At the initiative of the pope, the “Krone” asked pastors and believers throughout Austria. Result: The celibacy of Catholic priests is rejected by the majority.
This interview by Pope Francis caused a tremor in the church. As reported, the pope could now envision abolishing celibacy among priests. We are also discussing this. While hardliners such as Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Andreas Laun are in favor of maintaining celibacy, many dignitaries see things differently.
Viennese cathedral priest Toni Faber points out that three of the fifty confessional priests in his church are already married. A converted evangelical minister and former member of the United Eastern Church. “I am open to reform steps in the church. The abolition of celibacy would also be relatively easy to implement,” he says to the “Krone”. Christian Zoidl of the Holy Family in Upper Austria believes the Bible does not explain why priests are not allowed to marry. “If something doesn’t happen here soon, we’re going to die out.”
Many priests have long been calling for its abolition. The pope is braver than many a bishop, “when he finally tackles and resolves this hot topic,” said Hans Peter Premur, Episcopal Vatican in Carinthia.
A lightning sounding by the “Krone” prior to Holy Mass on Sunday gave a fairly clear picture. The majority of local pastors tend to be in favor of the advance, although critical tones are not lacking. Laun from Salzburg finds the abolition of celibacy ‘hard to imagine’. Franz Brei, pastor in Jennersdorf (Burgenland) sees celibacy as a gift. Of course you can discuss it in public.
Krone.at’s question of the day was very clear: 89 percent of the 40,353 users were in favor of abolishing celibacy.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
