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Sunday, September 18, 2011

'Disobedient' Austrian Catholics preach message of reform

Deutsche Welle, 18 sep 2011 

The movement has published
a manifesto for reform
Hundreds of Catholic priests and lay people in Austria have issued a 'Declaration of Disobedience.' The movement is calling for reform of the Catholic church including the ordination of women and an end to celibacy.

Disgruntled Roman Catholics in Austria have not only been breaking bread at their weekly masses - they have also been breaking with tradition.

A total of 329 priests - one in ten of all priests in Austria - are openly supporting the call for reform that they say is needed to breathe life back into the church.

The movement calls for male priests to be allowed to marry, ending the church's celibacy rule. The would-be reformers also want women to be able to enter the priesthood and urge greater acceptance of divorce. 

The group wants women, as well as
men, to be ordained
Rather than simply appealing for reforms, the group has declared it will break ecclesiastical rules by giving communion to Protestants and remarried divorced Catholics. It will also allow lay people - men and women - to preach and to lead head parishes without a priest. 

The dissidents' main spokesman is Father Helmut Schüller, who claims that a shortage of priests makes reform essential. In the entire southern state of Carinthia, not one single priest will be ordained this year.

"We're presenting suggestions for how we can continue, when we have no replacements," said Schüller. "How we can find people from our own ranks - for example our own parish members who can simply continue on? We've been thinking about this for years."

It might be too early to call it a schism but unlike the congregations in Austrian churches, the number of "disobedients" is on the increase.

Moral justification

One woman, a religion teacher who wished to remain anonymous, claims she has right on her side when she breaks church law.

"One can only change a law by breaking the law," she said. "When we come to a law that is spelt out the way it is now - that does not address our requirements and our rights but actually restricts them - then I believe I have the right to violate it." 

Schönborn has said that Catholics
should stick to the rules
Head of the Roman Catholic Church in Austria, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, says he is shocked by the open call to defy church doctrine. In a letter he told the rebels they should leave the Church if they do not wish to play by the rules.

Calls for a more liberal church are not new in Austria, says religion commentator Markus Veinfurter, who claims there are no signs that the establishment will listen. "They are all raising the same issues," said Veinfurter. "But there is no movement in the church whatsoever, as far as the hierarchy is concerned."

A public opinion poll shows most Austrians, 76 percent of those surveyed, support the priests' demands and their disobedience.

"Where does it lead?" said Veinfurter. "I think people will go on leaving the Church, people, even those from the innermost part of the church will lose their allegiance. Maybe in a few years time the bishops will be on their own."

Author: Kerry Skyring / rc
Editor: Andreas Illmer


"Perceptions of God" – June 6, 2010 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Quantum TeachingThe Fear of God, Near-death ExperienceGod Becomes Mythology, Worship, Mastery, Intelligent Design, Benevolent Creator,Global Unity.... etc.(Text version)

“.. For centuries you haven't been able to think past that box of what God must be like. So you create a Human-like God with wars in heaven, angel strife, things that would explain the devil, fallen angels, pearly gates, lists of dos and don'ts, and many rules still based on cultures that are centuries old. You create golden streets and even sexual pleasures as rewards for men (of course) - all Human perspective, pasted upon God. I want to tell you that it's a lot different than that. I want to remind you that there are those who have seen it! Why don't you ask somebody who has had what you would call a near-death experience? …. “


"The Humanization of God" – Jul 16, 2011 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: The Humanization of God, Gaia, Benevolent DesignShift of Human Consciousness, 2012, Guides and Angels, Communication with God, Wars in Heaven ?, The Love of God, (Old) Souls, Global Unity,....  etc.)

“… Do angels exist? Absolutely, but not as you think or have been taught. Are there helpers? Absolutely, but again, not like you think. When angels visited Humans in ancient days and the events were written about by those who were there to witness the experience, I can guarantee it was a lot different than they could express on paper. When an angel appears before a Human, it looks like a swirling ball of energy, sometimes even fire that is not hot and does not consume anything. Angels are not in Human form and never have been. They are multidimensional beings, not in 3D. Yet you want to put skin and wings on them and give them a name! Why? It makes you feel better about them. We understand that…”

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