von Lipp, Joseph

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von Lipp was born the son of a poor blacksmith and his wife, Wilhelm and Maria Lipp. His parents both died in 1796 of typhus and the baby Joseph was adopted by his mother's sister, Margarethe Romler. He grew up in Heubach-Lautern, went to school there, and then studied theology in Ellwang and Tübingen, before being ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1819.

He initially intended to teach school, and became rector (principal) of the gymnasium (academic high school) at Ehingen. He was transferred to the post of town priest and canon in 1845. After the death of the Bishop of Rottenburg, Johann Baptist von Keller, in 1846, and considerable disagreement about his successor, von Lipp was appointed by Rome as a compromise.

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Unexpectedly, he did not turn out to be Rome's poodle, and demonstrated a mind of his own as bishop. He thus became unpopular with the ultramontanist wing of the Church, which advocated ever more power for the Pope. But he managed to keep his diocese largely aloof from the damaging Kulturkampf struggles that convulsed much of Germany during his time as bishop. For 20 years he was the object of a secret ultramontanist whispering campaign in Rome, of which he knew nothing. Finally he became aware of the intrigues and his spirit broke. He died, defeated and demoralized, in 1869.

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