Church source: Austrian investigation could last through September

Published: 2004-07-21

OXFORD, England (CNS) -- Final decisions on resolving the sex scandal surrounding Austria's Sankt Polten Diocese could take till late September, according to an Austrian church source. "While church leaders are highly sensitive to all such issues now, this case involves serious charges of child pornography and has been reported all over the world," said the source, who spoke by telephone with Catholic News Service but asked that his name not be used. "At the same time, conservative Catholics are often very critical of homosexual practices. They won't wish to be associated with a bishop who is known for his conservative outlook but fails to take a stand on this issue," the source said. The Catholic source spoke July 21 as Bishop Klaus Kung of Feldkirch, Austria, began work after being named by Pope John Paul II to investigate the Sankt Polten Diocese and, particularly, the seminary. The source said Catholic priests from the diocese had voiced misgivings after the 2002 appointment of Father Ulrich Kuchl as seminary rector, while a group of seminarians also had complained unsuccessfully to Sankt Polten Bishop Kurt Krenn about senior staffers in November 2003.

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