Austrian Hierarchy Rebels over Pope’s Selection of Conservative Priest as New Bishop
By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman and John-Henry Westen BELGIUM, February 25, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Pope Benedict’s selection of an orthodox Austrian priest as auxiliary bishop in the ultraliberal diocese of Linz has generated a firestorm of protest from liberal Catholics in the laity, among priests and even the bishops of Austria. The furor was venomous in the media, priests voted to reject the nomination, and last week the priest himself – “not entirely voluntarily” – signed a letter asking the Pope to withdraw his appointment to the bishopric. The Vatican has not, however, accepted the resignation. The priest’s request to withdraw his nomination […]
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