Catholic Rebels Challenge Austrian Bishops

Catholic Rebels Challenge Austrian Bishops

VIENNA (Reuters) - Dissident Austrian Catholics announced lay people will start celebrating Mass when a priest is unavailable, a clear call to disobedience just as the country's bishops hold their autumn conference.

A manifesto adopted by dozens of activists at the weekend said lay people will preach, consecrate and distribute communion in priestless parishes, said Hans Peter Hurka, head of the group We Are Church.

"Church law bans this. The question is, can Church law overrule the Bible? We are of the opinion, based on findings from the Second Vatican Council, that this (ban) is not possible," he said Monday.

He said he wanted bishops, led by Vienna Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, to respond to the paper, the latest in a series of challenges by grass-roots Catholic reformers in Austria.

A record 87,000 Austrians left the Church in 2010, many in reaction to sexual abuse scandals.

Reuters

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holyrope 3

Nov 12, 2011

Are those Raincoats they're wearing? Mercy! They don't realize they're dreaming and haven't woke up yet.

www.latinmasstimes.com

Are those Raincoats they're wearing? Mercy! They don't realize they're dreaming and haven't woke up yet.

www.latinmasstimes.com

tbswv

Nov 12, 2011

Is that a waffle she is holding up in this new age mess? Only thing missing is the maple syrup!!

alinalotte

Nov 8, 2011

If the gowdy robes are suppose to symbolize the tongues of fire of the Holy Spirit - the spirit of the world,deceit,pride and disobedience comes to mind : " It is unbecoming for a woman to speak in front of gathering" -St Paul... and it starts with altar girls and woman lectors, so called " extraordinary " Eucharistic ministers." Coptic Orthodox Catholics following the first Christians example gather in their houses,in little Conoinia prayer groups to read and study the bible,pray together and share their faith with each other and they had survived two thousand years of persecution and had kept the faith.It was an Austria president during Hitler's raise to power that publicly had asked the whole nation to pray the rosary and Austria as the only nation in Europe was speared the horrors of WWII. If the Austrian woman would have followed Virgin Mary's example ,raised holy offspring and prayed for vocations there would not be problem with shortage of priests. There is a story of beast forced to look in the mirror and dying instantly out of freight. Somebody,please hand them a mirror to take a good look at themselves and hopefully they will be able to see,what we see and be afraid of their handiwork and repent !