Franz Xaver Dieringer

Franz Xaver Dieringer was a Catholic theologian (22 August 1811, at Rangendingen (Hohenzollern-Hechingen) – 8 September 1876, at Veringendorf (today a district of Veringenstadt)).

Dieringer studied theology at Tübingen, was ordained at Freiburg, 19 September 1835, and appointed instructor at the archiepiscopal seminary there.

From 1841 to 1843, Dieringer was editor of the Katholik, a periodical founded in 1821 by Andreas Räss and Nicolaus von Weis, afterwards Bishops of Strasburg and Speyer respectively.

Dieringer represented a traditional, romantic approach to Catholic studies, rather than the rationalist, enlightment-inspired style of the early part of the century.

At the same time, the hierarchy was more concerned with the threat of liberalism and attempts to undermine doctrine, and favored a Neo-Scholastic approach.

[8] Though his earlier teaching, especially in his "Laienkatechismus", had been in accordance with the doctrine of papal infallibility, at the time of the First Vatican Council he joined the opposition.

[6] In order to escape from the strained relations which existed among the divided faculty, Dieringer resigned his offices and dignities during the spring of 1871 and took charge of the parish of Veringendorf in Hohenzollern.