Johannes Ronge (1813-1887) was founder successively of the “New” or “German” Catholics, and of several “Free Thought” groups.
Born during the Napoleonic Wars at Bischofswalde, Prussia (now Biskupów, Poland), Ronge grew up during a period of intellectual and cultural ferment. Ordained in 1840, within a year he published an article attacking the primacy of the pope over local churches, leading to his suspension from the priesthood in 1843.
As it happened, the accession of a new, pro-Catholic king to the Prussian throne allowed the bishop of Trier to revive a custom the following year that had been disused since 1810 – the display and pilgrimage around the Holy Coat of Christ in that city. Ronge wrote a blistering attack on the whole thing, denouncing it as rank superstition – for which he was excommunicated.
