Diocese of Graz Silences Faithful Priest

"The Bishops of Austria have failed."

Because of his statements on homosexuality and Islam a priest of the Diocese Graz-Seckau will not lead the liturgical celebrations for his parish on Easter.

Graz (kath.net / pm) "Pastor Karl Tropper (St. Veit am Vogau) has proved particularly concerned with certain important issues like “homosexuality” and “Islam" ‘repeating unreasonably simplistic and statements offensive in a tone." So reasoned Spokesman Georg Plank for the Diocese Graz-Seckau in a recent statement, why Vicar General Henry Schnuderl will in the short term take over liturgical celebrations for the week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday instead of the local pastor. "The central message of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ" should not be obscured by conflicts. Pastor Tropper “will enter on permanent leave on 31 August 2013.”

The statements made by Rev. Tropper prevented, "a necessarily nuanced discussion on these complex issues. The relatively milder diagnosis of the pastor for a mitigating diagnosis due to ‘the stubbornness of age stubbornness' is no longer in the overall assessment.”

Link to kath.net…

 Here’s an interview from Kleine Zeitung:

Pastor, like an Amen in prayer, you renew a rant every spring against Islam or against homosexuals. Recently, you even wrote in the parish bulletin about gay perverts. Why?

KARL TROPPER: They're perverts. When you can’t say so, you have to go into retirement as a pastor.

Is it the right way, even in the Church proclaim such weird opinions about homosexuality and Islam? KARL TROPPER: Who will say otherwise, if I do not? All priests should do this. The bishops in Austria and Germany are failures, they haven’t understood what is brewing. In 50 years, Vienna will be a Muslim city, the Votive Church [a large parish near downtown Vienna], a large mosque.

Back to the current case: Why does the Catholic Church just weigh just as hard with homosexuality? KARL TROPPER: It is a huge injustice. And it is perverse.

 The diocese has declared consequences in the past few years. The diocesan bishop had warned you last year in writing. Did he rebuke you in this particular instance?

KARL TROPPER: He said, I can not write anymore. But in this particular case I was even relieved by the prosecution (Note: There were two criminal charges of incitement [verhetzung], both cases were dropped by the prosecution).

They will no longer allow your opinions to be public?

KARL TROPPER: I only speak through my lawyer.

Give a sermon in the church with your attorney? ...

KARL TROPPER: you can even write something.

You are not afraid of canonical consequences?

KARL TROPPER: What have I done wrong?

You insult minorities, fulminate against other religions. Excuse me, if not?

KARL TROPPER: No, why?

Because you stir up?

KARL TROPPER: Yes.

Do not you think that you scare many churchgoers with such statements?

KARL TROPPER: All right, no one is forced to come to church.