Leo Scheffczyk

Who was Leo Scheffczyk?

Leo Scheffczyk was a long-time theologian at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and one of the strongest forces for orthodoxy during the long pontificate of John Paul II. During the 1980s and 1990s, he severely criticized some of his former students, e.g. Leonardo Boff, who advocated a version of liberation theology. What limited evidence is available suggests Scheffczyk likely played a major role in drafting the most controversial documents, such as Ordinatio Sacerdotalis and Ad Tuendam Fidem. He was made a cardinal in 2001.