The Linz Love Story- Bishop knew all along

Pfarrer Friedl: Die Love-Story - Oberösterreich - Österreich / oe24.at

During the day he is “Mr Priest," by the evening a husband - and no one is upset about it. The "love-Outing" of Arigona-priest Josef Friedl.

Arigona’s priest fights celibacy

(the Arigona Case- which brought the priest to national attention- seems she is cared for in the presbytery)

He is a man of frank words- Ungenach’s priest Josef Friedl: Since Monday the country has been discussing his love-confession and the meaningfulness of celibacy. Now Arigona’s helper Friedl tells about his relationship for the first time:

The silver wedding is already behind him - if a church wedding would be allowed for Catholic priests. Josef Friedl lives, despite the celibacy requirement, for more than 25 years together with his Rosi. The pastor sees no reason to deny the relationship. "Why should I lie? Then my people in the parish would no longer believe (Cathcon – hopefully he meant to say in me!), "said the priest.

Love after an accident
The couple came together through a stroke of fate: When the husband of Rosi K had fatal accident, the widow sought solace in the parish priest. "Then more came of it. This was not a story of just from today to tomorrow, "says Friedl. The everyday organisation for them is like many other couples Friedl goes to work in the rectory early,and in the evening he comes home to eat.

"Grandpa" Josef
Rosi K is already retired. After the death of her husband, she trained as a religious teacher and taught in the elementary school of Ungenach. "She was very good. We will not get someone like that quickly again. This everyone confirms, "Friedl is proud of his partner. For the grandchildren of Rosi K, the pastor at her side as normal: they simply call him "Grandpa." In the parish there is therefore no problem, says the pastor. "On Sunday, many have congratulated me, because I was so open." And in fact: In Ungenach no one is upset about the love life of the priest. Rosi K is very popular in the village and also active in the liturgy committee of the parish council.

Many are personally interested
Friedl as a priest is certainly not an isolated case. An estimated 1,400 priests are in permanent or temporary relationships. Most conceal them. For good reason: Some 500 priests have lost their posts because they wanted to marry, says Herbert Bartl from the association "Priests without an office."

The church ignored the situation, because the priest shortage is huge. Also, the bishops remain silent. No wonder: They are pleased that the recent church crisis is over. Furthermore, Bishop Ludwig Schwarz long ago knew about the relationship. "Friedl knows the rules. He must act in conformity with his conscience, "it is said from sources in Linz. The conservative website kath.net is responsible for the Friedl case now boiling over. They were the first to report the "affair". Observers see this as "an act of revenge" for the resistance of Friedl to the Almost Bishop Gerhard Wagner.
Cathcon: now it is time for the other deans who covered their own moral infidelity by attacking the faithful Father Wagner to come clean.
The Bishop of Linz should apologise to Father Wagner. How can a Catholic bishop operate if he lives in fear of such priests and his laity?

Comments

RobKPhD said…
I am not sure I would say no one is upset, but perhaps not anyone who can actually do anything about it. I find it very upsetting.