 |
| The movement has published a manifesto for reform |
Hundreds of
Catholic priests and lay people in Austria have issued a 'Declaration of
Disobedience.' The movement is calling for reform of the Catholic church
including the ordination of women and an end to celibacy.
Disgruntled
Roman Catholics in Austria have not only been breaking bread at their weekly
masses - they have also been breaking with tradition.
A total of
329 priests - one in ten of all priests in Austria - are openly supporting the
call for reform that they say is needed to breathe life back into the church.
The
movement calls for male priests to be allowed to marry, ending the church's
celibacy rule. The would-be reformers also want women to be able to enter the
priesthood and urge greater acceptance of divorce.
 |
| The group wants women, as well as men, to be ordained |
Rather than
simply appealing for reforms, the group has declared it will break
ecclesiastical rules by giving communion to Protestants and remarried divorced
Catholics. It will also allow lay people - men and women - to preach and to
lead head parishes without a priest.
The
dissidents' main spokesman is Father Helmut Schüller, who claims that a
shortage of priests makes reform essential. In the entire southern state of
Carinthia, not one single priest will be ordained this year.
"We're
presenting suggestions for how we can continue, when we have no
replacements," said Schüller. "How we can find people from our own
ranks - for example our own parish members who can simply continue on? We've
been thinking about this for years."
It might be
too early to call it a schism but unlike the congregations in Austrian
churches, the number of "disobedients" is on the increase.
Moral
justification
One woman,
a religion teacher who wished to remain anonymous, claims she has right on her
side when she breaks church law.
"One
can only change a law by breaking the law," she said. "When we come
to a law that is spelt out the way it is now - that does not address our
requirements and our rights but actually restricts them - then I believe I have
the right to violate it."
 |
| Schönborn has said that Catholics should stick to the rules |
Head of the
Roman Catholic Church in Austria, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, says he is
shocked by the open call to defy church doctrine. In a letter he told the
rebels they should leave the Church if they do not wish to play by the rules.
Calls for a
more liberal church are not new in Austria, says religion commentator Markus
Veinfurter, who claims there are no signs that the establishment will listen.
"They are all raising the same issues," said Veinfurter. "But
there is no movement in the church whatsoever, as far as the hierarchy is
concerned."
A public
opinion poll shows most Austrians, 76 percent of those surveyed, support the
priests' demands and their disobedience.
"Where
does it lead?" said Veinfurter. "I think people will go on leaving
the Church, people, even those from the innermost part of the church will lose
their allegiance. Maybe in a few years time the bishops will be on their
own."
Author: Kerry Skyring / rc
Editor: Andreas Illmer
"The Humanization of God" – Jul 16, 2011 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: The Humanization of God, Gaia, Benevolent Design, Shift of Human Consciousness, 2012, Guides and Angels, Communication with God, Wars in Heaven ?, The Love of God, (Old) Souls, Global Unity,.... etc.) - New !
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