Achterfeldt, Johann Heinrich
Achterfeldt, Johann Heinrich
Theologian, b. at Wesel, 17 June, 1788; d. at Bonn, 11 May, 1877. He was appointed professor of theology at Bonn in 1826 and in 1832 he founded with his colleague, J.W.J. Braun (d. 1863), the “Zeitschrift für Philosophie und Katholische Theologie” (1832-52), the chief purpose of which was to defend the teachings of Hermes. He also published under the title “Christkatholische Dogmatik” (Münster, 1834-36) the theological writings which Hermes (d. 1831) had left in MSS. This publication was followed by sharp controversy, and eventually by the condemnation of the works of Hermes, which Pope Gregory XVI placed upon the Index, 26 September, 1835. In 1843, Achterfeldt incurred suspension from his professorial chair rather than sign the declaration of faith required by the Coadjutor Archbishop von Geissel of Cologne. Though Hermesianism lost ground and finally disappeared during the revolution of 1848, Achterfeldt clung to his views. In 1862, however, he was reinstated as professor, and in 1873, having made his submission to ecclesiastical authority, he was freed from suspension.
———————————–
MÜLLER, in Dict. de théol. catholique, s. v.; HERGENR THER, Handbuch d. allg. Kirchengesch. (Freiburg, 1886), III, 969.
E.A. PACE
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume ICopyright © 1907 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightNihil Obstat, March 1, 1907. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., CensorImprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York
Fuente: Catholic Encyclopedia
Achterfeldt, Johann Heinrich
a Roman Catholic theologian of Germany, born 1788, at Wesel; died at Bonn, 1864. He was ordained priest in 1813; and, in 1817, was appointed professor of theology at the seminary of Braunsberg, from which he was called, in 1826, to the chair of dogmatics at the university of Bonn. He was an intimate friend of Professor Hermes (q.v.), and after the death of the latter published his famous work on Systematic Theology (Christl.- Katholische Dogmatik, 1831). Achterfeldt was regarded, with his colleague Braun, as the leader of the Hermesian School (q.v.); and when the system of Hermes was condemned by Rome, and he refused to comply with the demands of Rome, he was suspended from his chair. He wrote Lehrbuch der Christlich-Kathol. Glaubens- und Sittenlehre (Braunsberg, 1825); Katechismus der Christlich-Katholischen Lehre (Braunsberg, 1826); and was, after 1832, one of the editors of a theological and philosophical quarterly (Zeitschrift fur Philosophie und Katholische Theologie), the chief organ of the Hermesian School. Pierer, 1, 88; Vapereau, p. 14.