Hans Kueng Calls for Pope to Resign

BERLIN: Roman Catholicism's leading rebel theologian, Hans Kueng, has joined a growing number of voices calling on Pope John Paul II to resign for the good of the Church.

The blunt Swiss 76-year-old told Germany's ARD television last night: "A Pope can resign for the need and necessity of the Church. I think this instance has now arisen - he must resign for the need and necessity of the Church."

"We cannot go on as we are," added Kueng, a priest who was banned by the Vatican from teaching Catholic theology in 1979 after challenging papal infallibility.

The Catholic Church has become "as decrepit as the Pope", he said.

Words of a truely confused individual...a "theologian", whose opinions reign supreme, above the teachings of the Church. The fact is, he left the Church many years ago.

Source.