28 August 2023
An Open Letter Concerning the Position in Jewish Studies at the University of Lucerne

Dear Prof. Dr Staffelbach, President of the University of Lucerne,

Dear Prof. Dr. Wasmeier, Dean of the Faculty of Theology

We take the liberty of writing concerning the University of Lucern’s recent announcement of a Professorship for Judaic Studies and for Theology (75%) at the Faculty of Theology.

Among the requirements listed, one reads that potential applicants need to be « member(s) of the Roman Catholic Church ».

As you certainly know, the Swiss Federal Constitution prohibits public-sector employers from excluding candidates on the basis of ethnic, national or regional origin, religion or skin color (art. 8, para. 2). In fact the text of the Constitution is cited in the University of Lucerne's statement concerning its diversity strategy, dated April 2021. It is thus all the more surprising that the aforementioned announcement should seem to contradict this constitutional principle.

We have read with great attention the arguments put forward by the Dean of the Faculty to justify this state of affairs, but fail to understand why canon law (the apostolic constitution Veritatis gaudium, requiring that teachers in faculties of theology « witness a Christian and ecclesial life », an expression which in itself does not seem to exclude Christian teachers from other Christian confessions) should supersede the Federal Constitution?

Furthermore, if Jewish studies are indeed included within the list of disciplines mentioned in Veritatis gaudium, so are other disciplines taught at the University of Lucerne, such as bioethics, law, and philosophy. It is thus perplexing that the requirement to be a member of the Roman Catholic Church would only apply to Jewish studies.

In addition, the Faculty of Theology also announces two other positions, one in Medieval and Modern Church History and one in Theology and Leadership. Neither announcement require that applicants should be members of the Roman Catholic Church, a requirement that seems to have been made explicit only for the Professorship for in Judaic studies.

This fact raises further suspicion that this requirement was disingenuously designed to exclude non-Catholic scholars of Judaism to apply, thus offering a blatant exemple of discrimination based on religion. The case is all the more regrettable that the Professorship in Judaic Studies at the University of Lucerne is one of the very few chairs in Jewish studies established in Switzerland.

The situation has rightly raised the concern of a number of colleagues and members of the general public, including the President of the Federal Commission against Racism, Martine Brunschwig-Graf.

We urge the University of Lucerne to withdraw this job announcement in its present form and create a position open to all, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof, in accordance with the University’s own commitment to diversity and equal opportunities.

We thank you for your consideration.

Update 05 September 2023

Response from the University of Lucerne

Dear signatories of the Open Letter Concerning the Position in Jewish Studies at the University of Lucerne,

The President of the University of Lucerne, Prof. Dr. Bruno Staffelbach, together with the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Prof. Dr. Margit Wasmaier-Sailer have responded to our letter.

Please find their response pasted below.

With kind regards.

Dr PD Daniel Barbu, CNRS, Paris


Date: 5 September 2023

Professorship in "Jewish Studies and Theology"

Dear Mr Barbu

Dear co-signatories

Thank you for your letter and your interest in the Faculty of Theology and the University of Lucerne.

In your letter you criticise the fact that a Roman Catholic denomination is required for the recently advertised professorship in “Jewish Studies and Theology” at the Faculty of Theology at the University of Lucerne. We are pleased to explain the reasons for this. These arise, on the one hand, from canon law and, on the other hand, from the specialist orientation and positioning of the Professorship of “Jewish Studies and Theology” and the closely associated Institute for Jewish-Christian Research.

On the legal reasons: Degrees in theology must be recognised by the church in order for graduates to be able to enter church service. This recognition is regulated in an agreement between the University of Lucerne, the Bishop of Basel and the Canton of Lucerne dated November 2005. The agreement stipulates that all professorships teaching in the regular curriculum of the Faculty of Theology require the bishop's "Nihil obstat" ("declaration of no objection"). This "Nihil obstat" in turn requires a mandatory affiliation to the Catholic denomination. The appointments are also subject to the Apostolic Constitution "Veritatis Gaudium" issued by Pope Francis. This stipulates that a Roman Catholic faculty must comprise at least twelve permanent professorships. The Vatican must also grant the "Nihil obstat". The bishop obtains this for the faculty from the "Dicastery for Culture and Education", an authority of the Roman Curia.

The subject "Jewish Studies and Theology" is one of the compulsory subjects of Catholic theology at the University of Lucerne, which means that like all other compulsory subjects of Catholic theology, it must comply with the agreement between the university, the canton and the diocese as well as the constitution "Veritatis Gaudium".

The announcement of the professorship for “Medieval and Modern Church History”, which you also mention in your letter, does not differ from the announcement of the professorship for “Jewish Studies and Theology” with regard to the requirements. The vacancy notice for the professorship in Church History refers to a university degree in Catholic theology and a doctorate in Catholic theology. The wording of the two vacancies differs, but the content is the same. This professorship is also subject to the above-mentioned requirements.

The vacancy for "Theology and Leadership" is not a professorship. Thus, the above-mentioned requirements do not apply.

With the professorship for “Jewish Studies and Theology”, the Faculty of Theology at the University of Lucerne has exactly twelve permanent, recognised professorships, all of which require the "Nihil obstat" and can thus only be held by members of the Roman Catholic confession. With Prof. Dr. Verena Lenzen, a member of the Roman Catholic denomination has already held the professorship. If this were not continued, the conditions of "Veritatis Gaudium" would no longer be fulfilled.

The Apostolic Constitution "Veritatis Gaudium" applies exclusively to the discipline of Catholic theology and thus only to its professorships. Moreover, it applies to all Roman Catholic faculties worldwide.

On the professional reasons: In addition to research and teaching, the tasks of the professorship for “Jewish Studies and Theology” include directing the Institute for Jewish-Christian Research and working in the Centre for Theology and Philosophy of Religions. This professorship is therefore essentially about contributing to the dialogue between Christianity and Judaism from the perspective of Catholic theology. This also includes involvement in corresponding church commissions and Catholic delegations.

To understand the work of the Institute for Jewish-Christian Research, it is helpful to take a look at its history: it was founded in 1981 as a scientific dialogue institute. Two scholars who practised Jewish Studies as a theological discipline worked together on biblical and (other) rabbinic parables and interpreted them comparatively: on the one hand from a Jewish perspective, on the other from a Catholic perspective. The two researchers were Prof. Dr. Clemens Thoma (1932-2011) and Prof. Dr. Simon Lauer (born 1929). Over time, the comparative research was extended beyond the field of parables. In order to ensure that the research results were not only received in the scientific community, but also within the two religious communities, the two scholars were chosen in such a way that they were also anchored and accepted in their respective communities. I.e.: For research from a Jewish perspective, a theologian specialised in Jewish Studies who is himself a practising Jew and recognised in his community; for research from a Catholic perspective, a theologian specialised in Jewish Studies who is himself a practising Catholic and recognised in his community. Currently, the Institute for Jewish-Christian Research has two teaching and research associates with Jewish denominations. The part of the Catholic theologian is carried out ad-interim and is now to be secured again in the longer term with the filling of the professorship.

Jewish-Christian dialogue is a professed and practised goal at the Faculty of Theology. The Faculty has had Jewish lecturers for many years; the previous chair holder, Prof. Dr. Verena Lenzen, regularly invited Jewish guest professors to the Faculty with great success. This tradition will be continued. In the autumn semester, Dr. Anat Gilboa will teach at the Faculty of Theology.

We hope our explanations will contribute to your understanding of the requirements from the announcement for the professorship in “Jewish Studies and Theology”.

Best regards,

Prof. Dr. Bruno Staffelbach

Rector

Prof. Dr. Margit Wasmaier-Sailer

Dean of the Faculty of Theology

Update 13 May 2024

The University of Lucerne will create a new position in Jewish Studies

Dear Colleagues,

A few months ago we sent an Open Letter to the President of the University of Lucerne, Prof. Dr Staffelbach, and the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Prof. Dr. Wasmeier, protesting the creation of a Professorship for Judaic Studies and Theology requiring that the applicants be « member(s) of the Roman Catholic Church »--a requirement that contradicts art. 8, para. 2 of the Swiss Federal Constitution.

Our letter received more than 500 signatures in a matter of days.

In that letter, we urged the University of Lucerne "to withdraw this job announcement in its present form and create a position open to all, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof, in accordance with the University’s own commitment to diversity and equal opportunities."

It is with great pleasure that we have learned today that our arguments have partly been heard.

Indeed, the University of Lucerne has announced today that in addition to the Professorship for Judaic Studies and Theology at the Faculty of Theology, a new Professorship for Jewish Studies would be created at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, without any denominational requirements. Pending approval by the by the University Council, the new professorship will be advertised in the fall of 2024.

The full statement is available here: unilu.ch/news/berufung-professur-fuer-judaistik-84...

With kind regards.

Dr PD Daniel Barbu, CNRS, Paris

517
signatures
435 verified
  1. Dr. PD Daniel Barbu, French National Centre for Scientific Research, Geneva
  2. Marianna Ferrara, Associate Professor, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome
  3. Magda Teter, Professor and Shvidler Chair in Judaic Studies, Fordham University, New York
  4. Russell T. McCutcheon, University Research Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA
  5. Sylvain Piron, Directeur d'études, Ecole des hautes études en sciences sociales, Paris
  6. David Lemler, Associate Professor in medieval Jewish thought, Sorbonne Université, Paris
  7. Nicole Belayche, Professeur émérite, Ecole pratique des Hautes études, Paris
  8. Willi Braun, Professor, University of Alberta, Edmonton
  9. Carole Mary Cusack, Professor of Religious Studies, University of Sydney, Sydney
  10. Kate Oxsen, Asst. Professor of Old Testament Studies, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago
  11. Guy G. Stroumsa, professor (em.), Hebrew University of Jerusalem/Oxford University, Jerusalem
  12. Michal Bar Asher Siegal, Associate Prof, Ben Gurion University, Israel
  13. Schneur Newfield, Professor of sociology and Jewish studies, Hunter College, New York
  14. Geoffrey Herman, directeur d'études, EPHE, Paris
  15. Philippe Borgeaud, Prof. Hon. Histoire des religions, Université, Genève
  16. Martin Rueff, Professeur ordinaire, Université de Genève, Genève
  17. Dr Peter Nahon, Researcher, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel
  18. Bruno Karsenti, Directeur d'études, EHESS, Paris
  19. Natalie Lantz, Dr Hebrew Bible, Uppsala University, Stockholm
  20. Kevin Bovier, Chercheur, Université de Fribourg, Fribourg
...
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  1. Paola von Wyss-Giacosa, researcher, Zürich
  2. Marion Kaplan, Prof., NYU, NY
  3. Philipp Nielsen, Associate Professor, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville
  4. Mark Roseman, Professor, Indiana University, Bloomington
  5. David Abraham, Professor of Law, Univ of Miami, Miami FL
  6. Lerousseau, Germanist, University of Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq
  7. Cédric Terzi, Sociologue, MCF, Université de Lille, Lille
  8. Belinda CANNONE, comparatiste, Université de Caen, Normandie
  9. Bénatouil, Retraité, Paris
  10. Alexandre François, Directeur de recherche, CNRS - Ecole normale supérieure, Paris
  11. Lisa Grant, Professor of education, Hebrew Union college- Jewish institute of religion, New York
  12. Aline Schlaepfer, Assistant Professor, University of Basel, Basel/Geneva
  13. Michèle Tauber, Professor in Hebrew Literature, University of Strasbourg, PARIS
  14. Gary Howell, Retired professor, Melbourne Village
  15. Froma Zeitlin, professor Emeritus, Princeton University, Classics
  16. Chance P. McMahon, PhD Candidate in Comparative Literature, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  17. Marleen lust, Kuleuven studennt
  18. Anais massot, Docteur en histoire, EHESS, Paris
  19. Niels Falch, Doctor Jewish Cultural Studies, The Netherlands
  20. Sylvie Leber, Writer, Formerly employed by Jewish Christian Muslim Association, Melbourne Australia
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