Irene Heise Amoris Laetitia als Durchbruch in der Katholischen Kirche

About Irene Heise

Prof. Irene Heise is a distinguished religious educator, adult educator, and author. As the founder and director of the “Catherine of Siena Spiritual-Theological Center” in the Archdiocese of Vienna, she dedicates herself to the scientific research and pastoral communication of theological content. In 2007, she was awarded the professional title of “Professor” for her extraordinary merits for the Republic of Austria.

Her theological work is significantly shaped by over 35 years of pioneering work, which specifically addresses the reform of the question of the sacraments for divorced and remarried persons. With the foundation of “Empathic Problem Analysis,” she developed a methodological toolkit that pastorally processes challenges through a narrative approach and devises theological solutions for individual cases. Her work, which is available in numerous publications, found its way into the synodal process on Amoris laetitia (2016).

The personal impulse for her work dates back to 1989, when she first issued an official plea for help to the bishops to draw attention to the pastoral plight of divorced and remarried persons. Despite initial resistance, she remained true to her calling to establish a theological and social-scientific foundation for the complex question of the sacraments. A decisive turning point in her research was marked in 2006 by her encounter with the mysticism of the Doctor of the Church, Catherine of Siena. Heise recognized that her theology—based on the “Blood of Christ” and “Mercy”—holds the key to individual case solutions in the forum internum. In the present work, she brings this long-standing research together and transforms the insights of the Doctor of the Church into the current pastoral transformation process, which receives a renewed update through the upcoming Assembly of Bishops in October 2026.

In addition to her academic activities, the spiritual dimension of dance occupies a central place in her work. Together with her husband, she performs as the “Standard Stars,” combining choreographic expertise with Christian dance meditation. This interdisciplinary approach aims to make the sublimity of faith as well as the experience of harmony and divine devotion tangible in a contemporary context.