Anger and worry after Pope appoints controversial bishop

**buttmunch** · February 1st, 2009, 08:19 PM

Pope Benedict has promoted to bishop an ultra-conservative Austrian clergyman who called Hurricane Katrina "God's punishment" and condemned the Harry Potter books for "spreading satanism".

The appointment, which was confirmed by the Vatican at the weekend, comes days after the Pope was criticised for his rehabilitation of a bishop who denies the Holocaust.

Gerhard Maria Wagner, 54, is to become auxiliary bishop in the Austrian city of Linz, where he is viewed as a controversial figure by churchgoers and clergy alike. In 2005, he wrote in a parish newsletter that Hurricane Katrina was an act of "divine retribution" for the sins of a sexually permissive society.

He said it was worth considering whether environmental catastrophes should not be seen as a result of "spiritual environmental pollution" - a type of "divine retribution" for New Orleans' relaxed attitude towards sexual promiscuity and homosexuality.

"It is surely not an accident that all five of New Orleans' abortion clinics, as well as nightclubs were destroyed," he wrote, adding: "It's not just any old city that has gone under, but the people's dream city with the 'best brothels and the most beautiful whores'."

In 2001 he warned children against reading JK Rowling's novels about the boy wizard Harry Potter, describing them as spreading satanism.

In 2004 he said it was no coincidence that the Tsunami disaster had occurred at Christmas, inferring that it was punishment for "rich western tourists" who had "fled to poor Thailand".

Wagner has served as the parish priest of the Austrian town of Windischgarsten since 1988 and has a doctorate in theology from the Gregorian Pontifical University in Rome. In an interview with Austrian state television, ORF, he said: "I am someone who goes in search of confrontation".

News of his ordination on 22 March prompted a wave of criticism from clergy, not least because the decision was allegedly taken without consulting Austria's Catholic elite.

"I am devastated about this decision. It is astonishing that someone who holds an extreme view in so many questions can be called to such a position, which should bring people together," said Franz Wild, priest of the parish of Traun. "The way it has unfolded is really a catastrophe."

Walter Wimmer, of the Episcopal Consistorium, called it a "slap in the face for the Diocese of Linz".

The Pope is facing criticism for his recent decision to revoke the excommunication after two decades of four traditionalist bishops, members of the Society of Pius X, including British-born Richard Williamson, who is a Holocaust denier. The Chief Rabbinate of Israel broke off official ties with the Vatican last week in protest at the decision. On Saturday Israel's minister for religious affairs threatened to suspend relations.

Liberal Catholics have said they fear the Pope is steering the church in an ultra-conservative direction. In a commentary in the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the Swiss theologian and Catholic priest Hans Küng, who has been at loggerheads with the Vatican for years, wrote: "The Pope risks losing the trust of millions of Catholics across the world."

Anger as Pope names controversial bishop | World news | The Guardian

I knew this Pope looked like Satan but didn't know he was determined to drag Catholics, kicking and screaming, back into the Middle Ages.

**Grimmlok** · February 1st, 2009, 08:20 PM

Hey southernbelle, how's that catholic leadership looking now

**buttmunch** · February 1st, 2009, 08:44 PM

^^ hehehehehehe

**scooter** · February 2nd, 2009, 07:33 AM

Dont forget Ratzinger was Prefect for The Doctrine of Faith...which in the old days had the much sexier name of The Inquisition.

**Grimmlok** · February 2nd, 2009, 10:45 AM

I love gay critiques coming from a bunch of old queens wrapped in silk dresses, with gold sceptres and elaborate hats, living in a sumptuous palace.

Catholic priests: The Liberace's of religion.

**RevellingInSane** · February 2nd, 2009, 01:31 PM

People still question why I ran like hell from the Catholic Church. *points to OP* Ya think? After the witch hunts and everything short of stoning us in the streets, I had a good idea this was a group of wackos.

I guess he missed that the cathedrals in NOLA were flooded as well, while other churches escaped damage. All along the coast, Catholic churches floated away, while others stood. Maybe that was a message as well.

Catholicism is evil.

**sputnik** · February 2nd, 2009, 01:33 PM

^^
i don't think the evangelists are any less evil, it's just that the catholic church is bigger and older.
but hey, at leas they have the nicest churches and art collection.

**Grimmlok** · February 2nd, 2009, 01:33 PM

Most religion is evil.

The Unitarians seem the most Christ like.

**Ettabell** · February 2nd, 2009, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Grimmlok

Most religion is evil.

The Unitarians seem the most Christ like.

Grim, I dont know if you are serious about what you said about the Unitarians, but that is one that I seriously considered checking out. There is one nearby me and they seem the most tolerant to the real people and accepting of who we really are.

Originally Posted by buttmunch

I knew this Pope looked like Satan but didn't know he was determined to drag Catholics, kicking and screaming, back into the Middle Ages.

This is just damn crazy.

**southernbelle** · February 2nd, 2009, 05:26 PM

I've never had anything but positive experiences in the Catholic church. I realize that not everyone agrees with all of the Church's beliefs, and that there are some controversial issues, but no church is completely devoid of scandal or controversy.

While I can appreciate humor about certain aspects of Catholism, I think that sometimes it gets taken too far.

If you don't like Catholicism, don't join, but I don't see any reason to mock or ridicule the people who do. And as long as you're going to do so, I think you should refrain from any insinuations that the Church and its members are intolerant.

**Grimmlok** · February 2nd, 2009, 06:06 PM

^^ uh, its leaders are intolerant. the head of the catholic church is intolerant.

If the leaders, the ones who give the marching orders, are the head bigots in a bigoted organization.. then the church is intolerant.

I will say it again: the church is intolerant. I'm not insinutating it. I'm saying it flat out. It's reality

**buttmunch** · February 2nd, 2009, 08:43 PM

If you don't like Catholicism, don't join, but I don't see any reason to mock or ridicule the people who do. And as long as you're going to do so, I think you should refrain from any insinuations that the Church and its members are intolerant.

Are you saying the Catholic Church ISN'T intolerant? I would hate to have to go and find say 4295872490857429875209875982374532 examples of their intolerance last year alone. I'd happily shut up about all religions if they shut up and got on with ministering their flock. As it is they try (certainly the Catholics do) to influence public policy that could and does have an effect on my life so until they stop doing that they're fair game. Sorry if that hurts you but it's the way it is.

**southernbelle** · February 2nd, 2009, 08:50 PM

No, I don't think it's intolerant. Actually, I found it to be MORE tolerant of other religions and of different viewpoints than the Protestant churches I've been to.

It certainly doesn't have an "anything goes" attitude or change its rules and beliefs around as necessary to achieve political correctness, but after having read tons of Catholic literature, attended months of classes about the faith, and actively participated in my church, I do not think at all that the Church is "intolerant".

**Grimmlok** · February 2nd, 2009, 09:04 PM

Right, there's only 2000 years of history working against that theory.

*rubs temples* Their attitude to gays, women, and everything else makes them intolerant. They're pretty much the assholes of the Christian world. They called gays part of "the over-arching ideology of evil". They covered up priest abuse. The inquisition. The crusades. World War 2 for gods sake.

Wtf does that make them if not intolerant assholes? I mean, hello? What weird parallel universe do you live in?

**sputnik** · February 2nd, 2009, 09:45 PM

seriousy, SB, even my über-catholic cousins had to admit the church seriously fucked up when it came to covering up for paedophile priests, its attitude during the second world war, among other things.
as devout as they are, even they had to admit the church had committed some grave errors. covering up for paedophile priests goes beyond "changing its rules and beliefs around as necessary to achieve political correctness".