Catholic Church as a space open to the world for all denominations

"Church must change positively"

The first change to be made is that you don't lounge about on a sofa in front of this glorious altar in the University Church.   See picture in article source.

The employees of the Archdiocese of Salzburg hold on to their Christian faith despite the scandals of past years.

The Church has lost its credibility, many Salzburgers answer when asked why more and more members are leaving the Catholic Church. Talking to Catholics, some of them former, one thing quickly becomes clear: due to the scandals of the past years, above all the abuse cases, the Church is in a crisis.

"In order to restore credibility, we need to continue to look at what has happened. Looking at the cases of abuse and dealing with them. The problems and the processes must be dealt with transparently," says Lucia Greiner. The Salzburg native is head of the pastoral office of the archdiocese. Founded as a response to National Socialism, the Pastoral Care Office of the Archdiocese of Salzburg aims to support people in their lives. Alongside Greiner, pastoral worker Theresa also has an open ear for people. In her case for children and young people (see interview below).

Creating a space open to the world for all denominations

"The problem is that from the outside everything is thrown together into the institution of the Catholic Church. The abuse cases, the issue of women and homosexuality," says Richard Frasl, pastoral assistant at the Catholic University Community, or KHG for short.

"I have had positive experiences with the Catholic Church from an early age. I have been able to learn what the Church can be and that I can encounter God through other people."

Richard Frasl is pastoral assistant in Salzburg

Born in Lower Austria, he came to Salzburg about six years ago and has been working in the Church ever since. "I have had positive experiences with the Church from an early age. I have been able to learn what church can be all about and that I can encounter God through other people," says Frasl. "I think it makes sense to give your time to the young church. And I think we can change something and also be a role model," he adds. Because not only Catholics are welcome in the KHG. For Frasl and his colleagues, the Church is a space open to the world.

"To restore credibility, we need to continue to look at what has happened. A looking at the cases of abuse, their processing, and transparency."

Lucia Greiner, Head of the Pastoral Office Salzburg

Greiner also believes that the Church must change. In addition to the involvement of more lay people in church offices, there will be a separation of wheat and chaff. "I think that people will decide more consciously for the faith," Greiner says. In the previous year alone, the Archdiocese of Salzburg recorded a record number of departures. 7403 Catholics turned away from the Church. 4913 of them in the Salzburg part of the diocese alone, which also includes areas of Tyrol. This contrasts with only 381 who revoked their resignation or joined in 2022.

"Without the Church, the world would be a selfish place".

That the church crisis is a purely Catholic one can be refuted with regard to other Christian denominations. The Protestant Church also recorded almost 6,000 resignations in Austria last year. And this despite the fact that pastors are allowed to marry and women are also allowed to hold office.

If the Catholic Church no longer existed in Salzburg, it would not only be the regular callers on pastoral care who would suffer, Frasl thinks. "Without the Catholic Church, the world would be a place where egoism would prevail. Because the Christian faith lives on togetherness," he says.

Being a support for young people in difficult situations

Theresa works as a volunteer pastoral counsellor and helps children and young people in difficult situations.

Theresa, you work as a volunteer pastoral worker for the archdiocese. How long have you been doing this?

I have been volunteering with kids-line telephone counselling since 2019. We are there for children and young people by phone and chat, listen to them and help if we can.

How exactly can you imagine that?

We are staffed eight hours a day. We work in two- or four-hour shifts. And the children and young people can simply write or call us. The younger ones - the youngest are eight years old - prefer to use the chat. The older children, from teenage onwards, prefer to use the telephone.

Are there times when the service is used more?

Especially at Christmas and holidays, many children contact us. Because they are lonely and have no one. November 2022 was the strongest month so far. We had a peak of more than 3,000 enquiries.

What topics do you discuss with the children and young people?

It varies a lot. All forms of violence: psychological, physical, sexualised as well as suicidal tendencies and self-harm are represented. Just a few years ago, the topics were school worries and lovesickness. But these have become fewer and fewer.

Is that perhaps due to the pandemic?

Of course, yes. Because loneliness has become more prevalent precisely because of the pandemic.

Were you and your colleagues at kids-line able to continue the telephone counselling during the lockdowns?

Yes, fortunately. We were able to continue working in our home offices and take care of the children.

Since kids-line is run by the Archdiocese of Salzburg, do the children and young people who call or write also deal with religious issues?

Yes, especially because we want to give space to all religions. The children have cultural differences and that is allowed. That is the beauty of the Christian idea. Because we are there for everyone, no matter what they believe.

Since Theresa works as an anonymous contact person for children and young people, her last name is not mentioned.

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