Cardinal Schonborn Brings Sufferings to His Church - Again

From Gregorian Rite Catholic:

Evidently, His Grace thinks it's been long enough since he was involved in the embarrassments in the Diocese of Linz that he figures he can wade back into the waters of controversy.

This time it's Medjugorje. And it's pitted the Cardinal against Bishop Ratko Perić of Mostar-Duvno in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Apparently, the good Cardinal did not have the courtesy to inform Bishop Perić of his upcoming visit, which is required ecclesial protocol. Furthermore, the Cardinal made statements which could imply an endorsement of the "apparitions" at Medjugorje, which has never received such sanction by the Holy See.

The good Cardinal seems to have been going off the rails ever since 2007, when Pope Benedict XVI visited Austria (7-9 September). At the Mass for the 850th Anniversary of the founding of Mariazell, the Pope and the concelebrating bishops were all dressed in what some referred to as "tie-dyed" chasuables.

Then the uproar in the Diocese of Linz, in which His Grace distinguished himself by his rudeness to the Holy Father and His Holiness' nominee for the episcopate of Linz. Schoenborn actually wrote a letter to the people of the Archdiocese of Vienna. Here is an excerpt:

"I can imagine that many of you don't feel too good at the moment. Neither do I. Once again we are confronted with occurrences that cause grief and indignation. They make us shake our heads and seem incomprehensible. And once again the Church has been made to look stupid and so have we. And again we ask, ‘Is this really necessary? Have we deserved this? Are we to be spared nothing?"

The "occurrences" that made the Church "look stupid" were the removal of the excommunications of the four SSPX bishops and the naming of Fr. Gerhard Maria Wagner as the Bishop of Linz. How's that for stepping up and supporting the Pope?

Following that, His Grace delivered a "lay initiative," which asked for the end of mandatory celibacy for priests and the ordination of married men.

So, true to form, Schoenborn bumbles his way into Medjugorje and starts more trouble.

What is wrong with this man?

• Cardinal Schonborn Brings Sufferings to His Church - Again
• Medjurgorje Skeptic Cardinal Saraiva (Interview From Petrus)
• "Common Courtesy Between Bishops....."
• Your Holiness, Who are You Wearing?
• A Mass in Wolfsthal in the Archd. of Vienna
  
• (Medjugorje) Bishop Ratko Peric’s visit with Pope Benedict
• Medjugorje bishop says Cardinal Schönborn’s visit brings greater suffering to his diocese
• Mark P. Shea - "Medugorje bishop to Cdl. Schonborn: Thanks for nothing"

Is the throne of the Bishop of Linz wobbling?

From DiePresse.com via Catholic Church Conservation:

"Is the seat of Bishop Schwarz wobbling?

Arch-conservative circles place Linzer Bishop Schwarz in a serious situation. Schwarz himself has just completed a particularly stressful week of meetings.

Is the seat of Bishop Schwarz wobbling?
Will he be appointed to Rome? To the Curia? Or will he go back to a leading position in his Salesian Order? Will the Vatican send him an "assistant" in the form of a coadjutor, who then has the right to follow him? One thing is certain: Influential arch conservative circles are presently attempting to - from the public until now unnoticed - remove the Bishop of Linz.

Problems with Friedl and Wagner
The situation is serious for Schwarz. So serious that even Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn is involved. He wants to keep his former Auxilliary Bishop (2001-2005). Only recently, the chairman of the Bishops' Conference hurried to the side of Schwarz with a remarkable appearance. Schoenborn was personally travelled to a meeting of the Bishops Consistory in Linz. The body of the 20 highest officials of the Diocese of Linz had considered in his presence (Schoenborn is Metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province which Upper Austria belongs to) the situation after the "voluntary" resignation of the Windischgarsten parish priest Gerhard Maria Wagner. The conservative wing of Upper Austria was particularly hard hit by the resignation before the inauguration. It is powerful - and now seeks to strike back.

Schwarz himself has just completed a particularly stressful week of meetings. On Monday with Father Josef Friedl, who confessed that he lives with a woman in the rectory. On Thursday with the deans, who no longer believe in the maintenance of celibacy. Just yesterday, Friday, with the priests’ council who have little to no understanding of the events surrounding the almost Bishop Wagner...."

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