In office, Cardinal Ratzinger fulfilled his institutional role, defending and reaffirming official Catholic doctrine, including teaching on topics such as birth control, homosexuality, and inter-religious dialogue. During his period in office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith took disciplinary measures against some outspoken liberation theologians in Latin America in the 1980s and Jesuit priest Anthony de Mello. In 1983, he issued the Declaration on Masonic Associations which drew on Clarification concerning status of Catholics becoming Freemasons (itself issued by the Congregation nine months before his becoming its prefect).
In office, Cardinal Ratzinger upheld his institutional responsibilities, defending and reaffirming official Catholic doctrine, including teachings on topics such as birth control, homosexuality, and inter-religious dialogue. During his tenure, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith took disciplinary actions against some outspoken liberation theologians in Latin America during the 1980s and Jesuit priest Anthony de Mello. In 1983, he issued the Declaration on Masonic Associations which drew upon Clarification concerning the status of Catholics becoming Freemasons (itself issued by the Congregation nine months before his appointment as its prefect).