Wikipedia

Franz Kamphaus

Franz Kamphaus(2 February 1932 – 28 October 2024) was a GermanCatholicprelate,bishop emeritusof theDiocese of Limburg.He wasbishopof the diocese from 1982 after teachingpastoral theologyandhomileticsat the University of Münster. He was the only German bishop to oppose PopeJohn Paul IIin the matter of counseling pregnant women in conflict situations. After his term ended in 2007, he took residence in theSt. Vincenzstift, Aulhausen,a home for people with physical and mental disabilities, where he first served as priest.

Franz Kamphaus
Bishop Emeritus of Limburg
Kamphaus in 2008
ArchdioceseCologne
DioceseLimburg
Appointed3 May 1982
Term ended2 February 2007
PredecessorWilhelm Kempf
SuccessorFranz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst
Orders
Ordination21 February 1959
by Michael Keller
Consecration13 June 1982
byJoseph Höffner
Personal details
Born(1932-02-02)2 February 1932
Lüdinghausen,Westphalia,Prussia,Germany
Died28 October 2024(2024-10-28)(aged 92)
Aulhausen,Hesse, Germany
Education
Motto"Evangelizare pauperibus"
Coat of armsFranz Kamphaus's coat of arms

Career

edit

Münster

edit

Born inLüdinghausenas the fifth child of a peasant family, Kamphaus achieved hisAbiturfrom theCollegium Augustinianum Gaesdonck[de].He studied theology and philosophy at theUniversity of Münsterand theLudwig Maximilian University of Munichand was ordained as a priest on 21 February 1959 by the bishop ofMünster,Michael Keller[de].[1]He worked asKaplan(assistant minister) in Münster andAhaus.From 1964 he was responsible for the diocese'sPredigtausbildung(education for sermon).[2]

Kamphaus earned a doctoral degree from the University of Münster in 1968 with the dissertationVon der Exegese zur Predigt. Über die Problematik einer schrift­gemäßen Verkündigung der Oster-, Wunder- und Kindheitsgeschichten,on the topic of preaching about the biblical stories of Easter, miracles and the youth of Jesus. From 1971 he led the diocese's continuing education of preachers.[2]From 1972 he taughtpastoral theologyandhomileticsat the University of Münster. From 1973 he was alsoRegens(director) of the diocese's Priesterseminar, the seminary for candidates for the priesthood.[2]

Limburg

edit

On 3 May 1982, PopeJohn Paul IIannounced Kamphaus as bishop of Limburg.[3][4]He was ordained on 13 June by cardinalJoseph Höffner.[5]He chose as his motto "Evangelizare pauperibus" ( "preach the gospel to the poor" ), quoted fromLuke 4:18.[1][6]His bishop's cross was made from a beam of the farmhouse where he grew up.[6]Kamphaus lived in an apartment in the Priesterseminar, while a family of refugees lived in the bishop's residence.[3][7]He spoke of a "Bundesrepublik Erde" (Federal Republic of Earth) granting peace, freedom and justice for all, and said that Christians need to stand side by side with the victims, the hungry, the injured, those who flee and cry.[7]

The bishop at the final open air service of the diocese's "Tage der Begegnung" as part ofWorld Youth Day,15 August 2005

In 1999 Kamphaus was the only German bishop who opposed the pope in the matter ofSchwangerschafts­konflikt­beratung,the counseling of pregnant women in difficult situations.[7][8]In his diocese, women were able to receive "Beratungsscheine" (certificates after counseling) which made unpunished abortions possible. He said that prayer and meditation helped him to take the side of the women in need, against the pope.[8]A letter from the pope received by Kamphaus on 7 March 2002 stripped the bishop from his responsibilities for the counseling in his diocese.[9][10]Kamphaus said: "I am still convinced that our way of counselling women would save the lives of many more children".[11]A private association, "Donum vitae", took over the counseling, as in other dioceses before.[10]

From 1999 to 2006 Kamphaus was president of theKommission Weltkirche[de][4][12]of theGerman Bishops' Conference[1]which is responsible for international collaboration and the dialogue between religions. He travelled to Africa, Asia and Latin America, requesting more solidarity andsocial justice.[5]

On his 75th birthday, Kamphaus submitted his resignation to PopeBenedict XVI,who accepted it.[1]A farewell service was held in avespersservice that day. His successor wasFranz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst.[5]

Aulhausen

edit
Attending a service (second row, right) at the Marienkirche Aulhausen, 1 September 2024

After his retirement, Kamphaus served as priest of theSt. Vincenzstift, Aulhausen,a home for people with physical and mental disabilities.[6]He realised that the humanity of a society can be seen in its way to deal with illness and disabilities in all phases of life.[13]Kamphaus himself suffered fromtremor.[5]Facing the challenge to preach for handicapped people, he said: "Es geht darum, unsere großen biblischen Wörter zu elementarisieren, ohne dabei banal zu werden" (We need to simplify our big biblical words without getting trivial). He stressed the importance of songs for the mostly illiterate people, and he said: "Das Allerwichtigste ist, einfach da zu sein. Entscheidend ist nicht so sehr, was ich sage oder tue, sondern dass ich hier wohne und lebe." (Most important is to simply be there. It's not important what I say or do, but that I live here).[14]He remained a resident of the facility when he retired from service as a priest, and kept writing books.[6]

Kamphaus died on 28 October 2024, at the age of 92.[6][3][4]Boris Rhein,minister-president of Hesse, commented that he shaped not only the Catholic Church, living in integrity and humanity as a model for engagement for the poor and disadvantaged, in service to the community.[4]

Awards

edit

Kamphaus accepted only two of the many awards offered to him:[2]

Publications

edit

A compilation of texts by Franz Kamphaus was published in 2013, titledMach's wie Gott, werde Mensch(Do It like God, Become Human).

  • Von der Exegese zur Predigt.Dissertation University of Münster. Matthias-Grünewald-Verlag, Mainz 1968,OCLC721986926
  • Gospels for Preachers and Teachers.Sheed & Ward Ltd 1974,ISBN0-72207411-5
  • Die Welt zusammenhalten. Reden gegen den Strom.Herder, 2008,ISBN978-3-451-29754-0
  • Gott ist kein Nostalgiker. Anstöße für die Fasten- und Osterzeit.Herder, 2012,ISBN978-3-451-33329-3
  • Mach's wie Gott, werde MenschHerder, 2013,ISBN978-3-451-32586-1[4][15]
  • Tastender Glaube: Inspirationen zum Matthäus-Jahr(in German). Ostfildern: Patmos Verlag. 2016.ISBN978-3-8436-0782-7.

References

edit
  1. ^abcd"Bischof Franz Kamphaus"(in German). Diocese of Limburg. Archived fromthe originalon 21 February 2014.Retrieved19 January2014.
  2. ^abcd"Dr. Franz Kamphaus"(in German).Limburg.1 February 2002.Retrieved19 January2014.
  3. ^abc"Limburger Altbischof Franz Kamphaus ist tot".Hessenschau(in German). 28 October 2024.Retrieved28 October2024.
  4. ^abcdefg"Limburger Altbischof Kamphaus ist tot".Tagesschau(in German). 28 October 2024.Retrieved29 October2024.
  5. ^abcd"Gebürtiger Lüdinghausener: / Altbischof Franz Kamphaus am 2. Februar 80 Jahre"(in German). Diocese of Münster. 1 February 2002.Retrieved19 January2014.
  6. ^abcdeHofmeister, Klaus (28 October 2024)."Immer nah am Menschen – immer ohne Prunk und Brimborium".Hessenschau(in German).Retrieved28 October2024.
  7. ^abc"Der frühere Limburger Bischof Franz Kamphaus wird 80 Jahre alt: Der sture, zarte Prophet"(in German). domradio.de. 2 February 2002.Retrieved19 January2014.
  8. ^abWensierski, Peter (15 January 2001)."Mir kann nichts passieren".Der Spiegel(in German).Retrieved19 January2014.
  9. ^Hooper, John (12 March 2002)."Pope closes book on 'abortion licences'".The Guardian.Retrieved3 November2024.
  10. ^ab"Kamphaus muss aus Schwangerenkonfliktberatung aussteigen".Die Welt(in German). 8 March 2002.Retrieved17 January2014.
  11. ^"German bishop capitulates on abortion".BBC.8 March 2002.Retrieved19 January2014.
  12. ^"Commission for International Church Affairs".German Bishop's Conference.Retrieved27 March2014.
  13. ^Deckers, Daniel (29 January 2009)."Bischof Kamphaus" Ach ja, der Franz "".Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung(in German).Retrieved17 January2014.
  14. ^Toefer, Stefan (21 December 2008)."Franz Kamphaus / Mit Leichtigkeit".Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung(in German).Retrieved17 January2014.
  15. ^Kamphaus, Franz (18 March 2019).Mach's wie Gott, werde Mensch(in German). Freiburg Basel Wien: Verlag Herder GmbH.ISBN978-3-451-81666-6.

Further reading

edit
  • Josef Hainz, Hans-Winfried Jüngling, Reinholf Sebott:Den Armen eine frohe Botschaft. For the 65th birthday of Franz Kamphaus.Frankfurt, 2001.
    • Kamphaus, Franz (2021).Den Armen eine frohe Botschaft bringen: Inspirationen zum Lukas-Jahr(in German). Ostfildern: Patmos Verlag.ISBN978-3-8436-1330-9.
  • Wissen, dass der Himmel trägt. Franz Kamphaus. Worte, Wege und Gefährten.Freiburg, Basel, Wien 2007
  • "Franz Kamphaus – ein Westfale im rheinischen Ruhestand".Kirche-und-Leben.de(in German). 28 October 2024.Retrieved28 October2024.
edit
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Limburg
1982–2007 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Franz_Kamphaus&oldid=1255461818"