In an interview with Dr. Maike Hickson for OnePeterFive, Schneider defended Professor Josef Seifert for raising critical questions concerning the controversial papal document.
The theologian was recently fired from his university post by the Archbishop of Granada for doing so.
The very basis of unity of the Church, said Schneider, is the truth — the truth of the Gospel. Unfortunately, today whoever dares to speak the truth “is classified as an enemy of unity” — as happened to Saint Paul.
Those who are afraid of weakening Church unity by criticizing Pope Francis’ teachings must remember that the Pope is the servant of the Church, said Schneider. “He is the first who has to obey in an exemplary manner all the truths of the unchanging and constant Magisterium, because he is only an administrator, and not an owner, of the Catholic truths … ” The Pope must “constantly bind himself and the Church to obedience to God’s word,” he added.
The contrast between the past few decades’ obsession with freedom of theological thought with the current clampdown on orthodox theologians like Seifert reminds Schneider of his Communist-era boyhood. However, his thoughts more frequently returned to the Arian controversy of AD 325-381, when even a Pope sided with heretical teachings.
Finding parallels between the Arian Crisis and our times, Schneider quoted Saint Basil the Great’s description of former tumult: “Only one offense is now vigorously punished — an accurate observance of our fathers’ traditions. For this cause the pious are driven from their countries and transported into deserts. Religious people keep silence, but every blaspheming tongue is let loose” (Ep. 243).
Athanasius Schneider, 56, is an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Astana, Kazakhstan. He has become renowned among Catholics for his defense of the family, orthodoxy and traditional worship.