Bishop named by pope to investigate Austrian seminary starts inquiry

Published: 2004-07-26

SANKT POLTEN, Austria (CNS) -- Austrian Bishop Klaus Kung of Feldkirch arrived in Sankt Polten July 21, the day after Pope John Paul II appointed him to carry out a special investigation of the Sankt Polten Diocese and the diocesan seminary where thousands of pornographic photographs had been found on computers. "I will speak with everybody who feels he has something to tell me," Bishop Kung, a member of Opus Dei, told reporters after arriving in Sankt Polten. By July 23, Bishop Kung had posted his secretary's telephone number and a special e-mail address on the Sankt Polten diocesan Web site for people who have direct knowledge and information about the problems at the seminary or in the diocese. The seminary rector and vice rector resigned after photos were published showing staff members and seminarians kissing and fondling each other. The photos were published in the July 11 issue of the Vienna newsmagazine Profil.

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