Catholic priests appointment as university president stuns French

[rug]

Students and teachers of Strasbourg University observe a minute of silence at the "Palais Universitaire" in Strasbourg, France, on Nov. 16, 2015. Photo courtesy of Reuters/Vincent Kessler

By Tom Heneghan | 12 mins ago

PARIS (RNS) The French delight in exceptions to the rule, until one comes along that they don’t like.

One such case has emerged in Alsace, where a Catholic priest has been elected president of the state-run University of Strasbourg.

Michel Deneken, 59, headed the university’s Catholic theology faculty from 2001 to 2009 and was then first vice president of the university before being elected by a wide majority last week to preside over one of the country’s leading centers of higher learning.

His appointment has stirred up a storm of controversy.

His appointment has stirred up a storm of controversy.

http://religionnews.com/2016/12/22/catholic-priests-appointment-as-university-president-stuns-french/

[guillaumeb]

1. Should his qualifications not be the only consideration?

From the article:

We didn’t even know until now that he was a priest,” said Jean-Loup Salzmann, head of the Conference of University Presidents, adding this was a good sign that Deneken was indeed neutral in his work.
The new university president wears civilian clothes, like many French priests, and does not use the cross-shaped lapel pin most priests display on their jackets to indicate their status.

If they did not even know that he was a priest, it sounds indeed as if he was perhaps chosen because he is qualified.

[rug]

2. Maybe they think he's mentally ill.

I understand some people can't discern this.

[guillaumeb]

3. Well, that apparently is a concern for some people.

I must confess that I had not considered that aspect.