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Stephan KuttnerGerman-American lawyer
Date of Birth: 24.03.1907
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Stefan Kuttner: A Renowned German-American Canon Law Scholar
- Conversion and Career in Germany
- Immigration to the United States
- Institute of Medieval Canon Law and Later Career
- Literary and Musical Pursuits
- Legacy
Stefan Kuttner: A Renowned German-American Canon Law Scholar
Early Life and EducationStefan Kuttner was born in 1907 in Germany to a Protestant Jewish family. His father, Georg Kuttner, was a civil law professor. Stefan studied law at the universities of Frankfurt and Freiburg before moving to Berlin in 1928 to pursue criminal law under Eduard Kohlrausch. In 1930, he earned his doctoral degree with a dissertation on false testimony.
Conversion and Career in Germany
In 1932, Kuttner converted to Catholicism. He planned to write a habilitation thesis on the concept of guilt and its origins in canon law under Kohlrausch's supervision. However, the rise of the Nazi regime prevented his habilitation. He left Germany for Rome, where he found employment at the Vatican Library. In 1937, he became a professor at the Pontifical Lateran University.
Immigration to the United States
With the increasing persecution of Jews in fascist Italy, Kuttner and his family immigrated to the United States in 1940. He joined the faculty of the Catholic University of America as a professor. In 1964, he became a professor at Yale University. From 1970 to 1988, he taught at the University of California, Berkeley.
Institute of Medieval Canon Law and Later Career
In 1955, Kuttner founded the Institute of Medieval Canon Law. In 1996, the institute was renamed in his honor. At the request of Pope Paul VI, Kuttner joined a commission to develop a new Code of Canon Law in 1967.
Kuttner was a member of the American Philosophical Society, the Institute of France, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was awarded the Pour le Mérite, Germany's highest civilian honor. He held at least 11 honorary doctorates.
Literary and Musical Pursuits
Beyond his scholarly and teaching work, Kuttner was also an author and translator of poetry. He composed music, and his piece "Missa Brevis" was performed by the Boston Cecilia in 1990.
Legacy
Stefan Kuttner passed away in 1998. He left behind a profound legacy in the field of canon law. His research and writings have had a lasting impact on the understanding of medieval Christianity and its legal system. The Institute of Medieval Canon Law continues to honor his memory and his contributions to the study of canon law.
