An Austrian priest who is urging the church to adopt practices ranging from greater lay involvement in decision-making to opening the priesthood to married men and women said the effort is aimed at upholding the decisions of the Second Vatican Council. Father Helmut Schüller, pastor of a parish in the Archdiocese of Vienna, said during an appearance in Washington on July 22 that the church hierarchy should begin conversations that will build a “new structure” allowing for people to share their gifts with the church better. “We think it’s a question of respect for the dignity of the baptized, the church members, the church citizens as we call them. But also a question of bringing in the gifts of these laypeople to the decision making of the church and to the daily life of the church,” he said at the National Press Club. Father Schüller was in the middle of a three-week, 15-city tour in the United States to discuss the Austrian Priests’ Initiative.
Upholding Vatican II?
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John Adams
12 years ago
And what is holding us back...
Michael Barberi
12 years ago
From the lips of Fr. Schuller to the ears of Pope Francis and his most thoughtful reflection and courageous action, God willing.
Tim O'Leary
12 years ago
As has been well documented in the media, in the press conference while flying back from Brazil, Pope Francis talked about the central role of women in the Church, and also reiterated that the question on women priests was definitively settled by Pope John Paul II. To get a good idea of how Pope Francis thinks, this exchange from the press conference is revealing, especially the last line:
Patricia Zorzan: Speaking on behalf of Brazilians. The society has changed, young people have changed, and we see many young people in Brazil. You have spoken to us about abortion, matrimony between persons of the same gender. In Brazil a law has been approved which extends the right of abortion and has allowed matrimony between persons of the same gender. Why didn’t you speak about this?
Pope Francis: The Church has already expressed herself perfectly on this. It wasn’t necessary to go back to this, nor did I speak about fraud or lies or other things, on which the Church has a clear doctrine.
Patricia Zorzan: But it’s an issue that interests young people…
Pope Francis: Yes, but it wasn’t necessary to talk about that, but about positive things that open the way to youngsters, isn’t that so? Moreover, young people know perfectly well what the position of the Church is.
Patricia Zorzan: What is the position of Your Holiness, can you tell us?
Pope Francis: That of the Church. I’m a child of the Church.
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