were laid off, who had fought against Altings appointment as President of the Institute in spring 2014.
The dispute over Alting has been raging at the Institute for months. Alting was appointed against the will of the faculty by the Grand Chancellor of the Institute Vienna Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. In the dispute, the professors even called on the Pontifical Congregation for Education. Leading critic of Alting’s controversial appointment was the talented young British professor Alan Fimister. But last summer Fiminster was informed that he was no longer welcome as a teacher at the ITI. So far, Fimister has not been replaced.
400,000 Euro annual deficit
In front of the students Alting referred to a "serious financial situation" of the ITI as the cause for the dismissals. The Institute produces an annual deficit of 300,000 to 400,000 Euros (370,000 to 490,000 dollars). According to Alting in the last two or three months, the donations nosedived. He emphasized multiple times that the layoffs were necessary only because of "structural problems". Alting also stressed that the dismissals were decided by Cardinal Schönborn, presenting himself as an "executor", and asking the students to "pray, study and simply trust the Cardinal": "You havt to trust your leadership, trust the cardinal. We are lucky to have him. You can trust him." Or: "You have no choice but to trust." Schönborn has been part of the pro-gay group during the last Synod on the Family.
Many questions remain
Alting refused to discuss the reasons why precisely the professors Mayer, Veresh and Riedenauer were terminated. Insiders suspect ideological and personal reasons behind the decision. The relationship between Father Mayer and Cardinal Schönborn, both Dominicans, is allegedly problematic. Mayer was considered the top-professor at the ITI. During the meeting a student asked Alting whether the Institute only advanced financial reasons as a pretext to dismiss Father Mayer. Alting said about him: "We all realize indeed what a great scholar Pater Rupert is. And in that sense he is irreplaceable. But we know and we are confident that we will be able to replace him”. Alting insisted that rumors about a "personal vendetta" against the teacher were wrong.
When students offered their help to raise more funds for the ITI to be able to keep the three professors, Alting told them to direct their efforts toward persecuted Christians. He announced that the Institute plans to replace the vacant positions with new professors, adding that the Institute is not only suffering from a decline in donations but also from a decline in the number of students.
• the fundamental theologian and Thomist Father Rupert Mayer OP.
• the philosopher Markus Riedenauer, married, 3 children.
• the Ukrainian Byzantine Studies, Father Yosyp Veresh.
Two visiting professors will be invited to teach for less pay: the British moral theologian William Newton (married, 6 children), and the Austrian politician Gudrun Kugler (married, 4 children).
Persistent criticism against the President of the ITI
Beginning last week president Alting informed the 22-member faculty about the layoffs. The message spread quickly. Last Friday Alting invited the students for an information meeting, which was scheduled for Monday early afternoon.
Last Saturday, the students gathered to discuss the situation. They expressed their dismay about the news and concluded that those were laid off, who had fought against Altings appointment as President of the Institute in spring 2014.
The dispute over Alting has been raging at the Institute for months. Alting was appointed against the will of the faculty by the Grand Chancellor of the Institute Vienna Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. In the dispute, the professors even called on the Pontifical Congregation for Education. Leading critic of Alting’s controversial appointment was the talented young British professor Alan Fimister. But last summer Fiminster was informed that he was no longer welcome as a teacher at the ITI. So far, Fimister has not been replaced.
400,000 Euro annual deficit
In front of the students Alting referred to a "serious financial situation" of the ITI as the cause for the dismissals. The Institute produces an annual deficit of 300,000 to 400,000 Euros (370,000 to 490,000 dollars). According to Alting in the last two or three months, the donations nosedived. He emphasized multiple times that the layoffs were necessary only because of "structural problems". Alting also stressed that the dismissals were decided by Cardinal Schönborn, presenting himself as an "executor", and asking the students to "pray, study and simply trust the Cardinal": "You havt to trust your leadership, trust the cardinal. We are lucky to have him. You can trust him." Or: "You have no choice but to trust." Schönborn has been part of the pro-gay group during the last Synod on the Family.
Many questions remain
Alting refused to discuss the reasons why precisely the professors Mayer, Veresh and Riedenauer were terminated. Insiders suspect ideological and personal reasons behind the decision. The relationship between Father Mayer and Cardinal Schönborn, both Dominicans, is allegedly problematic. Mayer was considered the top-professor at the ITI. During the meeting a student asked Alting whether the Institute only advanced financial reasons as a pretext to dismiss Father Mayer. Alting said about him: "We all realize indeed what a great scholar Pater Rupert is. And in that sense he is irreplaceable. But we know and we are confident that we will be able to replace him”. Alting insisted that rumors about a "personal vendetta" against the teacher were wrong.
When students offered their help to raise more funds for the ITI to be able to keep the three professors, Alting told them to direct their efforts toward persecuted Christians. He announced that the Institute plans to replace the vacant positions with new professors, adding that the Institute is not only suffering from a decline in donations but also from a decline in the number of students.
