Father Bernard Haring, 1912-1998

By Sister Irene Hartman, OP

The eleventh of 12 children, Bernard Haring was born in Bottingen, Germany on Nov. 12, 1912. Both parents were generous to the poor. His mother is remembered as an excellent housewife and wise educator. When Bernard was only 14, he witnessed the stillborn death of a nephew, and the early death of that one’s twin brother. The pastor decreed that the unbaptized one could not be buried in a Catholic cemetery. Bernard decided at that moment that later he would study that question, and he did.

Bernard joined the Redemptorist Congregation in 1933, believing that he would spend his life doing missionary work. Shortly after his ordination, Father Haring’s superior told him to begin the study of moral theology. He couldn’t imagine anything more boring, but the superior said, “Get a doctorate in moral theology in a German university and make moral theology different in the future.” And he did, becoming the leading moral theologian of the Second Vatican Council. All his studies, his writings, his teachings were based on this statement: “What kind of person does God want me to be and for what kind of community and human relationship does the law of the Spirit incline me?” His moral theology was based on the good news of God’s loving gift to humankind, and humanity’s grateful response.

In September, 1940, Father was drafted into the German army for medical service in France. He distinguished himself as a pastor who celebrated Mass each Sunday even though forbidden to do any pastoral work, lest he be imprisoned. While in Poland in 1941, Father Haring held Bible classes for Catholic and Protestant soldiers and for Polish citizens. When the war with Russia broke out, he cared for soldiers and villagers, and even baptized Russian babies. He persuaded some German soldiers to help free Russian prisoners of war and to save many Jews, especially Jewish women. He was put into a Russian prison compound; the Poles freed him and made him their pastor. What German soldiers did in the name of obedience affected his thinking as a moral theologian, and influenced the concept of responsibility in obedience in his later teachings and writings.

After World War II, Father Haring completed his doctoral studies and began teaching moral theology in Germany. He believed that responsibility was the heart of moral theology. However, he found it difficult to pick up his cross and follow Christ when he came into conflict with members of the Curia through the 70s and early 80s.

Part of the work of Vatican Council II was the question of faith and morals. Father Haring used his knowledge and skills in responding to the uncertainties posed by the “Dogmatic Schema on Children who Die Unbaptized.” He recalled his resolution made when he was 14, namely, to study the question of unbaptized babies. Some among the bishops at the Council said there was no salvation for babies who die without baptism. Some made an exception for Jewish children who were circumcised before the time of the Church. Father Haring responded with, “What happened to the Jewish girls?” There was no response from the bishops.

Father Haring was determined to give a reasonable solution and he declared that God could not levy unfulfillable conditions and at the same time will salvation for all. At this juncture, he was forbidden to speak on the topic but he wrote his arguments based on these three principles: God’s universal will of salvation; the saving death of Christ for everyone; and the overabundance of redemption. His documents were placed in the Vatican archives. His prayer was that he hoped every parent would be free of the fear that their little one was “lost.”

Stricken with cancer of the throat in 1979, Father Haring bravely fought the disease and gave courage to many others who had the same affliction. In 1995, he wrote for their encouragement, “I Have Seen Your Tears.” After surgical procedures, he lost his larynx and couldn’t speak normally. Haring said he didn’t believe that God prescribed cancer for him, but instead granted him light and strength to live with it purposefully and to fight against the sickness. He prayed, “On the evening of this day and with an eye on the evening of life to which I am drawing near, I wish to honor your name of Father with a great big trustfulness. You know better than I do, what is harmful to me, and what is beneficial. You take care of me, immeasurably better than doctors and nurses provide for me. Take from me everything that hinders me on the way to You, and grant me everything that furthers my progress on this way. Amen.

Father Haring died on July 3, 1998, at the age of 85. he left behind more than 1,000 articles and 107 books. His best known books are “The Law of Christ,” and “Free and Faithful.”