Austrian cardinal still hopes 'dialogue' will resolve challenge posed by rebel Catholics

November 14, 2011

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna has warned that dissident Catholics are challenging central truths of Church doctrine. But the Austrian cardinal is apparently not ready to take disciplinary action.

As the Austrian bishops concluded a plenary meeting, Cardinal Schönborn told reporters that radical Catholics who had proposed conducting Eucharistic liturgies without priests were moving toward “an open break with a central truth of our Catholic faith.” As for priests who have called for open defiance of Church rules, he remarked: “Disobedience is a fighting word that cannot go unchallenged.”

However, Cardinal Schönborn said that the Austrian hierarchy still hoped to resolve differences with the rebellious Catholic groups. “We are in talks and will remain in talks,” he said; “because I and the bishops are still convinced that a lot can and must be cleared up by dialogue.”

 

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Further information:

• Austria’s Cardinal Schönborn seeks dialogue with Catholic rebels (Reuters)
• Austrian dissidents escalate conflict, challenge hierarchy (CWN, 11/7)
• Austrian priests' group renews defiance on Church teaching (CWN, 10/10)