VIENNA - More than 250 Catholic priests in Austria are ready to disobey the pope and allow women to preach, the head of a clergy platform confirmed yesterday.
Helmut Schueller said the Priests' Initiative has been pushing for admitting women and married men into the clergy for years.
The movement published a manifesto earlier this month, and its members have let trained laymen and female religion teachers preach. They have also defied the Vatican by administering the Holy Communion to divorcees and to people who have left the church.
The platform's views are shared by a majority of clergy, according to a poll. It showed that 80percent of Austria's priests would like to end the marriage ban for their profession, and 51percent would like to admit women.
The Catholic Church, however, has reacted sharply. The Vatican is aware that there are not enough priests and it is legitimate to voice concerns, but it is something else entirely to call for disobedience, to threaten the unity of the Church and to revoke common obligations," said Bishop Egon Kapellari, the deputy head of the conference of Austrian bishops.
Priests ready to defy Pontiff
VIENNA - More than 250 Catholic priests in Austria are ready to disobey the pope and allow women to preach, the head of a clergy platform confirmed yesterday.
Helmut Schueller said the Priests' Initiative has been pushing for admitting women and married men into the clergy for years.
The movement published a manifesto earlier this month, and its members have let trained laymen and female religion teachers preach. They have also defied the Vatican by administering the Holy Communion to divorcees and to people who have left the church.
The platform's views are shared by a majority of clergy, according to a poll. It showed that 80percent of Austria's priests would like to end the marriage ban for their profession, and 51percent would like to admit women.
The Catholic Church, however, has reacted sharply. The Vatican is aware that there are not enough priests and it is legitimate to voice concerns, but it is something else entirely to call for disobedience, to threaten the unity of the Church and to revoke common obligations," said Bishop Egon Kapellari, the deputy head of the conference of Austrian bishops.
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