Priest who blamed Katrina on sin in NOLA to be made bishop (AP/WaPo)

[eppur_se_muova]

Austria: Priests criticize pope's bishop pick

By VERONIKA OLEKSYN
The Associated Press
Wednesday, February 11, 2009; 5:04 PM

VIENNA -- A group of Austrian priests has vehemently criticized Pope Benedict XVI's decision to promote an ultraconservative pastor who suggested Hurricane Katrina was provoked by sin in New Orleans, the group's head said Wednesday.

The Vatican announced Jan. 31 that the Rev. Gerhard Maria Wagner, 54, would become auxiliary bishop in Linz, the capital of Upper Austria province. The decision has sparked an outcry from Catholics who warn the unexpected pick could push people to leave the church.

Wagner, among other things, has questioned whether the "noticeable" increase of natural disasters such as Katrina was a result of pollution caused by humans or the result of "spiritual pollution." He also characterized Harry Potter novels as "Satanism."

Franz Wild, chief church dean of Upper Austria province and pastor in the town of Traun, is among those leading the criticism of Wagner.

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press, Wild confirmed that 31 out of 35 Upper Austrian church deans present during an informal meeting late Tuesday had criticized Wagner by voting for a statement saying they could not support his nomination.
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more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/11/AR2009021103096.html

[Lost in CT]

1. I hope it is like when Tommy got made in Goodfellas

just saying...

[xchrom]

2. ...

:grr: :nuke: :grr:

[muntrv]

3. Yet the pope can't understand why parishes in the US keep closing.

[rpannier]

5. He did say at the beginning of his Papacy that the Church needed to get smaller and more pure

He seems to be driving the train in that direction -- over a cliff

[Nikki Stone1]

7. Smaller and more pure? Is he the wrecking crew?

Like Bush was for the US?

[rpannier]

4. Good for the 31. But the Pope won't care

I thought this Pope had been critical of the novels as well.

When I was visiting friends in Germany I read in a magazine that the last Pope did read the Harry Potter books and liked them.

So I guess John Paul II was a Satanist or at the very least a Satan-enabler

[ezgoingrl]

6. This Pope reminds me of the good old days.

Remember when one could buy indulgences and there was danger of having thumb screws applied to your person? I miss that! :sarcasm: