Church of Ghosts

The ghosts referred to are the Sudeten Germnans who were expelled in 1945, after Hitler had claimed the German-speaking parts of Czechoslovakia in 1938.

O Adonai Antiphon for Vespers of 18th December

The Rosary of the Franciscans of the Immaculate

For the lifting of persecutions, within and without the Church.

Tango flashmob in St Peter's Square for Pope's birthday

Tango Mass for Pope
Pope presides over Tango Mas

Cardinal gets new, extra-heavy millstone

Cardinal Gröer receives new, extra heavy millstone

Plus: Bishop of Linz gives cause for concern as the plaque tolerates abuse denial

"As the Diocese of Linz sticks his head in the sand, we ourselves must be active," says Sepp Rothwangl of the Platform of Victims of Ecclesiastical Violence. And this activity is truly heavy: the milstone weighs 150 kg that after today can be wondered at next to the plaque commemorating the late Cardinal Gröer. From the middle of the millstone the face of Groer projects, based on the Bible quote: 

But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea. Qui autem scandalizaverit unum de pusillis istis, qui in me credunt, expedit ei ut suspendatur mola asinaria in collo ejus, et demergatur in profundum maris. (Gospel of Matthew 18:6).

Bishop Schwarz produces no insight

There is need for the millstone placement given the controversy over the trivializing plaque commemorating the late Cardinal Gröer who was guilty of criminel paedophilia (Cathcon- his supporters say this was never proved in a court of law). This has adorned since 1989 the church wall of Hohenzell. On the other hand, however, protest rained down from the victims of sexual abuse in the church. "However, discussions with the Diocese of Linz were unsuccessful," laments Sepp Rothwangl. Bishop Schwarz did nothing to put the Gröer-venerating parish priest of Hohenzell, Bauer in his place and remove the scandalous plaque - it was originally supposed to remember that Gröer here has prayed for the "unborn child".

Hohenzell needs a new monument

"On this occasion, we placed there four weeks ago the first small symbolic millstone as the correction of plaque," said Rothwangl. When this addition was removed, the Platform called for a great millstone fund raising campaign. "We become very popular throughout Austria and get several large and heavy millstones," said Rothwangl happily. "One of the biggest, we have now delivered to Hohenzell." For the Platform of Victims of Ecclesiastical Violence, Hohenzell has become a synonym for the denial and cover-up of the Church's abuse crimes, "a fitting place for a millstone monument in the service of truth. We are considering further steps," said Rothwangl in conclusion.

The whole saga of the millstone

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Millstone disappears from Cardinal's neck

Hardly had it been attached, it has already gone. The "artistic redesign" of the Groër monument in the Upper Austrian village of Hohenzell was removed from strangers. The "Platform for Victims of Ecclesiastical Violence" had decorated a few days ago a plaque which had been attached in memory of the former Cardinal Hans Hermann Groër at the local church with a millstone tied around his neck. This millstone (including Groër image) has disappeared.

"My addition to the monument was removed under cover of darkness," despairs Sepp Rothwangl of the Platform. With the action he wanted to point to the past of the cardinal - who was accused of multiple child abuse. Originally, the plaque on the Innviertler Church was a memorial to Groër's prayers for unborn children.

Rothwangl does not give up and now starts a millstone collection campaign: "We want to correct the monument again, but this time in a more significant way: Everyone who is as outraged at what has gone on as we are, might contribute to a millstone which we we will be happy to deliver to Hohenzell. 

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