Bishop happily listens to praises of blasphemous statue of Our Lady suffering the pains of childbirth and supports a climbing wall being built into a Church and Theatre Masses
Glettler: Church and art interrupt a loud and irritable world
Vienna Discussion Evening "KA-Salon" on counter-spaces in times of acceleration and digitalization
share According to experts from both fields, art and religion share a central social function: They create spaces for pausing, interruption, and grappling with fundamental questions of human existence—"where the big issues of life are negotiated." This was the tenor of the discussion format "KA-Salon" on Wednesday evening in Vienna, to which the Catholic Action of Austria (KAÖ) had invited actress Selina Ströbele and Bishop Hermann Glettler of Innsbruck under the motto "Bread, Wine, and Art." The discussion was moderated by KAÖ President Ferdinand Kaineder.
Both artistic and religious practices can act as counter-spaces in an increasingly accelerated and digitalized society, according to the participants. Both areas enable "reflection beyond the logic of efficiency and constant availability." Or, as Bishop Glettler put it: "Art can soothe and disturb," and also "bring silence," which is a very important task in the present day. "Art, just like religion, has the function of interrupting, listening, and creating space," said Glettler, who is responsible for art and culture at the Austrian Bishops' Conference.
In this context, Ferdinand Kaineder, President of the Catholic Action of Austria (KAÖ), referred to the digital transformation: "Algorithms cannot pause and be silent. Only humans can do that, and art helps us do so." Art can also inspire us to examine our own perspective on social realities and to engage accordingly.
Actress Ströbele, meanwhile, pointed to art as a space for communication and experience: "Art addresses the human condition. In my profession, I can make things visible that make people feel understood. This can also provoke thought, sparking individual reflections and societal debates, such as the much-discussed sculpture of the Virgin Mary giving birth in Linz Cathedral." At the same time, art is also "simply daily work to pay the rent."
Transformation of Church buildings
A key focus of the discussion was the future use of sacred spaces. Against the backdrop of declining demand, the discussion centered on how church buildings can be further developed without losing their spiritual function.
Bishop Glettler referred to a project in Innsbruck where the parish church of St. Peter Canisius is being partially transformed. A bouldering hall is being created there, while the altar in the center will be retained and continue to be used liturgically. "Such a transformation naturally presents logistical and emotional challenges," said Glettler. "We must engage in dialogue with the faithful on this journey, as such changes are often unsettling." At the same time, he emphasized that even in this transformation, the church remains "the space where one doesn't have to deliver anything, where people find peace and encounter God."
Scene of debased liturgy- soon to be a shared space with wall climbers
Liturgy as a cultural expression
The participants identified church liturgy as another intersection of religion and art, as its rituals, music, and vestments contain elements of staging and can be understood as a form of cultural expression. With a view to the further development of church practice, the participants advocated for open dialogue and new formats such as "theatrical services" or cultural interventions that connect tradition and the present.
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