PFURTNER'S COMPLAINT:

...But the Bern authorities had second thoughts and repeat it again at the end...

...if it is to be effective...

...PFURTNER'S COMPLAINT ADOLPH SCHALK Somebody ought to tell the Vatican the facts of life...

...one can- Pfurtner accuses his church of 'rigorous moralism' not expect that the wished-for reforms will come about and repressive abnegation-morality that imposes unovernight...

...He was asked categorically to recant his views The Swiss bishops of course breathed a sigh of relief and promise in the future to stay within the scope of when Pfurtner resigned...

...Instead of being the victim And like the character who digs his way out of the of a vendetta like Majestyk, Kersey becomes the perGerman POW camp, Bronson succeeded by making his petrator of one...

...might be appointed to the University of Bern as a con- It's a well-placed remark...

...To the admiration and amazement of critics and The chief bone of contention is Pfurtner's situation adherents alike, Pfurtner has not left the Catholic ethics approach to morality, notably his now-famous Church, nor has he shown even a trace of bitterness, "12 Theses" on norms for sexual behavior...

...Nar9. Educational measures and social regulations cissism and autoeroticism are forms of sexual imregarding youth are good to the extent that they maturity, in extreme cases even signs of sexual leave open the way to a responsible exercise of pathology...

...Why didn't he let himself be fired?' If you sive stands on homosexuality, divorce and abortion...

...Have qualifications, will The mild-mannered if outspoken professor meekly travel...

...Some university, he might never have had to leave, for pro- Swiss textbooks still describe the Jesuits as a kind of fessors like Hans Kung at the University of Tiibingen, ecclesiastical CIA...

...open to the larger values and to partnership...

...The hit-man is played by Al Lettieri A second lesson is that the Swiss bishops in my opinion with his usual viciousness...

...They must revise the contract with that he has to do...

...theological landscape congested with every conceivable Of course we have heard all this before...

...But of course Bronson's stardom depends on Majestyk's want00000000000000 ing, and getting, nothing more than a chance to go back to picking his melons, which is precisely what happens...

...Gratification at criminates against sexuality blocks the humanization others' expense is immoral...

...The traditional ADOLPH SCHALK, a journalist living in Switzerland, is the author Catholic appeal to the inviolability of life loses much of The Germans (Prentice-Hal...

...has publicly reaffirmed his loyalty to his "church com- "The church all too often in the name of morality munity" and expressed his indomitable optimism "first has perpetuated inhumanity...

...This of course I dismiss him for fear that such a step would reawaken could not do...

...In addition, there is the strong procedure at all times...

...had stayed on and forced the authorities to that kind Whether or not abortion is permitted, he argues, "can of a show-down, a Federal court investigation would only be decided according to the concrete constellation of the particular case in question...

...One of these days Lettieri is should be prepared for a greater confrontation with going to disgust himself to death...

...Whether or when a Catholic couple may engage after giving the authors the opportunity to defend themin sexual intercourse before marriage is a matter that selves...

...plicitly provide for this...

...stances in each case, should be invoked in the in- the propagation of the human race, in social creativterest of the specific happiness of the life of the ity...

...And thirdly, the authorities, such as those in Fri- self-disgust...

...Its effectiveness is its implicarejected his application...

...I am thinking here of teaching or research position enabling him to the way Rome interferes in the affairs of a Swiss uniexplore areas of implementation of Vatican II versity, I am thinking of the principle of the teaching ideals in the field of sexual ethics...

...gratification and emotional bliss, especially by com6. Whenever sexual activity involves the lives of plementary partnership as a means of personal libothers, one must take their happiness just as much eration and maturation...

...but to interference from Rome...

...One Swiss context, however, the Pfurtner controversy ac- wonders too why the Faith Congregation has not been quires an international dimension because it illustrates called into question with greater intensity and greater in a highly revealing manner to what lengths the Sacred demands for norms, guidelines and jurisdiction...

...He interferes with man's psychological cations...

...He has volun- Majestyk has...

...threatens these can it be regarded as a source of Pfurtner first learned of the investigation when all danger...

...But first a labor racketeer attempts to run parency in the solution of any conflict...

...as for the off Majestyk's hands, and then, when Majestyk lands so-called extraordinary process [of the Faith Congrega- in jail because he ran off the racketeer instead, a Mafia tion] this is nothing of the kind...

...Commented Pfiirtner: "Profes- tion that the obverse is also true-that in some ways sionally all my hopes are completely in the air...

...In adwill be forwarded...

...He cites celibacy as an "in'Why didn't Professor Pfurtner stay in there and con- strument of dominance and suppression in the church...

...He tough, sullen nobody who never had a chance got his called the Konvention "a blatant interference with in- chance in movies by playing tough, sullen nobodies...

...He plays the title character of the film, Mr...

...It was on the strength of this Kon- mailboxes were stuffed with anti-Jesuit propaganda sponvention that the order was able to impose restrictions sored by right-wing groups, citing the PfUrtner case as on Pfurtner, over the heads of the university senate "proof" of Roman interference...

...Sensuality alone may not be the determining intention for the emancipation of young people and principle for the genuine development of sexuality...

...It was only by a narrow margin that the a Konvention (treaty) signed in November 15, 1889, Jesuit-ban dating back to 1848, was defeated and the gives the Dominican order special privileges including Jesuit community could shed its parolee status...

...Only serious office itself, and of the Konvention of 1889...

...He "You have shown great courage in your step," TV charges Pope Paul VI with "ideological bias, dogmatic moderator Marco Volken commented while interview- rigidity and a shocking insensitivity for the simple, ing Pfurtner, "but many persons are nonetheless asking, humane needs of people...

...the most important lesson to be learned from the Pfiirt- Majestyk, who is a Coloradoan trying to make a go of a ner case is the need for greater clarity, greater trans- melon farm...

...If sexual behavior interferes with lasting and Father Aniceto Fernandez, O.P., Dominican superi- human happiness, it becomes immoral...

...However, both must be taken into account...

...Morality' became the moof all in the liberating power of the Gospel," and, "in tivating force for 'immorality' far worse than sexual the long run, the conviction that the ideals of freedom abuses...

...Then he says, as if seriously concerned to be land...

...Rather, reason and love, sentative in his behalf, even though official releases with particular attention to the specific circumdescribing the work of the congregation (as quoted in 23 Augsut 1974: 452 trols, commissions and regulations assure democratic and canton of Fribourg...

...The truth is that knows how to use guns, Kersey admits, but he doesn't Bronson himself had been a claustrophobic young Pole, like to...

...kindled with a boundless sense of moral outrage, reac- 3. The decisive factor justifying a particular histionary Bishop Mamie lost no time at all in bringing torical behavior or a specific form of sexual moralthe matter personally to the attention of Pope Paul VI, ity is the extent to which they contribute to men's Franjo Cardinal Seper, head of the Faith Congregation, happiness...

...This belongs to its complete development harmony and personal maturity...

...Again, the reluctant hero...

...in games and festive or ritual events...

...Again, recently...

...What we find so pleasing in his predicathe Dominican order...

...Why did he leave Pfurtner was particularly under fire for his permisvoluntarily...

...The church must finally ask herself: To what as expressed at the Second Vatican Council will pre- extent have we through our moral teaching actually vail...

...necessary guilt complexes on millions of persons...

...He decides to get even for his wife and disadvantages into his opportunities...

...This must be changed...

...THE SCREEN Up to a point Bronson's other release, Death Wish, appears to be more of the same...

...be brought into dynamic relation with the other 8. But society does not have the right to inter- psychic elements in human life as well as the deeper vene in the sexual freedom of adults, as long as they psychic reality of sexuality itself...

...Happiness presupposes the fulfillment of life that gave women the franchise only two years ago, the and signifies a completely good and successful Pfurtner case overnight became a cause celebre...

...Why did offers guaranteeing complete academic free- you quit...

...The supreme moral commandby his order, which also slapped all his writings, ser- ment is: let love and reason rule...

...Sexual capacity wherever it is involved, are thereby continually to for pleasure is a human value...

...conclusions had been reached and a formal condemna- 5. In tension areas or cases of conflict between tion of his views was issued to him...

...Before his resignation it appeared as though he helpful, "I think you're in the wrong business, mister...

...By the or general...

...But the Fribourg University is a 1973 on the anti-Jesuit clause in Switzerland's federal special case...

...Majestyk is in the wrong business too...

...Just as the character daughter by luring muggers into attacking him in order 23 August 1974: 454...

...The right graced relative enters through the back door...

...old fears of Catholic interference in secular affairs in a Had Pfurtner been attached to some other European country with considerable religious intolerance...

...Federal Constitution...

...not be allotted to any mere human authority...

...Interdictive measures may ness to give...

...It violates every modern hit-man who is also a prisoner develops a vendetta person's sense of justice...

...One can understand that the Swiss ment is how able he is to handle it...

...During veto rights on all appointees to the theological faculty, the height of the Pfurtner controversy, thousands of and is still in force...

...By ternal Swiss affairs and an obvious violation of the being who he was, Bronson escaped from who he was...

...mons and lectures under censorship...

...They must remain do not create social harm through their activity...

...This Majestyk doesn't have to grow melons (we think to ourselves), he could be the hit-man: that fellow Bronson doesn't have MAKING IT to dig coal mines, he could be a movie star...

...climate of Swiss Catholicism, where renewal like a dis- 2. All men have a right to be happy...

...Infallibility is an attribute that can- doctrine...

...neither reluctant nor heroic...

...freedom...

...Acting as it did above the heads Frings at the Vatican Council...

...The right to appeal, judicial representation, must be left up to the couple themselves...

...and in person who is involved...

...behavior norms seriously threaten the lasting hap- One should be trained with the capacity for repiness of young people...

...Whoever therefore disinto consideration as one's own...

...As TV moderator Volken, above, indicated, constitution...

...Write to: Stephan Pfurtner, c/o Cath- explained that perhaps no one likes to wait until he is olic University, Fribourg, Switzerland (mail fired from a position he knows he cannot hold...

...They must be sustained by the explicit 12...

...sake...

...did...

...W. Renschler, a prominent member of the Na- uses his claustrophobia as an engine for digging, Bronson tional Council (Swiss parliament) has introduced a mo- used the physique and personality that marked him as a tion to abolish the Konvention as "an antiquated relic child of the mines to become someone else, a star...

...In fact, the Pfurtner controversy alfor example, enjoy life tenure and are completely im- most became a decisive factor in the plebiscite held in mune from Rome...

...in fact, it's such a good sultant in the newly-formed research group for medical touch that director Richard Fleischer has Majestyk ethics...

...For it describes the present predicament of one "The decisive reason for my leaving, however," Stephan Pfurtner who voluntarily resigned from his elaborated the embattled theologian, "is that the basic prestigious post as professor of moral theology at the prerequisites for teaching and researching in a spirit venerable Catholic University of Fribourg, Switzerland, of true academic freedom are totally lacking...

...One who lives only for the sake of only be employed in those instances where sexual sensuality is unable to serve, unable to stand firm...

...Italics added...

...All regulations con- Congregation] examines books on doctrinal matters and cerning sexuality have been invented by a human so- can reprove such works, if the contents so warrant, ciety...

...The Faith Congre- 4. Sexuality should be primarily regarded as an gation immediately began a secret "extraordinary opportunity toward happiness, for the fulfillment and investigation" of the Pfurtner case completely without liberation of human life...

...In a coun- to sexual happiness is a part of this basic human try that stubbornly withholds membership in the UN, right...

...bond of tradition that gives Fribourg University a special It is true that the Swiss bishops in a series of talks status as "the" Catholic University of Switzerland and, with Pfurtner did make serious overtures at reconcilia- before the Council, one of the great theological centers tion...

...What Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will go to ever happened to the reforms proposed by Josef Cardinal protect its interests...

...Why didn't you carry on the fight to a finish...

...1. All commandments and institutions exist for The controversy began in 1971, when Professor the sake of man...

...That Bronson can still work this vein, and make it pay, Father Ludwig Kaufmann, S.J., editor of the presti- is apparent in at least one of the two films he has just gious weekly, Orientierung, stated in a radio interview, released...

...Gratification is nothing evil...

...bourg, should have the courage to make a clean sweep As always, the job of work that Bronson is loath to when modern principles of academic freedom are threat- do-in this case, fighting off gangsters-is the very one ened by the church...

...But in the end there was only one course open of Europe...

...of its moral force when one recalls how ambivalent the Commonweal: 451 position of the church has been regarding the death the 1974 Catholic Almanac, Our Sunday Visitor), expenalty or taking lives in wartime...

...He's going to get up in Rome, as long as such inhuman processes are still in the morning, look in the mirror, and just keel over from force...

...Human sexuality is replete with psychic and gree...

...But man's capacity for pleasure aind gratificafunctional implications for individual and society...

...The In addition, the question can be raised whether it is responsible ecclesiastical authorities continually violate at all possible today to speak of orthodox doctrine in a basic human and personality rights...

...and the consultation of their proper regional conference "The pope and the bishops are nothing else than sim- of bishops, are assured to persons accused of unorthodox ple human beings...

...One of the scenes that Eleven years ago in The Great Escape, Charles Bron- occurs in its first half seems intended to establish for its son played a claustrophobic Pole who digs a tunnel to central figure, Paul Kersey, the same character that freedom for himself and his fellow POWs...

...Right at the beginbishops also wish to have a say as to who teaches and ning Majestyk's character is established in the scene what is taught, but even here, this must be regulated where the racketeer tries to intimidate him...

...dom considered...

...It took many centuries for the present structure promoted immoral attitudes and behavior...

...Charles Buchinsky, working in the Pennsylvania coal As the plot develops, however, Kersey is someone mines and hating every minute of it, dying to escape...

...Not a single outside accepted norms and individual needs and requiretheologian was called in for consultation, nor was Pfurt- ments, neither the former nor the latter should be ner ever invited to defend himself or to send a repre- the determining factor...

...Oh, he almost pathetic ring of truth too...

...dition, he felt that as a foreigner he no longer had the right to be a burden to the university and state authorThis ad has not appeared in the classified section of ities who, as his employers, had been so loyal to him any newspaper so far...

...In this particular scene Kersey's Tucson quicker than anyone else...

...Only to the extent that it his knowledge...

...Its heavy-handed interference with the affairs of a foreign state, at the en- Disputed '12 Theses' couragement and behest of the Dominican order and On Sexual Morality Bishop Pierre Mamie of Geneva-Lausanne and Fribourg, can only be condemned as moral extortion...

...same token, if moral injunctions hinder this, then Pfurtner was sent on a two-year "leave of absence" they become invalid...

...En- realization of existence...

...In these matagainst his writings and teaching...

...Kersey is an upper-middle-class New teered to do all the digging, he explains at one point, Yorker whose wife is killed and daughter raped by mugbecause he hates it so much...

...Man and his happiness may not be subjugated It had the impact of a bombshell in the conservative to them...

...What safeguards if any of the Swiss university authorities in driving Pfurtner exist against abuse or arbitrary decisions, and what conto a "voluntary" resignation, the Congregation resorted to methods that presumably evaporated with the supposed disappearance of its notorious predecessor, the Stephen Plurtner's Holy Office of the Inquisition...

...In Bronson's mouth this host has dragged him to a pistol club where, to everypeculiar explanation of the character's motives has an one's amazement, Kersey proves a crack shot...

...They didn't dare go so far as to traditional Catholic views on sex...

...tion and love may not thereby be laid waste, but They are manifest in love partnerships, in the crea- must be released again and again, expanded, but tion of larger communities, in the awakening of in the final analysis subordinated to the capacity to We-consciousness, in the formation of families, in love...

...SITUATION WANTED: Ex-Dominican, ex-priest have become necessary, which would have forced a and ex-professor of moral theology, 51, seeks clarification of the entire case...

...But it would not surprise any- throughout the controversy that has been swirling one familiar with the "Pfurtner Case" in Europe if it around the Danzig-born theologian since 1971...

...give them legitimate scope for play and experimen- For one's individuation, for the I-consciousness as tation...

...On the contrary, he ters `reason and love' alone are the only valid criteria...

...They do not exist for their own Pfurtner gave his first public lecture on sexual morality...

...Most of doctrinal variation, contradiction, interpretation and PfUrtner's views are hardly new or sensational...

...against him as well...

...to him...

...In the evaluation, whether on the right or on the left...

...Commonweal: 453 Dr...

...They become irresponsible if they merely well as the social consciousness of the individual, serve to inculcate a false dependence on parents, a relationship with reality is necessary, the willingeducators, or society...

...He takes with greater intelligibility and on a solid and fair basis...

...The concerns of society, 11...

...of man as well as his culture and capacity for so7. Sexuality by its very nature has social impli- cialization...

...tinue the fight to the bitter end...

...It gives him such anxiety gers, so to get away for awhile he lets his job take him to be down in that dark hole, he will get the job done to Tucson...

...straint and even frustration to an appropriate de10...

...The of the past having no relevance to current times...

...According even though his action was motivated solely by meas- to Pfurtner, the church's teaching office has no basis ures taken by his religious superiors and the Vatican for infallible norms of sexual behavior...

...to develop," Pfurtner said in a Swiss telecast...

...He simultaneously left the Dominican Order Pfurtner was referring, not to restrictions from within, and applied for laicization...

...When necessary and after "All this talk of the Ten Commandments in regard prior consultation with concerned bishops, [the Faith to sexual behavior is misleading...

...away the man's shotgun and punches him in the groin Meanwhile, Pfiirtner has become too hot for Switzer- with it...