Franz Xaver Kiefl

Franz Xaver Kiefl (born October 17, 1869 in Höhenrain near Plattling ; † July 5, 1928 in Regensburg ) was a German Catholic theologian, professor of dogmatics and the history of dogma at the University of Würzburg and cathedral dean in Regensburg.

Life

After graduating from the Benedictine High School in Metten in 1889, Franz Xaver Kiefl began studying philosophy and theology at the Lyceum in Regensburg, which he continued at the University of Munich from the following year . In Munich he received his doctorate in theology in 1892. After being ordained a priest in 1894, Kiefl worked in various chaplains in pastoral care. In 1896 he earned a second doctorate in theology; However, the Regensburg Vicariate refused to give him an exemption for his habilitation. Nevertheless, in 1900 he received a professorship for New Testament exegesis at the Lyceum in Dillingen and in 1903 at the University of Passau.

In 1905 Kiefl was appointed to the professorship for dogmatics and the history of dogma at the University of Würzburg, where he joined the Catholic student association KDSt.V. Gothia-Würzburg joined the Cartell Association of Catholic German Student Associations (CV). The activity in Würzburg was overshadowed by the dispute about the Würzburg theologian Herman Schell , for whom Kiefl had already taken sides in Passau. This brought Kiefl the accusation of modernism and heresy. In 1908 Kiefl, who wanted to give up his professorship because of the disputes at the theological faculty, was elected rector of the university.

Since the attacks on him did not end, Kiefl applied for a position as cathedral chapter in Regensburg in 1909, but it was not awarded to him until 1911. In 1914 he finally received the post of cathedral dean in Regensburg. The time in Regensburg was also determined by violent arguments with other clergy in the cathedral chapter. Contemporaries named Franz Xaver Kiefl's lust for conflict and domination as the reason for the constant conflict. In this respect, it can be assumed that Kiefl was also largely responsible for the disputes at the Würzburg faculty, especially since the situation there had noticeably eased since his departure.

Fonts (selection)

• Pierre Gassendi's epistemology and his polemics with Descartes (1st diss. Theol. From 1892)
• The reunion negotiations between Leibnitz and Bossuet (2nd diss. Theol. 1896).
• Catholic worldview and modern thinking (1921)

literature

• Ina-Ulrike Paul: Kiefl, Franz Xaver. In: Karl Bosl (ed.): Bosls Bavarian biography. Pustet, Regensburg 1983, ISBN 3-7917-0792-2 , p. 414 ( digitized version ).
• Karl Hausberger : Franz Xaver Kiefl (1869–1928). Professor of Dogmatics in Würzburg and Cathedral Dean in Regensburg. Highlights of the life and work of a Metten A graduate . In: Alt und Jung Metten 70/1 (2003/4), pp. 7-29.
• Karl Hausberger: Franz Xaver Kiefl (1869–1928). Shell defender, anti-modernist and right-wing Catholic . Regensburg 2003 (sources and studies on the recent history of theology, vol. 6).
• Karl Joseph Lesch:  Kiefl, Franz Xaver. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 3, Bautz, Herzberg 1992, ISBN 3-88309-035-2 , Sp. 1461-1462.

Web links

• Literature by and about Franz Xaver Kiefl in the catalog of the German National Library