From the Ekonom:east Media Group: Roman Catholics in Vienna still protest over giving church to SPC
Members of the Roman Catholic parish of Neulerchenfeld in Vienna, whose church will be given as a present to the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), are continuing to protest the decision of the Archdiocese of Vienna.
After collecting signatures against the decision, parish members – mostly of Polish descent – organized a protest in downtown Vienna late last year, and are now threatening disobedience to the Roman Catholic Church.
The Neulerchenfeld parish does not want to comply with the decision of Archbishop of Vienna Christoph Schonborn, and 800 of its members were very surprised when the gift was made official with a contract earlier this month.
The parishioners claim they were not informed about the signing of the contract between the Archdiocese of Vienna and the Serb Orthodox church of St. Sava.
In a statement to the media, they said they will continue to fight for their church, and might stop paying church taxes.
The Archdiocese of Vienna and the Serb Orthodox church in Vienna signed a deal at the start of the year that the Roman Catholic church in Neulerchenfeld will be given as a gift to SPC.
The church is set to replace the Temple of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, located in Vienna’s 17th district, which was too small to hold all of the faithful. The church in Neulerchenfeld, also dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, was built between 1733 and 1753.
The church given as a present is much bigger that the current Serbian Orthodox church and can hold over 1,000 people.
And from CWNews via ByzCath: Vienna: laity protest cardinal’s gift of parish to Serbian Orthodox
The laity of a largely Polish parish in Vienna are protesting Cardinal Christoph Schönborn’s decision to give their parish to the Serbian Orthodox Church. Pfarre Neulerchenfeld was constructed between 1733 and 1753. Austria’s largest newspaper reports that the parish has far higher Sunday Mass attendance than many other area parishes.
A parish with a large Sunday attendance of 800 plus, mostly Poles, is given away while other parishes with sparse attendance remain empty. What is interesting is that this is being done by an Austrian Bishop. Putting together some historical antecedents, something special to Poles is being taken from them by an Austrian, and given to what is in effect Russians. It would only be more ironic if the Austrians sent in German police to remove the Poles.
I am stressing the irony here to make a point. First, that these sorts of things remain in historical memory. Second, that the Roman corporate sole model of church property administration yields actions like these.
It is also unfortunate that a strong group of faithful in a living parish (not declining, priest-less, and empty) is being forced out by a bishop with absolute control, and without consultation. This general mode of operation in the Roman Church is becoming more and more familiar as church closings become more widespread. It remains that the only model capable of overcoming control structures like these is the democratic Church model as practiced within the PNCC.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.
Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” — Matthew 5:14-16
From Wikipedia: The Civic Platform (Polish: Platforma Obywatelska, PO) is a liberal conservative political party in Poland. It has formed Poland’s government since the 2007 general election, and is the largest party in the Sejm, the lower chamber of the Polish parliament. Civic Platform is a member of the European People’s Party (EPP).
The Civic Platform combines liberal conservative stances on the economy with conservative stances on social and ethical issues, including opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage, soft drug decriminalisation, civil unions, euthanasia, fetal stem cell research, and partially to wide availability of in vitro fertilisation. The party also wants to criminalize gambling.
Core proposals in the party program in the past included privatization of the remaining public sectors of Polish economy, direct elections of mayors and regional governors, the first-past-the-post electoral system instead of proportional representation, labor law reform, independence over monetary policy by the National Bank of Poland, a 15% flat tax, and the decentralization of the state.
The Polish Community Center, 225 Washington Ave Ext, Albany NY is presenting a Valentine’s Dinner & Dance! This night of romance, fine food, music and fun will take place on Friday, February 11th from 7pm to 12:30 am at the PCC Grand Ballroom.
Tickets are $59 per person for singles and $54 per person for couples. Those reserving a table of 6 or more are $49 per person.
The evening includes a Rose, Music & Entertainment by Legendary DJ Ric Mitchell, a Four Course Dinner, Dancing, Late Night Buffet, Cash Bar, and Couple Photos by Chris Milian Photography.
Reservations are required in advance and tickets must be purchased by Tuesday, February 8th. Please phone (518) 456-3995 or contact Charles Newton. Cash, Check, and Major Credit Cards accepted.
And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,
according to thy word;
for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to thy people Israel.”
And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him
Lanckorona is a village in Poland, near Kraków. It is famous for its well preserved 19th century wooden houses. (from Wikipedia)