Vatican newspaper critiques dissident theologian

The Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, has criticised the Swiss-born Roman Catholic theologian Hans Küng after he accused Pope Benedict XVI of an "unecumenical luring away" of discontented Anglicans by setting up a special structure to admit them into the Catholic Church.

A column signed by the editor, Giovanni Maria Vian, in the 29 October edition of the newspaper said the article by 81-year-old Küng published the previous day in several European newspapers, including La Repubblica in Rome, contained "lies and inaccuracies".

The Vatican announced on 20 October that Pope Benedict XVI is to set up a structure to "allow former Anglicans to enter full communion with the Catholic Church, while preserving elements of the distinctive Anglican spiritual and liturgical patrimony". Observers have said the scheme is directed mainly at Anglicans who disagree with the ordination of women and of homosexuals.