Infidelity in Linz

Last year, just one priest was ordained in the Diocese of Linz. The ordination had in fact been postponed as the candidate had called for an open revolt against Rome. After full and as we can now see less than frank discussions with the Bishop, the ordination went ahead, the Bishop giving himself cover by ordaining two FSSP priests using the old books at a separate ordination around the same time.

Father Golatz has now broken every bound of discretion and published a new interview in the Standard, one of the main Austrian newspapers. The Bishop has issued a statement to say he is disappointed but there is not enough evidence to proceed against him. Judge for yourself below. A translation of the Bishop's statement will follow shortly.

The Bishop Ludwig Schwarz can be contacted

Herrenstr. 19
A-4020 Linz
Telefon: (+43 732) 772676-1121 und 1122
Fax: (+43 732) 772676-1163
E-Mail: bischoefl.sekretariat@dioezese-linz.at


The Interview
S
How honest can one be as a priest in the Catholic Church?

G
One can be honest. It is my first principle to call a spade a spade.

S
This has been known to the local church at the latest since you called for “a revolt against Rome” via the interview with the Standard. Did you get muzzled for it?

G
I didn’t reckon that my ordination would be delayed but this gave me enough time to think about the topic obedience.

S
So what is your conclusion?

G
Completely clear. I am loyal towards the Bishop and towards Rome but I find it difficult to keep my mouth shut. If the Church wants to disseminate Christ’s message then a honest communication is a prerequisite. The latter can be either praise or downright criticism.

S
One had the impression that the Linz Diocesan Bishop who is usually quite nice and gentle has shown in your case for the first time a somewhat hardened attitude. How brotherly has your direct conversation actually been?

G
It was quite tense and I had to apologise for my statements. The Bishop has however said that I am not altogether wrong with the problems that I raised. So we were only not of the same opinion on how to solve these problems.

S
This is not very surprising. Apart from, your “Diocesan revolt against Rome”, you also argue for a “second way next to the path of celibacy”, as well as “women priestesses”.

G
These statements are definitely exaggerated and formulated as such. But I do not see any contradiction in shared thinking on the future governance of the Church and the obligation to obedience.

S
Does this mean that you still maintain your former statements?

G
Yes. When I look at the lack of priests, I simply do not understand why one adheres to entrance criteria for which 80 percent of the population would not qualify. We need a viri probati model and why should not we have women in a dog collar?

S
And the revolt against Rome?

G
“Revolt” is surely the wrong word. But the Dioceses must join and together fight Rome. We need a kind of rebellion at the basis level of the Church so that we can draw attention to the problems in the Dioceses.

S
Is there too little contact between the upper hierarchy and the basis of the Church?

G
Yes, I think so. How after all should the upper hierarchy know anything? If a Bishop goes to Church the benches are full. When the Pope comes a hundred thousand people go on pilgrimage to him. How should the upper hierarchy perceive these massive problems at the base, as on normal Sundays the benches are partly empty. The internal Church communication needs to become better.

S
Do you think that you have achieved anything with your critical statements?

G
Nothing has changed, but at least they talked about it for a while.

S
You have opened your mouth and you got a muzzle. Does your case not signify how the Church deals with problems?

G
There has never been a muzzle and nothing was swept under the carpet but there are many areas in which I expect from the Church more openness in the way that they deal with problems. Nothing will ever be changed if you agree on everything. For instance, on the topic of sexual abuse, this should have been handled in a much more radical way.

S
What do you suggest?

G
Similar to America, where finger prints are taken from every future priest and a DNA profile is made and if there is any abuse, there will be no false accusations and the guilty party is soon identified. Such a thing we need in Austria.
German text

END OF INTERVIEW Translation by REPORT-Europe for multilingual communication.

Father Golatz is an expert on the philosophy of Richard Rorty, the post-modernist and relativist par-excellence. He obviously takes more notice of Mr Rorty than either Rome or even his superiors.

Bishop Schwarz has acquired the nickname, The Disgrace Bishop for his inability to deal with Golatz. Rather than Blamage could be Blamange.