Widow of Blessed Franz Jägerstätter has died aged 101

Whoever met Franziska Jägerstätter, "went away forever blessed " stressed the Diocesan Bishop Ludwig Schwarz of Linz on Friday evening in his homily at the Requiem for the wife of Blessed Franz Jägerstätter who has died at the age of 101. Bishop Schwarz celebrated in Linz's Mariendom, together with Nuncio Archbishop Peter Stephan Zurbriggen, Episcopal Vicar Maximilian Mittendorfer, Vicar Severin Lederhilger, Rector Ewald Volgger and former Abbot Berthold Heigl of Seitenstetten.

Schwarz recalled in his homily that Franziska Jägerstätter's life had for decades translated the message of Blessed Franz Jägerstätter to the present day. He praised Franziska Jägerstätter as devout woman "who set an example for all of us as followers of Christ" is. "She had a difficult life after the war, and kept always a happy heart. Whoever met her went away forever blessed," said the bishop.

Members of the Jägerstätter family and the parish of St. Radegund and faithful from all parts of the Diocese of Linz came to the Requiem. From the political world, Governor Josef Pühringer attended the church service. The sacristans of Upper Austria was well-represented with many members in the congregation, as Franziska Jägerstätter for 30 years held the office of sacristan in St. Radegund. (Cathcon- she took over this role from her husband in 1944)

Jägerstätter died on 16 March shortly after her 100th Birthday in St. Radegund. The funeral at which Cardinal Christoph Schönborn and the Innsbruck Bishop Manfred Scheuer are expected, takes place on Saturday afternoon in St. Radegund.

Source

Cathcon- I echo the words of the Bishop, as I myself had the privilege of meeting this remarkable woman and went away blessed.

The whole story here Blessed Franz's life here. A Franciscan tertiary who stood up publicly to military dictatorship and paid with his life.

Diocese of Linz sinks further into modernist swamp

This is the chapel of the pastoral centre for the steel works opened in 2011 by the Bishop of Linz. God-forsaken and cold. The tyranny of the modern.

Open letter to Cardinal from Disobedient Clergy in Austria

Der offene Brief im Wortlaut « DiePresse.com

Peter Paul Kaspar, Academic Chaplain in Linz, author, musician, executive member of the Parish Priest Initiative helped to formulate the "Call to Disobedience" and now writes an open letter to Cardinal Christoph Schönborn

THE OPEN LETTER

Dear Cardinal!

We - the executive of the Parish Priest Initiative - have issued at Pentecost 2011 a "Call to Disobedience," because we wanted our urgent demands for reform to be made public. This has succeeded worldwide even being cited in the Holy Thursday homily of the Pope. The decades-long internal proposals and suggestions put forward were so far always put politely in the files. We have risked being provocative, which does indeed work well, but your understanding of ministry as hierarchy has been so much hurt that you have since been persistently demanding the revision of a single word- disobedience . To put it bluntly. This word was the door opener - it has allowed us global discourse. That you request the revision of the headline, instead of discussing the content, says a lot about your understanding of authority: you refer to the obedience that we owe to God, his teaching and to conscience rather to you personally and to your office.

You have also described in no previously known position that a Christian obedience is not merely response to an external command, but "to be paid attention to" - from which comes also the idea- to display one's own, educated and responsible conscience. In this formation of conscience for a Catholic priest, the instruction of the superior bishop plays some, but not the first role: "to obey God rather than men," is the biblical rule. Some of us have in discussions with the competent diocesan bishops - in spite of individual differences of opinion -. come to appreciate openness and trust. We assume that it is similarly possible in your Vienna diocese. Asking your colleagues to recant a single word appears to us an all too simple model to deal with disputes. And for the many priests of the Parish Priest Initiative from other dioceses, you are not responsible as a bishop.

You have asked a gay parish councillor elected by a large majority for an interview, because he lives in a registered partnership with his companion. And you have endorsed the decision of the parish. It is possible that you will be blamed by a Roman canonical court. And you have obviously taken this into account and now want to stand by your "disobedience". The fact that you have exposed to public ridicule the obedient parish priest , however, is a small blemish. However, we consider in your decision is a positive example, of when a bishop in his office obeys his conscience, even though the church or Roman law intends something else. We approve of your "disobedience" as gratifying responsibility- in the literal sense - of a "conscientious" public official.

With this hopefully pleasing insight into your certainly difficult office, may God's blessing be given!

Prof. Peter Paul Kaspar, Chaplain for Academia and Artists of the Diocese of Linz

Cathcon- lest we forget, from the town that brought the world Adolf Hitler, came the church, whose Rector is Father Kaspar, that brought the faithful, the Shrine to Judas.    Cathcon has just returned from anticipated Matins of Holy Thursday in the Orthodox Church which takes two hours to savage Judas in every possible way.   This is the normal attitude of Christians.

Truly is Judas to be numbered with the generation of vipers, who ate manna in the wilderness and then complained about the food. For while the food was in their mouths, they the ungrateful spoke against God.

Catholics also have a normal attitude to those in authority that has been completely upset in the post-conciliar era.

Father Kaspar is specifically referring above to his open dialogue with the Diocesan Bishop, Bishop Schwarz, whose tolerance he enjoys.

Rebel priest wants a talk with the Pope

Kirchen-Streit: Schüller will mit dem Papst reden « DiePresse.com

Pope Benedict has asked questions, so he probably wanted to hear answers, says Helmut  Schüller, the chairman of the Parish Priest Initiative. Schüller is "pleasantly surprised" by the criticism from the Pope .

Church rebel, Helmut  Schüller  wants to talk to the pontiff. The Austrian cleric rejects a withdrawal of his "call to disobedience" (Cathcon- demanded by the Cardinal!) but he is now seeking a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. "The Pope has asked questions, so he probably wants to hear answers. We would like to answer his questions", says  Schüller  in an interview on Holy Saturday with Die Presse.

The Pope has used his homily at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday to refer to the Austrian reform movement. "Is disobedience really a way forward?", asked the Pope. And is it not only about a "desperate urge to transform the church according to their wishes and ideas?"

So far, according to  Schüller, there has been no contact between the Initiative and the Vatican. He points out, however, that they had already made two attempts to contact the Pope and they had been rejected. Once on his visit to Vienna in 2007, but also in 2009 in Rome. Now, according to  Schüller, the questions, which the Parish Priest Initiative have taken up, get the weight they should have. The Initiative in their "call to disobedience" announced, among other things, that the ban on preaching for trained lay and religious teachers should be ignored and they spoke out for the admission of women and those married to the priesthood

Schüller showed himself "pleasantly surprised" by the Papal criticisms because the Pope had talked about "institutional inertia" and threatened no sanctions.

Schönborn calls for withdrawal. The Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna, Christoph  Schönborn  has to take back to the criticism of the pope's vicar for the initiative with a request that the "call to disobedience," responds. A public clarification is needed as the word "disobedience" could not be allowed to stand,  Schönborn  said to the "Zeit im Bild".  Schüller  does not want to withdraw the call for disobedience. "We see nothing objectionable in this disobedience," he says. Finally, the 400 priests who are members of the initiative, had not promised at their ordination no longer to continue to use their consciences. "An obedience without conscience is a dangerous obedience," said  Schüller. Cathcon- and worse is an mistaken conscience without being allied to prudence.

He also refers to the Second Vatican Council, which ushered in the Reform Church in the 1960s and began with an act of disobedience of participating bishops who had refused to sign documents prepared by the Vatican. (Cathcon- it has to be said encouraged by a radical, young theologian at the Council, one Father Joseph Ratzinger, who broke the power of the Curia with a speech he wrote for Cardinal Frings).

Schwarz signals support. At least partial support for the Initiative was signaled by the Linz Diocesan Bishop Ludwig Schwarz. He argues for a greater lay say in the appointment of bishops and that Catholics can imagine changes in the celibacy rules in an interview with the Oberösterreichische Nachrichten.

The Carinthian Bishop Alois Schwarz has, however, whitewashed the concerns of his colleagues Egon Kapellari from Styria, who warned in a pastoral letter of the church schism resulting from the Parish Priest Initiative. "I do not see that the unity of the Church in danger," said Schwarz to the "Kleine Zeitung".

Cathcon- a disunited national episcopate is no way to deal with this crisis. Bishop Ludwig Schwarz has form when it comes to appeasing the progressives- who if they are given anything will always come back for more. 

Bishop of Linz welcomes Mexican football team

Some detail here of the Mexican Bishop

Bishop of Linz has money troubles

Explosive details of Kaineder sacking bring trouble for Bishop

LINZ. The sacking of Ferdinand Kaineder as communications chief of the Diocese of Linz was part of an agreement which Bishop Ludwig Schwarz made with the "Church Faithful Prayer Initiative ", according to conservative church circles. The Diocese denies this.

"The sacking of Mr Kaineder was a minimal requirement that we have stated since the end of 2006," Gernot Steier, an attorney in Neulengbach in Lower Austria and the manager of the trust account of the conservative " Church Faithful Prayer initiative. The prayer initiative called on supporters to pay no more contribution to the Church in the Diocese of Linz, but to pay into an escrow account - this is a protest against the liberal policy of the Diocese of Linz, and especially against Kaineder who was responsible for the (Cathcon notorious) youth CD.

We have negotiated with the Bishop, who had first promised the sacking, then withdrew the promise because Kaineder had assured him of improvement said Steier, who is also General Secretary of the Christian Democratic Party of Austria ". That the prayer initiative and Bishop Schwarz had been contact in this regard is apparent from a letter dated 12 June 2007 shown to Upper Austrian News: "We hope that you will choose, as promised back in December, someone for the office of the Head of Communications who loves the church and also who is faithful to the Church in spite of the hostility of the spirit of the age," Steier said in his letter to Schwarz.

As the sacking of Kaineder did not occur,the Initiative continued their boycott of the church tax. Around 50,000 euros was placed on their escrow account. Until suddenly last year, when an 11 July 2009 dated agreement between the Initiative and the Bishop came into being. This paper, which has been shown to the Upper Austrian News also bears the signature of the bishop. It says, inter alia, that as far as the Prayer Initiative is concerned with the present agreement that the matter of the faith-destroying youth CD is at an end.. The funds in the escrow account will be transferred to the diocese, sources said. Kaineder is not explicitly mentioned.

Particularly piquant here: On 13 July, two days after the agreement, Kaineder’s role as head of the communications office ended. Kaineder does not wish to take a position on current developments. That there had been pressure from conservative circles was known however, he said. On 22 June 2009 the Bishop had told him for the first time that he planned to replace him, according to Kaineder.

The Diocese denies any connection between the negotiations with the Initiative and Kaineder’s sacking: the topic of discussion was the making of regular church tax contributions. "The fact that the group has made connections to various aspects of decision-making within the Diocese was not in the power of the diocesan representatives." Talks with the group were not the basis for the episcopal decisions, Upper Austrian News has been told.

Bishop of Linz attacks Father Wagner

Bischof Schwarz weist Wagner zurecht | Nachrichten.at

Gloves come off- now we know what they think about eachother!
Bishop Schwarz rebukes Wagner
The Linz Diocesan Bishop Ludwig Schwarz particularly sharply reacted to the criticism published over the weekend from the Windischgarsten parish priest, Gerhard Maria Wagner, who had diagnosed a "silent schism" in Linz. Schwarz rebuked Wagner, accusing him of adding "emotional heat".

Wagner was chosen about a year ago by the Vatican as auxilliary Bishop of Linz. After violent protests because of his conservative convictions, he renounced the appointment. But in the programme of "Resonance", the Festival of Early Music opening last Saturday in Vienna's Konzerthaus, he now denounces false developments in the Catholic Church in general and "abuses" in the Diocese of Linz.

"Yes, in the Catholic Church, the hat is on fire (Cathcon-implying the head is in danger!)," was his conclusion. Many priests and lay people were "in open rebellion against the Pope and the Church." He criticized the growing number of pastoral staff, who put in question "the teaching authority of the church and no longer accept internally the full faith and moral teaching of the Catholic Church. The consequences were believers who could independently decide "what they can still affirm as a Catholic", which ultimately leads to "a latent schism ", a" silent schism "said Wagner.

Schwarz hits back in the Diocesan newspaper
Bishop Schwarz sets out his position in the forthcoming edition of the newspaper of the Diocese of Linz: pastoral care and preaching today can only be done all together, by priests, deacons, lay people full-time and volunteer staff. "It is undeniable that there are as well as much good also concerns and tensions in our church. One-sided accusations and sweeping suspicions do not help to strengthen unity".

Precisely the current World Week of Prayer for Christian Unity reminds what the unity of the church with Christian denominations and with the local and universal Church is about. "In dialogue with the Pope, to whom we feel bound, emphasizes the importance of openess. What we need is a sober and objective discussion and not emotional heat, as has been published in a Viennese programme by Father Wagner. We stated the fact last year that we in the Diocese are ready for reconciliation and dialogue. It must be that we should intensify our efforts somewhat."

New storms rocking Diocese of Linz

In German- English report later

Rome preparing to appoint new auxilliary in Linz?

All Roads Lead to Rome

The Pope has injured his wrist after a fall on Friday during his holiday in Italy.

After a brief treatment in the hospital, he is carrying on with his holiday after an unusually intense and difficult half year, said a press release from "Kathpress," the Catholic news agency.

But the Diocese of Linz currently has caught nothing of the holiday mood. The "dismissal" of Ferdinand Kaineder as head of the Communications Office of the Diocese of Linz, again ensures that the grass roots of the church are again agitated. Bishop Ludwig Schwarz is accused of bowing to the wishes of arch-conservative groups in the Diocese of Linz.

Not only Kaineder himself, but also the campaign group “We are Church” and Catholic Action Upper Austria see the dismissed press chief as a victim of ultra-conservative circles.

Kaineder was blamed, as he himself reported, for the diocesan Youth CD from 2006 which contained open statements about sexuality.

Also, that he is a representative of the "Linz Way" and that as spokesman of the Bishop, he did not entirely conform with the programme, outlook and statements of the Bishop gave rise to anger among the conservatives.

Bishop Ludwig Schwarz justified the dismissal so that Kaineder as a committed colleague always drew attention to himself for controversial positions.

This brought him in tension with his tasks as spokesperson of the Bishop. Schwarz has offered his ex-press chief however, other specific employment opportunities in the Diocese.

Immediately after his firing Kaineder said that from specific parties a defamation campaign had been run against him for a number of years

Defamation campaign

After Rundschau am Sonntag showed him an emailed linked from the campaign, Kaineder’s suspicions were confirmed.

From outside, the impression was always woken that there could be a connection between kath.net and the initiative, Kirchentreu

It was always known to me that they worked together. It appeared to me that the information channels between Rome and kath.net functioned well.

“I believe also that these channels are responsible for my sacking”, said Kaineder.

Explosive email

In the cited email of 4th February, Franz Gangl, head of the movement, Kirchentreu and producer for KTV invited his colleague Klaus Fruhstorfer to a meeting with Roland Noe, the chief editor of the internet platform, kath.net.

Gangl wrote about a press conference at which Bishop Schwarz and parish priest, Gerhard Maria Wagner were present.

He joked about Kaineder and told Fruhstorfer that his concern about the Nudist Doorkeeper (Cathcon??!!) (meaning Kaineder) was completely unfounded. At that time, the consecration of Gerhard Maria Wagner was still to be taking place.

Gangl wrote that he had whispered to Wagner at the end of the press conference that the church tax boycott could now end and that the money that had been paid into escrow accounts could be handed over to the new Bishop as a welcome gift.

That Rome has spoken influential words in the Diocese was made clear to Rundschau am Sonntag by a church insider.

"Supposedly the Kaineder documentation has been on the desk of the pope. Furthermore in Rome, the appointment of a new auxiliary bishop shall be prepared. "

Celibacy becomes private matter for priests in Linz

From Upper Austrian News

Father Josef Friedl has confirmed that in five conversations with Bishop Ludwig Schwarz he has dispelled all ambiguities about his attitude to celibacy.

OÖN: Father, has everything been discussed bv you and Bishop Ludwig?

Friedl: Basically it is settled. The Bishop said at a press conference that I can remain a parish priest.There were five conversations with him, but I have to keep to our understanding to say nothing more. I trigger nothing more.

OÖN: This means you have left the relationship with your partner?

Friedl: I will certainly not go into it. I say nothing. I've clarified everything out from my side. My private life is private.

OÖN: Bishop spokesman Ferdinand Kaineder was this week relieved of his duties. What do you say to that?

Friedl: bad, very bad. He is a great man and had many good ideas. It is very unfortunate that one looses such people.

OÖN: Did you fear that conservative groups in the Catholic Church could also boot you out?

Friedl: the right wing circles, yes ... Direct fear not, but they have set directed their fire at me.

They seek him there, they seek him there, the Bishop of Linz goes missing

Revolving door personnel policy of the Diocese of Linz will convince no-one in Rome that the Bishop means business

What ecclesiastical office will the Bishop think of for Mr Kaineder?

Statement from the Bishop of Linz

Linz (kath.net) The Linz Diocesan Bishop Ludwig Schwarz has written a statement about the dismissal of Ferdinand Kaineder as head of the Communications Office of the Diocese of Linz . The Diocese published this on its homepage. The statement was delivered in written form because of the Bishop's illness.

"I have been considering for a long time a change in function for my spokesman." While Ferdinand Kaineder worked as a very dedicated employee, he was himself again and again the subject of controversial opinions, which brought him in tension with his role as spokesman for the bishop.

That is why I have decided on a change of function after several discussions. In these discussions, he was also offered very specific different opportunities to work in the diocese. These are being seriously considered by him and in the foreseeable future decisions will be taken in consultation with him.

To confront various conjectures, I would like to emphasize that this is the functional change in a single specific area. "

As a Salesian, the Bishop of Linz should know what to do next

Anchor his Diocese firmly between devotion to Our Lady, Help of Christians and the Blessed Sacrament, in total dependancy on the Barque of Peter.

DREAM OF TWO PILLARS
BY FR. JOHN BOSCO

"Imagine yourself to be with me on the seashore, or better, on an isolated rock and not to see any patch of land other than that under your feet. On the whole of that vast sheet of water you see an innumerable fleet of ships in battle array. The prows of the ships are formed into sharp, spear-like points so that wherever they are thrust they pierce and completely destroy. These ships are armed with cannons, with lots of rifles, with incendiary materials, with other firearms of all kinds, and also with books, and advance against a ship very much bigger and higher than themselves and try to dash against it with the prows or burn it or in some way to do it every possible harm."

"As escorts to that majestic fully equipped ship, there are many smaller ships, which receive commands by signal from it and carry out movements to defend themselves from the opposing fleet. In the midst of the immense expanse of sea, two mighty columns of great height arise a little distance the one from the other. On the top of one, there is the statue of the Immaculate Virgin, from whose feet hangs a large placard with this inscription: Auxilium Christianorum - "Help of Christians"; on the other, which is much higher and bigger, stands a Host of great size proportionate to the column and beneath is another placard with the words: Salus Credentium - Salvation of the Faithful (Believers).

"The supreme commander of the big ship is the Sovereign Pontiff. He, seeing the fury of the enemies and the evils among which his faithful find themselves, determines to summon around himself the captains of the smaller ships to hold a council and decide what is to be done.

All the captains come aboard and gather around the Pope. They hold a meeting, but meantime the wind and the waves gather in storm, so they are sent back to control their own ships. There comes a short lull; for a second time the Pope gathers the captains around him, while the flag-ship goes on its course. But the frightful storm returns. The Pope stands at the helm and all his energies are directed to steering the ship towards those two columns from whose summits hang many anchors and strong hooks linked to chains.

"All the enemy ships move to attack it, and they try in every way to stop it and to sink it: some with books and writings or inflammable materials, of which they are full; others with firearms, with rifles and with rams. The battle rages ever more relentlessly. The enemy prows thrust violently, but their efforts and impact prove useless. They make attempts in vain and waste all their labor and ammunition; the big ship goes safely and smoothly on its way. Sometimes it happens that, struck by formidable blows, it gets large, deep gaps in its sides; but no sooner is the harm done that a gentle breeze blows from the two columns and the cracks close up and the gaps are stopped immediately.

Meanwhile, the guns of the assailants are blown up, the rifles and other arms and prows are broken; many ships are shattered and sink into the sea. Then, the frenzied enemies strive to fight hand to hand, with fists, with blows, with blasphemy and with curses.

"Suddenly the Pope falls gravely wounded. Immediately, those who are with him run to help him and they lift him up. A second time the Pope is struck, he falls again and dies. A shout of victory and joy rings out amongst the enemies; from their ships an unspeakable mockery arises.

But hardly is the Pontiff dead than another takes his place. The pilots, having met together, have elected the Pope so promptly that the news of the death of the Pope coincides with the news of the election of the successor. The adversaries begin to lose courage.

"The new Pope, putting the enemy to rout and overcoming every obstacle, guides the ship right up to the two columns and comes to rest between them; he makes it fast with a light chain that hangs from the bow to an anchor of the column on which stands the Host; and with another light chain which hangs from the stern, he fastens it at the opposite end to another anchor hanging from the column on which stands the Immaculate Virgin.

At this point, a great convulsion takes place. All the ships that until then had fought against the Pope's ship are scattered; they flee away, collide and break to pieces one against another. Some sink and try to sink others. Several small ships that had fought gallantly for the Pope race to be the first to bind themselves to those two columns. Many other ships, having retreated through fear of the battle, cautiously watch from far away; the wrecks of the broken ships having been scattered in the whirlpools of the sea, they in their turn sail in good earnest to those two columns, and having reached them, they make themselves fast to the hooks hanging down from them and their they remain safe, together with the principal ship, on which is the Pope. Over the sea their reigns a great calm."

And some comment from The Times, Catholic Herald and kreuz.net- a pointless ball from a paleo-liberal.

Diocese of Linz press spokeman resigns- the cleanout required by Rome begins

From Uppper Austrian News

As Upper Austrian News exclusively reported, the presumed member of the liberal camp and Head of the Communications Office of the Diocese of Linz, Ferdinand Kaineder has to go. He has been “relieved of his functions” since last Tuesday says the official website of the diocese. Bishop Ludwig Schwarz cannot be reached for a statement: Because he was ill, the secretary broke the news.

Kaineder was appointed Head of the Communications Office under Bishop Maximilian Aichen, the predecessor to Schwarz Conservative ecclesiastical circles were at loggerheads with him again and again. Among other things, they criticised a cd mailed in 2006 to 15,000 young Catholics in Upper Austria. The cards contained some surprising statements about sexuality. Specifically that discrimination against homosexuals could not be justified on the basis of Christian principles and on contraception, there was a note: "We live in the 21st Century ". One group used the CD to launch a boycott of the church tax and to demand the resignation of Kaineder. The Communications Office was responsible for the content of the CD.

Officially, it was, Bishop Schwarz on Tuesday who decided after several discussions to make a personnel change with regard to his spokesperson and the management of the communications office of the Diocese of Linz. Kaineder was told on Monday that he was “relieved” of his functions. His former deputy Gabriele Eder-Cakl takes over the leadership and will take further the diocesan communication concept. She spoke in a initial statement of a "difficult time". She was "very disappointed" because the decision to dismiss Kaineder was taken on the basis of "denunciation".

In information given by Kaineder to diocesan staff, Schwarz had taken his decision on the grounds that "from one side" it is still the case that the youth-CD card is the grounds for great reproach and even to this day letters and questions arrive. Kaineder also can be seen by many as a strong representative of the so-called "Linz Way" and the spokesman of the bishop must completely identify with the tasks, views and statements of the bishop.

Kaineder stated that, he would not deny that from a certain website in the last few years, a veritable "defamation" campaign had been conducted against him personally in his capacity as head of the communications office and what still causes him a lot more pain, against his purely voluntary activity that he undertook in Kirchschlag Parish Church as the Chairman of the Church Council and Honorary Chaplain (he took to reading the Gospel and preaching even after a ban from the Bishop on lay preaching). He was really surprised and disappointed that in recent years "above" had given more credibility to the informers than to their own colleague. That these international internet networks have good, yes, the best contacts in Rome, was now quite well known. He can see and experience this kind of "merciless reporting" as a real threat to an open, dialogical Church, with faith in God turned unconditionally towards the people.

Kaineder is 52 years old. He studied theology and held various posts in the Diocese of Linz, inter alia, as an education lecturer at the Petrinum (1978-80), as a pastoral assistant in the Cathedral Parish (1982-92), at the same time training theology students (1989-2000) and since 2000 has been operating as the Head of the Communications Office. He could not yet provide details on his professional future.

The sheer quality of the work of Mr Kaineder can be seen in the subtility and his originality of the use of bananas to promote Catholicism.

He already has his own website offering group and individual communications coaching.
"Visions, goals and paths"


Visions of a Catholicism with a powerless Papacy, seeking secular goals, following Protestant paths.

Interview with female bishop who stole Communion

When she was made a priestess she also received allegedly and secret episcopal orders. She claims apostolic succession! Won't give the name of the consecrating bishop (just one). She admits to breaching canon law. A process for more justice for women.

She does funerals and weddings and other sacraments.

Have you contact with other priests in Upper Austria- a good basis for discussion with colleagues and work constructively together.

She does not want to say more about the problems Bishop Schwarz had with the incident.

With Bishop Schwarz she has a good relationship!

Part of "Roman Catholic Women Priests Worldwide"

I speak only for women.

Different churches should go hand and hand in the 21st century. Diverse churches meet the different paths that human beings take to God.

Notes and quick paraphrasing of the interview!

The Canadian PM has also taken to stealing hosts.

Excommunicated Female "Bishop" seizes Communion

In haste, late at night from the Upper Austrian News.

The Sunday worship celebration in the Parish of St. Peter in Linz did not make the excommunicated "Bishop" Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger as happy as she would have wished. Bishop Ludwig Schwarz refused her communion with the Host. Then she took the wafer herself.

400 people joined the celebration of Mass in the Parish of St. Peter on 28June.. It was held in honour of the church's patron, St. Peter. Among them, high-ranking politicians. But few noticed what happened during the Communion.

Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger was dressed as a Bishop when she appeared at the Mass in official dress with a large pectoral Cross. During the Communion she chose, consciously or unconsciously, the row in which the Diocesan Bishop Ludwig Schwarz distributed communion. The bishop suggested to her that she should not come, because he could not give her Communion. But Mayr-Lumetzberger would not stop. When it came to her, she was not given the Host. According to ecclesiastical law,someone excommunicated may not receive communion.

Mayr-Lumetzberger took the host herself from the ciborium. "I was there for all men and women in a similar situation in life," she says in discussion with OÖN. Is it normal to receive the Host like this? "There are different models of the Communion," she says. What did she feel? "In the first moment, nothing. But now I feel hurt and angry, like a woman who has been beaten for the first time by a man, "says Mayr-Lumetzberger.

Had she expected to receive Communion?" Yes. The Gospel is a higher authority than canon law. "Mayr-Lumetzberger is excommunicated since according to Canon Law ordination of priestesses is prohibited. It had however never happened that she did not receive the Host. The Church of St. Peter is her home parish. "I know Christine a long time. For me, she has never come for Communion. She knows what situation this would put me in "says Parish Priest Franz Zeiger. This Sunday, she came dressed as a Bishop to the Mass.

Do she wish to provoke and did she want to attract attention? "I cannot judge. But dress codes, I cannot enforce on anybody, "says Pastor Zeiger. Did he understand the attitude of Bishop Ludwig Schwarz? "Yes. in canon law he cannot. " Observers had the impression that the situation during the Mass was painful for Bishop Ludwig Schwarz.

Head of Austrian Catholic women movement slammed in letter to the press

From the Upper Austrian News- Ordination for women

The news that KFB-chair the Margit Hauft calls for the admission of women to the priesthood was described by your newspaper at the same time as "not new" --yet was reproduced in three prominently placed articles (June 30, 2009). Was it just a journalistic error, to bore readers by the defrosting of a frozen posthorn or does the newspaper want to get involved in church politics (as in other cases the recent past)?

It is significant that in the interview with Margit Hauft the central question remains unanswered: how can someone be Chairman of a Catholic organization, while rejecting the goodness of the Catholic faith (see the Apostolic letter "Ordinatio sacerdotalis")?
 
It is to be hoped that – unlike what was asserted in the interview -- that Bishop Ludwig will fulfil his leadership and teaching leadership responsibilities towards the KFB and not let himself to be reduced by her to the level of a messenger boy.

That in the same interview, the requests of dying people allegedly unprovided with sacraments were instrumentalised for her own purposes by Margit Hauft makes the story even more problematic, as the Viaticum into new life is the Eucharist (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1524), which, of course, can also today be brought by women to dying people. 

Rosa Waibel

Head of Austrian Catholic Women supports debate about priestesses

Seen here with the fomer Bishop of Linz

And yes, she is from that Diocese of Linz! Article from the Upper Austrian News.

That women feel the call to be deaconesses and priestesses is a reality

LINZ. Margit Hauft, Chairwoman of the Catholic Women's Movement in Austria, has called for the admission of women to the diaconate. Also the subject of women and priesthood should be thoroughly discussed, says Hauft.

OÖN: Ms. Hauft, the Diocese of Linz is currently occupied with the cases of Friedl and Wagner. Is this area of tension a place for your suggestions?
Hauft: Hope is there. It is not a dream, because women feel called to be deaconess or priestess or feel, rather a fact. Women do not want to take the position of men in the church, but in addition to provide pastoral help.

OÖN: An example?
Hauft: A hospital chaplain accompanies people as they die. But then she is prohibited to give Extreme Unction. She may only give the blessing. These people are confused by this. Just like the dying who ask: Why should you not hear my confession?

OÖN: If women are permitted to be deaconesses or priestesses would you be one of the first to aspire to ordination.
Hauft: I? No, not at all. I am called to be a mother.

OÖN: Bishop Ludwig Schwarz wanted to say nothing to us about your proposal, when we asked him Does this surprise you?
Hauft: Bishop Ludwig knows my opinion. He has assured me that he has also repeatedly expressed himself about the matter in appropriate places. And I believe him. We have committed large resources to women, married men and priests, who are currently without an office and who could support priests currently in office. The Eucharistic celebration is the highest priority but then I cannot guarantee it because I do not have enough priests for this. What is there to say from a theological perspective against opening?

OÖN: Do you understand Father Friedl who publicly confesses his relationship with a woman?
Hauft: It is not my life. His difficult situation shows that the combination of an absolute obligation of celibacy and priesthood always brings problems. Celibacy has a high value. Priests should be given the option as to whether they want to live celibately or not.

Cathcon: Wonder if she has read this?

Could not be clearer.

Almost Bishop Wagner gives new interview

In the Upper Austrian News

The parish priest of Windischgarsten in conversation about his absenteeism from the Mass yesterday, Reconciliation, Father Friedl and the division in the Catholic Church.

OÖN: Father, what did you do this afternoon?

Wagner: I was visiting.

OÖN: Did you not think of visiting a Church?

Wagner: The reconciliation Mass? No! I do not know what exactly there is to be reconciled. I see no

need for negotiations. And incidents like the Corpus Christi procession in Linz with the focaccia bread “monstrance” annoy me.

OÖN: This sounds like a convenient excuse.

Wagner: No! I have said about two weeks ago before witnesses that I would participate in the reconciliation Mass. Actions such as those with the monstrance concern the unity of the church.

OÖN: What are you doing for that?

Wagner: There is still much to be done. Catholicism must clearly result. The split in the diocese is

there, you cannot talk nicely around it. If I have a problem today, I must consider it and talk.

OÖN: Did you recently have contact with Bishop Schwarz?

Wagner: We have been on the phone two days ago for half an hour. He invited me to the reconciliation Mass. I told him: Please do it as you want, but we both have nothing to reconcile. Whether he has a strong regard for my person or is concerned about it, I do not care. Everyone has a different lifestyle.

OÖN: Just like the Ungenach priest Josef Friedl.

Wagner: I do not know anything from my side. Do you know of anything ? Supposedly Friedl has changed his attitude, says Schwarz. I hope he is right. This is the best for Friedl and Bishop. A return to celibacy would be good for all concerned.