Broadcaster: Archbishop Gänswein Suggests Resignation of the Cathedral Chapter of Limburg

Curia Archbishop Gänswein: "Whoever has responsibility and makes mistakes, should also take appropriate action."

Frankfurt (kath.net/KNA) The German curial Archbishop Georg Gänswein is suggesting the resignation of the Limburg cathedral chapter, according to Hessischer Rundfunk (hr). As the station announced on Tuesday, Gänswein responded in a radio interview on the question whether the chapter  should resign as a consequence of the financial affair of the Limburger bishop's residence and the local cathedral chapter: "You could say yes to that of the gentlemen of the chapter ." On inquiry,  the prefect of the Papal Household and private secretary of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.according to HR,  agreed with this request for resignation.

  As was said, Gänswein stressed: "Whoever has responsibility and makes mistakes, should also take the appropriate action." The first part of the discussionn is in the show "Horizont" on the HR television on 25 December at 10:10, the second part on 26 December at 10 o'clock.

When asked why he had defended the former Limburger bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst for a long time, Gänswein told HR he had done so out of the clear sense that Tebartz had been treated unjustly.

Tebartz-van Elst had offered the Pope his resignation as bishop in October 2013. Five months later, the Pope accepted his resignation. In addition what was a perceived by many as an authoritarian administration, a wave of indignation over the construction costs of the episcopal residence  on the Limburger Cathedral Hill in the amount of approximately EUR 31 million and the [alleged] concealment of these costs had contributed decisively to the resignation. (C) 2015

CBA Catholic News Agency. All rights reserved. Photo (c) kath.net/Petra Lorleberg
Link to Kath.net
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Faithful Bishop Tebartz-van Elst Will Not Have to Pay Damages to His Former Diocese

Edit: no one is asking Cardinal Marx to foot the bill for his 51 million EURO wreckovation.

The Roman Bishops' Congregation in agreement with the  Secretary of State, considers that an examination for compensation payments as well as the opening of a corresponding canonical process would be inappropriate.

Limburg (kath.net/KNA) The resigning Limburger Bishop, Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst (archive photo) need not pay compensation to his former diocese. The Roman Congregation for Bishops in consultation with the State Secretariat considers that an examination of compensation payments as well as the opening of a corresponding canonical proceedings would not be appropriate, according to the Diocese of Limburg on Wednesday. The diocese had raised the question of material reparation due to the [allegedly] high construction costs to the diocesan palace by the ordinary, Tebartz-van Elst of Limburg.

According to information provided by the Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the decision of the Vatican Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Limburg, Bishop Manfred Grothe, now in a personal meeting in Rome. "Now the decision has been made, it will also make clear what the next steps of rehabilitation should be," said Grothe on Wednesday in Limburg.

He and his Permanent Representative, Cathedral Rector, Wolfgang Rösch had stayed in Rome for the past week for talks at the Vatican. Grothe considered the meetings held in Rome in sum as constructive and purposeful. The common goal of the Holy See and the Diocese of line either, "the way has been cleared so that a new bishop can get a good and unencumbered start in his new office as soon as possible," Grothe said.

Currently, it's unclear when Limburg will again get a new bishop. "I hope and we are working towards that," says Grothe, "that by the summer of 2016 the chapter canons will have elected a bishop of Limburg to be appointed by the Holy Father."

Tebartz-van Elst had offered the Pope his resignation on October 2013 as Bishop of Limburg. Being perceived by many [Diocesan personnel and journalists] as having an authoritarian administration over the construction costs of the diocesan residence amounting to approximately 31 million EUR and the concealment of these costs, leading to general indignation [From professional Catholics and journalists] had contributed decisively to this step being taken.[Not true. Everyone knows that Cardinal Marx spent more money on his Diocesan wreckovation projects for 51 million EURO or his cute residence in Rome for 16 million. To date, there has been no outrage or calls for Cardinal Marx's resignation.  Furthermore, it's really disappointing to see the Neoconservative commerce website take this line, but it's not surprising.] On 26 March 2014, the Pope accepted the resignation. Last December, Tebartz-van Elst was appointed the 'delegate for catechesis, of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization.' The end of March, he began his work in Rome. (C) 2015 Catholic News Agency KNA GmbH. All rights reserved. Archive photo Bishop Tebartz-van Elst (c)

kath.net/Paul Badde

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Unexciting Turn in "Luxury Building" - Case Limburg, Which Costed a Bishop His Head

Case Limburg with amazing "end"

A National Treasure
 Limburg Cathedral

(Limburg) What was that again that happened in Limburg? Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst was harassed in the autumn of the previous year by the German media as the "Bishop of Bling". The outraged "humble" in church and media went into jealous criticism of the "luxury bishop," who was building a "monstrous opulence palace" ( Der Spiegel). As expected, the hounding of Bishop Tebartz van Elst ended in October 2013, the papal dismissal and with it his deposition, officially called for his resignation in March 2014 resignation.

But now the reigning Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese, Bishop Manfred Grothe is becoming surprisingly well known. He has turned on the faithful of the diocese with a "Position Statement in Advent." There is a lot mentioned about "realignment", "fresh start" and "reorganization" and that the diocese is felt to be "no longer the headlines in the media."

Letter from the Apostolic Administrator

The "Renovation" of the Diocese of Limburg - "The Building is to be Used for What it Was Built" 

The administrator then writes as follows: "Separate working groups with representatives of various bodies are intensively studying - out of the public view - about a use for the building complex on Cathedral Hill in Limburg. The ensemble was built as a home for the Bishop of Limburg and should basically be used. We want to employ the coming months to open it up for an open house and demythologizing. Therefore, there will be guided tours for employees and for groups from the Diocese of Limburg. It is planned that the rooms are to be used for conferences and meetings of various committees. In addition there could be exhibitions of theological and other cultural events. So we want to include the Bishop's house for events of the Diocese of Limburg in the planning. The living rooms will be excluded from the opening in view of their private nature."

"German bishops Took Advantage of Collegiality to Get Rid of Unwanted Bishop"

The construction in Limburg initially hyped by the media as a church and state affair, which led to the bishop's fall in disgrace, will now simply used for that which it was built. Not another indignant word about "swank and pomp." By public tours the construction will be "demythologized." This will allow the administrator a last breath from an artificially inflated campaign. Auxiliary Bishop Grothe has written that "luxury building" critique was advanced toward Bishop Tebartz van Elst only to overthrow the bishop. "The German bishops used collegiality to get rid of an undesirable because of the bishop's positions," said Secretum meum mihi.

Whoever wanted to see through the smokescreen, could have always done so. Few did, few wanted to do so. The scandal headlines in the media have a magical power of suggestion on the "little man on the street". This is calculated at the "top." The campaign machinery is well oiled.

There was a media campaign waged against Bishop Tebartz van Elst until he was gone. Not a word of criticism, however, was heard for the little "luxury" Archbishop Reinhard Marx allowed himself in his indulgent 13 million euros stays in Rome - which it may be added have become more frequent. This unequal treatment shows that the real reasons for the attacks in the case Limburg were to be sought elsewhere.

It is often heard frequently that Bishop Tebartz van Elst had "not always behaved joyfully." Who would not say this of themselves. On the merits, but that does not matter. The bishop had in fact never got a chance behind the scenes since his head was asked for.

The Angry Bishop Tebartz-van Elst

Following the "Demythologizing" of the Building and Will the Demythologization of the Bishop's 'Guilt'Follow?

The internally torn diocese has no bishop and the involuntary Bishop Emeritus Tebartz van Elst doesn't have a new task. Maybe he should not have to wait to get a transfer. The example also the "collegially" disposed of Bishop Rogelio Livieres of Ciudad del Este shows that there is the possibility to defend one's own initiative and remain vocal about Church doctrine. With the initiative Adelante la fe, he proves even after his fall, why he is superior to his brother Bishops and therefore, was not loved by them.

It was no secret that the Limburg bishop had held a "conservative" position in the Episcopal Conference, more than the majority of his confreres. It was also no secret that in his diocese in some circles he came, as the successor of Bishop Franz Kamphaus, into fierce resistance. Now, will someone demystify the "guilt" of Bishop Tebartz van Elst? Doubtful.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi image: Wikicommons / Diocese of Limburg
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches....
 AMDG

Church in Austria is a "Pigsty" -- The New Book of Almost-Auxiliary Bishop Gerhard Maria Wagner

(Vienna) He was named in 2009 but  an unprecedented smear campaign prevented Bishop Gerhard Maria Wagner of the Diocese of Linz.  He has today presented  and talked plaintext his new book. 2009, the Upper Austrian priest Wagner had become a victim of  bishop-bashing, which is a  popular smear game in trend-setting circles. Now, he said the church in Austria is not only in a precarious condition, but is a "pig stye" in which it "stinks".

Pastor Wagner 2009 Victim of the Bishop-Bashing

The list of victims of the bishop-bashing is already considerable. It ranges from Bavaria with Bishop Walter Mixa of Augsburg to Hesse with Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst of Limburg and Grisons with Bishop Wolfgang Haas from Chur to Lower Austria with Bishop Kurt Krenn of St. Pölten. The  blocking of Rev. Gerhard Maria Wagner 2009 as auxiliary bishop of Linz is a special variant of the smear game. Wagner was then not allowed to take office.

The persecution is only possible because authoritative church circles are interested in the jettisoning personal rivals because of personal or ideological reasons and have been actively involved behind the scenes.

The fight against Wagner was tantamount to an exemplary execution, while the Windischgarsten priest was supposed to have only been an auxiliary bishop, i.e. auxiliary bishop of Linz. An auxiliary bishop has entrusted to him only as much decision-making power  as is given him by the responsible diocesan bishop, and ig may be withdrawn from him again at any time. In the Diocese of Linz, however, there was the anxiety that  the appointment of Bishop Wagner by Pope Benedict XVI. would be followed by an  early position in the Episcopal succession by the same Wagner,  if Diocesan Bishop Ludwig Schwarz were to  complete his 75th year and become emeritus.

It's not only the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) write about   Linz as "Left". The same could be said of the full-time staff apparatus of the diocese. At least the more influential part. With the subtle difference that it is not so much the SPÖ, but is more close to the Greens. There are hardly any Diocesan priestly voacations. Who would  want to become a priest, would do this in the context traditional communities or seeks refuge in the still reasonably intact community of a monastery.

Feeble Roman Knees

The lay Apparatchiks and the Liberal, often effeminate  clergy of Upper Austria quickly found allies  in the media   to begin shooting practice on a living object. In Austria it was belched loudly and Rome was already in its knees.  Although Pastor Wagner was appointed over Pope's brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger and Pope's secretary Georg Gänswein handpicked him and with the best knowledge of the situation on the ground, the priest's   career as a bishop ended after 30 days and did not get beyond the appointment status.

 Pope Benedict XVI. would lose face because of the weak knees of Rome, Wagner asked formally to withdraw the appointment, which the Pope "granted".

On January 31, 2009 Wagner was appointed, and on 2 March 2009   Benedict XVI. granted a  dispensation from the appointment. In the meantime, Pastor Wagner experienced hell on earth and the devout Catholic nation rubbed its eyes, as to how lies can produce a smear campaign. Each day new lies were unpacked. It wasn't until   Wagner's "chalice" had  passed over to progressive part of the Diocese, where it was presented as a  trophy for  hunted prey, that the whole nightmare was over.

 Question of Episcopal Succession in Linz Directs Media Attention on Pastor Wagner

An Auxiliary  Bishop Wagner would have done the Diocese of Linz, more  good than ever, but his prospects   to once again be considered for the episcopate by Rome  are very small. Nevertheless, the retirement of the Diocesan Bishop Ludwig Schwarz is fast approaching. In this context,  the media is again suddenly paying attention to the absent pastor Wagner again after years of peace.

Wagner obeyed in 2009 as a faithful son of the Church. Rome wanted him as auxiliary bishop and he accepted. Rome had changed her mind again under heavy pressure and he obeyed as well. After some time of silence, Wagner, however, took stock and spoke of a "conspiracy" to which he had fallen victim. Wagner today is also the publisher and editor of a Little Penny Sheet, with a wide circulation in Austria, which has the rare virtue of wise, but clear speech. He just said what was obvious, but at that time almost no one dared speak out.

New book "Heaven or Hell" - "Many People Feel Disoriented"

Pastor Gerhard Maria Wagner

Wagner had raised his voice even after the appointment   that it was not for him, but much more so for the Catholic Church in Austria a fiasco. The media hardly cared. But now someone feels   their toes being stepped on. Today, Pastor Wagner has presented his new book, "Heaven or Hell." At the book launch, the sharp witted and eloquent priest was not sparing with plain writing and a gaze at the Archdiocese of  Archbishop Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. Schönborn had supported Kasper's "mercy"  last October at the Synod of Bishops in Rome and would also like to see a new "gradation" applied to all the sacraments. Wagner commented that the Archdiocese of Vienna was a "pig stye" in which there is a foul stench.The situation of the Church in Upper Austria, and born by opposites, says Wagner.

He wished "all the best" to the future Bishop of Linz. For himself, says Wagner as once before, he had already credited the need to "shovel out the pigsty". After all, the position of the Church is questionable because she is not on the right track. There were many tensions and many people are disoriented.

"We Basically Obey to be Catholic"

Pastor Wagner founded an initiative two years ago to strengthen the sacrament of penance in daily life. He called all the priests of the German-speaking countries that committed themselves, to sit every day for an hour to make confession available. In this context, Wagner complained today that in many parishes the Sacrament of Penance is "dead". In the liturgy there is a "momentum" that "disturbs" him. The reason for this is, among other things, an incomprehensible competition between laity and priests. There were quite a few priests who  would"fear of the parish council meeting." "There's something wrong," said Wagner.

It's a disorientation, which is reinforced by the church or is only caused by it. Pastor Wagner quoting a priest who complained to him about his suffering, "that today we have to  basically stop being Catholic."

In the Diocese of Linz There is an "Oligarchic Business" 

However, his opinion was not in high demand in the diocese of Linz   and he accused his home diocese of operating  "quite a bit of an oligarchic business". He took to his bishop's defense, because not a few bishops are simply "alone" and isolated. As  the homosexual Conchita Wurst Thomas Neuwirth  was imposed  as a Euro Vision winner, he had put "shame on Austria," said Pastor Wagner.

As for Pope Francis, Wagner says in his  new book that he was pleased that the new Pope could find sympathy and confidence all over the world, but he does not notice in fact that the churches have become full, "people go to confession more and all that, praise Pope Francis, have become more religious in recent times,"  said Pastor Gerhard Maria Wagner, almost Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Linz.

The church circles referred to by Wagner responded with offense. The pastor "disqualifies"  himself with these statements themselves, suggested the Vicar  of Linz, Wilhelm Vieböck to the ORF: "I find it appalling that Father Wagner used the dramatic word, pigsty 'for the whole Church in Austria". Vieböck confirmed the same time, what is really going on in the background: Such an attitude does not qualify Wagner for higher church offices.

In June 2015 the Diocesan Bishop Ludwig Schwarz completed his 75th year. In Linz, nobody expects an extension in office. The Diocese sent Rome sent a shortlist few days ago  of three candidates for the succession. What are names on the list, is not initially known. It can only be that the name of Father Wagner certainly not there.

Text: Martha Weinzl
image: ORF / JfdL (screenshot)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Record Building Costs in the Archdiocese of Munich and No "Swank Cardinal" - Campagne -- The Background

Expenditure Politics of the German Bishops' Conferene

(Munich) "Are punitive measures soon to be weighed against the power hungry Archbishop Reinhard Marx of Cardinal of Munich and Freising?" Asks Corrispondenza Romana . Will the German press launch a campaign against the "Swank-Cardinal"? Will Rome exile Cardinal Marx   for a break in a monastery and then  cashier him coldly? If you read the numbers on the cost of construction for the Archdiocesan campus in Munich, one would have to expect a repeat of the outrage, as occurred in the case of Limburg, only harder.

The Archdiocese is currently building a chancery  in the city on the Isar. Now, the costs have been published. 51 million euros for the beautification of the Archdiocese, says Vicar General Peter Beer. At seven and a half million more than recently estimated, because the roof was to blame. Whether you have reached the end of the story, it seems not yet to be clear.

The diocesan employees were outsourced for the construction and distributed to six locations with additional costs. There they have to stay longer than planned. Probably until the end of the 2015.

Limburg Bishop Subjected to Public Lynching

However, it is surprisingly quiet in the media forest. The calm before the storm? Not at all. Really amazing when you think back to the smear campaign against the Limburg Bishop Franz-Peter van Elst Tebartz who went through all the tabloids last year. From the "bishop of bling" was the kind of talk  which was circulated by the media or better by the cocoa poured to the amusement of the "people".  There was talk about a gilded bathtub  and particularly brave, intelligent contemporaries   actually made a determined search, but they could find nothing.

The bishop was summoned to Rome and is supposed, according to his own claims, to have had an encouraging conversation with Pope Francis. And so it happened: the "hopeful" bishop had been banned by the Pope to a convent and after being allowed to mull  over the matter with some Montegras, so that the pious people of God might not yet even think of an uprising, he was deposed.

If in Doubt It's Against the "Conservatives"

The reason was suddenly no longer the money. The bishop had divided the diocese. In fact, it was because the bishop was, according to the progressives, a  "conservative",  "pious" and "normative", they have broken away from him. But in the German Conference of Bishops in Rome and saw it differently. They wanted to see it differently anyway. The maxim is too long: in  a case of doubt for the faithful shepherd. Since we in our time should but always consider the positive things, can also be applied to the devise: translated "When in doubt, for the Progressive". Ideal are bishops who find themselves  easily "in the middle of society," so when in doubt they rub elbows with "progressive" secular elites too much.

Cardinal Meisner defended his brother Limburger and praised his "theological depth and decidedly Catholic orientation". A description of the Tebartz van Elst that already stood out from the majority of the German bishops. But nobody wanted to hear, media, liberal laity and priests and Brothers in the Episcopate had tasted blood. The hypocrites indeed railed mightily  about the money, but in reality it was about a factional dispute within the Church. The mob, which calls for the crucifixion, is there  always.

Behind Money Debate There Was Factional Dispute in the Bishops' Conference

It was just Cardinal Marx, who vehemently and also in Rome campaigned for the removal of Tebartz van Elst. So loudly that Cardinal Joachim Meisner, Archbishop of Cologne at that time  pointed to the lack of "episcopal fraternity" being exhibited at the time for the Limburger Pastor, who was actively exposed by  some clergy and lay church officials to a public lynching. Meisner called out Cardinal Marx explicitly by name. And what the attitude of the German bishops was really  concerned with: Only a handful of bishops in the Bishops' Conference had resisted the Marx-Woelki-Langendörfer-Synod which attempted to enforce the sexual revolution in the Church.

The Archdiocese of Munich is to rebuild its chancery for 51 million euros. Maybe even more. Nevertheless, there will be neither a front page on the Bild newspaper with a portrait of Cardinal Marx and the accusatory headline "Swank-Cardinal". There is neither a cost-campaign, nor accusations of being in a race to spend  against the President of the German Bishops Conference. The indifferent silence to Munich's case reveals the "Bling" campaign directed against Limburg as a hypocritical intrigue.

Limburg's deposed Bishop Tebartz van Elst belonged to the disruptive minority in the Episcopal Conference, which defends the priest celibacy, which is against a "democratization" of the Church with free elections of bishops and priests, who is against women priests, against the genuflection before the zeitgeist,  against the sale of the marriage sacrament in favor of remarried divorcees, and against  "gay marriage," wild marriages and all other "gradual" forms of cohabitation.

Cardinal Marx, however, is DBK President, he represents the majority. He may, as a members of the Synod in Rome continue unabashedly to represent a "new openness" and "new charity",  demanding a change in pastoral practice and even the Church's teaching on the sacrament of marriage. Any questions?

What happens to bishops, who disturb too much that "episcopal unity", seem to have become a very valuable commodity among Zeitgeist sailors, at least where Progressives set the tone, that's well known, especially since the dismissal of Bishop Rogelio Livieres of Ciudad del Este .

Text: Andreas Becker
Image: Corrispondenza Romana

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches..

AMGD

Bishop Voderholzer Will Be Assigned to the CDF

Edit:  We just saw on Katholisches that Pope Francis has named the Bishop of Regensburg Rudolf Voderholzer as a member of the Vatican Congregation for Doctrine and the Faith.  It will be announced on Wednesday, today.

Some may recall that His Lordship said Mass in St. Peter’s with unjustly disgraced Bishops Walter Mixa of Augsburg and Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst of Limburg.

He received his episcopal consecration from the hands of the Old Liberal Cardinal Marx.

Bishop Tebartz-van Elst Contradicts Bishop's Report

Vatican Has Lost its Investiture Struggle

In the press release of the 26th of March 2014, Rome has stated that Limburg Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst has tendered his resignation.  -- Thus the anti-Clerical media and the anti-Roman laity decide over Episcopal appointments.

In the Diocese of Limburg Enemies of the Church
and the Faith Have Imposed Themselves Even Against
The Pope [Photo: (cc) K_Engel]

"Press Release in Reference to the Diocese of Limburg

With regard to the administration of the Diocese of Limburg, Germany, the Congregation for Bishops has studied in detail the report of that Commission, which was established by the will of the bishop and the cathedral chapter for making detailed investigations with regard to the responsibilities involved in the construction of the diocesan Centre "St. Nicholas". Given the fact that a situation has come in the diocese of Limburg   that prevents a fruitful exercise of the episcopal office by   Msgr. Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst, the Holy See has, on the date of 20 October  2013, accepted the resignation offered by the bishop,  and appointed an apostolic administrator  in the person of His Exc. Manfred Grothe. The outgoing bishop, Rt. Tebartz van Elst, will be in due time entrusted with another task. The Holy Father asks the clergy and the faithful of the diocese of Limburg, to accept the decision of the Holy See and be willing to strive on the way back to a climate of compassion and reconciliation.

 From the Vatican, March 26th 2014  

Unnecessary pseudo-transparency 

The second white flag was hoisted by the unnecessary German Bishops' Conference: The internal church report for the renewal of the diocesan see  in Limburg was inexplicably released:

Press Release 

 Diocese of Limburg: published audit report on the construction projects on the Limburg Cathedral Hill 

The report retained since February 14, 2014 report 

 Introductory Remarks
 Final report in text 

The third white flag is from the diocese of Limburg:  It plans to release the Diocese  Finance Report

Diocese wants to disclose assets

Counter-statement of SE Tebartz van Elst A reply to the audit report can be found at: Opinion on the report of the examination committee of the German Bishops' Conference [kathtube] Which follows in English, here:

Limburg Bishop Franz-Peter van Elst has criticized Tebartz the report of the German Bishops' Conference - The opinion in his own words

Limburg (kath.net)  Regarding contradiction to statements of DBK-test report that were made in statements by the Bishop Emeritus (since March 27th) of Limburg, Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst, which were reported on Wednesday evening by a variety of media. With remarks on five subject areas as well as the St. Georg work he refers unexpected counter-position to the report of the German Bishops' Conference. 

Opinion of Bishop Franz-Peter van Elst Tebartz the report of the examination of the German Bishops Conference in text 

1 Complex: Regarding the imputed discrepancy between the understanding of the bishop and the data compared from His Eminence Cardinal Lajolo (. NG. p. 46; p. 51 para 25 and 29; p.103) is as follows:

Already in October 2013, I had responded to  the questions asked me, submitted under No. l |  6. that I was truthfully informed  during a conversation with His Eminence Cardinal Lajolo, on 10 September 2013, that the differentiated total sum calculation was not available.  In the previous meetings of the Financial Board of Directors of the  Episcopal chair it was of the necessity and the effort to discuss again and again, possible depreciation be taken into account, which would then lead to reductions in terms of the construction cost total.

In the report referred to by the meeting of the Board of Directors of assets on 28 August 2013, after I had a discussion  about which informed regarding expansion of the scope of credit, I wasn't present for  the report because I  was at a meeting with the Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, His Eminence Marc Cardinal Ouellet in Rome.

Also the assertion of the report, according to the signing of the minutes of the meeting of the Finance Board of 28 August 2013 was made by me on 11 September 2013, can not be cited as proof of my knowledge of the differentiated sum of total construction costs. The conversation with His Eminence Cardinal Lajolo took place the day before and on the day the minutes of the meeting of 28 August 2013  were delivered to me Vicar General Dr. Kaspar, so that only at that time  that an assessment on my part in any detail was possible.

Rome's approval was shown to be a unnecessary precaution, however, by  the representative of the Holy See in Germany, who was Archbishop Jean-Claude Périsset, since the start of construction in 2010/2011, who was informed several times by Vicar General Dr. Kaspar (see the attached in the appendix letter of attorney Professor ignor forward November 5 2013, and my answer to the specific questions that were put to me in October 2013 by the Congregation for Bishops, see here: Nr. | .5, 6).

2 Complex:

As far as canonical concerns are expressed, they are based on compliance with the written form (see test report p 15 and p 37) and related to  the respect of the business meeting.Both objects formal nature fell under the responsibility of the Vicar General. As a non-expert in the field of church administration since  my expertise is in pastoral theology, I had to leave the responsibility for this to the Vicar General, Dr. Kaspar, the "as the only (besides the Managing Director of the  Diocese) was found to have a comprehensive insight into the asset structure the Episcopal chair."(cf., audit report p. 50 para. 21).

Incidentally, the path taken represents a continuation of the preceding exercise of the cathedral chapter in this field.

 3 Complex: 

On the alleged ultimate responsibility of the bishop in the report, I understand this has always been so that they themselves as the successors of the apostles are to head the Church by the Lord   (witness to the truth),  not just as an expression of administrative detail and total competence. A differing understanding would invest the dignity of the Episcopate with criteria where it is seen  primarily as an administrative professional, engineering and accounting profession, instead of focusing on its doctrinal, pastoral, spiritual and charitable mission.

4 Complex:

The responsibilities of the Vicar General (see p 35, p 39 and p 101): At the beginning of my episcopal ministry in the diocese of Limburg in January 2008, I arrived in a situation that was in many ways unordered,   primarily of a personal aspect of administration.  This prompted me not least on the explicit advice of my predecessor in the episcopate, Bishop Emeritus Dr. Franz Kamphaus, back in September 2009, recommending  Vicar General Dr. Franz Kaspar for the social and public recognition of his management experience and his standing in the office of vicar general.

He urged for greater administrative efficiency that directly allocated the building department and care for art  in the Diocese which had become detached from  integration to the financial department.

He also stressed the role of the diocesan  economist in the diocese, contrary to the previous practice of the appointment of the head of the finance department with this responsibility.
He has taken in its jurisdiction and the banking business. Based on the construction of the Bishop's house, he has operated the change from the second design (architect Hamm) to the design of Professor Schattner as essential. 

Regarding the art assigned in the bishop's house, he took the initiative to engage the artists Professor Johannes Schreiter (glass window), Karl-Matthew Winter ( Features of the chapel) and Professor Thomas Duttenhofer (gate), with which he had complete personally awareness.

 Among the existing historic furniture from storage, he had acquired furniture on his own initiative and without my knowledge. 

As to  the supposition of the requirement of secrecy it is known, that  the relevant provisions in the service contracts between the Diocese and the Episcopal chair are identical (see the attached in the annex two service contracts). Also, in practice, there was no divergent handling by me.

 Specific issues in the diocese of Limburg, which was characterized before my arrival by indiscretions (see letter from Professor Christoph Mackler of 20 August 2008 on the construction of the cathedral chapter, see also audit report S . 100), it nevertheless suggested to repeatedly refer to a self-evident confidentiality obligation. Because also the previous history of the construction of the  the Bishop's House demonstrates  how difficult transparency was to come by,  which  came out later only with difficulty. 

Deciding to undertake the settlement with KPMG (see p 69 and p 88 ), struck me as a forward-looking measure (outsourcing) as well as to counter the allegation of a mere internal self-control.

Moreover, the administrative capacity of the Episcopal Ordinariate was not enough to accomplish this task.

 5 Complex: 

On listing the drivers of cost  and cost-increasing issues (pp. 79-82) is noted: 

 In the audit report a  representation of the total cost, which is exaggerated in a methodological error, that  names the absolute amounts  as constituting additional costs, while they  are proven to be the total cost of individual positions. The  impression  thus is created that leads to orders of magnitude, which must irritate. 

For each of the points mentioned in the report,  a position could be taken by the responsible employees. As for the responsibility as a bishop, while the constraint has to be seen that I, as bishop, am neither a financial nor a construction expert.  In so far as the specific information with the individual items mentioned in the report for which I was  personally responsible, I have this spoken on this  in the discussions 4 and 5 March 2014 at the Congregation for Bishops. On the background of my predicament with experiences of other construction projects in the Diocese, I was involved with from the beginning in terms of the quality and sustainability to be considered in the overall project. 

Digression to the St. Georg work (p. 32f.): 

True, the report notes that "the judgment, that the statutory  purpose of the work in 2011 can not be met, which falls to the bishop. (Cf. 5:32). The report's authors consider a need to clarify whether the Episcopal See’s  funds were used for the specific purpose of the founding. You see in the abolition decree of the bishop there is a restriction of the original purpose. 

For this purpose, however, it is different from the external  repeal Decree of 27 September 2011, the minutes of the Board of Directors of the assets Episcopal chair of 2 November 2011 shows that even after the dissolution of the St. Georg Work, that the assets devolving to the Episcopal See will and must be used furthermore for "religious, charitable or benevolent purposes". 

This shows that there is nothing in the foundation's intention of the St. Georg work that has changed, regardless of the question whether the work's foundation in the immediate postwar period foresaw the construction of a diocesan meeting center. The open question of law in this context, the demand by the authors of the report to clarify,  considers the fact that there can be no accusations of an intentional violation of the purpose (See minutes of the VVR November 2, 2011). 

The person responsible for the decision, Vicar General and Diocesan Economist Dr. Franz Kaspar, was in fact obviously aware that the founding intention of the work is still covered by the assets of the Episcopal See and is guaranteed.  I was sure of this certainty. 

The opinion in its text as a PDF file: http://www.kathtube.com/player.php?id=34231

Link to Kath.net...

Edit: the good Bishop has since apologized of course.  We haven't seen the apology, but are certain that all of this is sensible and unnecessarily complicated by the media's nastiness.

AMGD

"With Love" From Freiburg -- Zollitsch Attacks Müller!

 In the Case of Tebartz van Elst Zollitsch  Cardinal Zollitsch addressed what was sad said by  Curial Cardinal Müller: "It amazes me that the old saying of Wittgenstein, 'Whereof one can not speak, thereof one should remain silent' is ignored"

Mannheim (kath.net / CBA / red) The outgoing chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, regrets overlooking the Limburg Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst, "that this particular case has become a central theme and overshadowed the really important questions. " In an interview with the "Mannheimer Morgen" (Thursday) Zollitsch said,  the test report issued by the Episcopal Conference was, "a good foundation, so that the Congregation for Bishops may decide fairly in agreement with the Pope." That   Zollitsch could as he says  "discuss in Rome in detail with the Congregation."

 Zollitsch criticized the German Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller. Accoding to the Assessment, The Report Showed no Wrongdoing by Tebartz van Elst. Zollitsch expressed this: "It amazes me that the old saying of Wittgenstein, 'Whereof one can not speak, thereof one should remain silent' is ignored."  On the question of the influence he had on the decision on Tebartz, Zollitsch said: "The Holy Father knows my opinion. I have full confidence in him that he will make the right decision. "Zollitsch had handed over the report on Carnival Monday on the controversial construction projects in the diocese of Limburg to the Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops in the Vatican, Cardinal Marc Ouellet.

 The Emeritus Archbishop of Freiburg also commented to another question, in which he has fallen out with   Prefect Müller.  Asked about the "contradiction" and others of the Curial Cardinal on the  admission of married divorcees to the Sacraments, Zollitsch said:" The manual of our pastoral ministry is trying to rewrite the practice in most German dioceses in Austria and Alsace. It's also about how we look into each individual case according to how we can serve the whole community. Cardinal Kasper thinks  similarly in this direction and represents the theological perspectives. For that I am grateful to him." Zollitsch concluded with the comment: "I was told Francis had praised Cardinal Kasper's presentation highly. " 

(C) 2013 Catholic News Agency KNA GmbH. All rights reserved.

Link to kath.net....

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMGD

Newspaper: Limburger Bishop Not Criminally Guilty

"It's only affected by canon law,” the "Welt am Sonntag” Cites a Writer of Unpublished Church Audit Report. 

Berlin (kath.net / KAP)

The allegations against Bishop Franz-Peter van Elst Tebartz overlooking the construction of the new diocesan center Limburger are not criminally relevant according to a newspaper report. "It's only affected by canon law,"  the "Welt am Sonntag" cites a writer of the unpublished church audit report, who does not want to be named. In the report to the building cost increases, there were no established violations of state laws or regulations. Now, a canon will be tasked to check if the bishop did the right thing.

Tebartz van Elst was subject to criticism because of his office and because of the amount, ranging from at least 31 million euro construction costs. Since the end of October 2013 he has been indefinitely held   as a result of the Pope's decision to remain indefinitely outside his diocese. The German Bishops' Conference had used enlisted  five theologians, construction, financial and legal professionals commission led by the Auxiliary Bishop of Paderborn Manfred Grothe to review   the funding of the construction project, the cost of development and decision-making.

The report has been in the possession of   the Chairman of the Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch,  since Friday. He will now study it intensively and consult with Rome, Zollitsch said. He denies  that  a decision will be reach decision  Rome even before the start of the Spring Plenary Assembly of the Bishops' Conference on 10 March in the matter of Limburg bishop.

According to "Welt am Sonntag", the report has no reviews according to several authors, but consists only of facts and the representation of processes. There had been no disagreement among the examiners. "The factual arguments speak for Tebartz van Elst, but not for the chapter that is partially responsible," the paper said quoting its sources.

In the "Welt am Sonntag" Hesse Ex-Minister of State Jochen Riebel (CDU), a member of the finance committee of the Episcopal See in Limburg, has leveled new allegations against the bishop. He claimed to have been lied to by Tebartz van Elst as to the question of how many antique and artistic figures had been purchased for the diocesan center. "Tebartz van Elst has promised me in a confidential meeting high and swore that all the figures that are placed there, came from the pool. That was a lie," the paper quoted Riebel. "Only two of the figures are from the collection, all others were purchased."

Copyright 2014 Catholic News Agency, Vienna, Austria (www.kathpress.at) All rights reserved. 

Link to kath.net...

Cardinal Müller Celebrates Mass in St. Peter's Basilica -- With the Bishops Tebartz-van Elst and Mixa

(Rome) Cardinal Müller knows as a longtime bishop of Regensburg in Bavaria, that you belong to God and to the gregariousness of  life. For this reason he planned a Holy Mass of thanksgiving for the occasion of his receiving the Cardinal's hat  on Monday  in St. Peter's Basilica and then to a festive gathering in the CDF.

 Last Saturday, Pope Francis had officially admitted him to the College of Cardinals. On Sunday, he concelebrated with 18 other new cardinals, at the Pontifical Mass of the Pope in St. Peter's Basilica. On Monday morning, the new Cardinal and Prefect of faith celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving on the second high altar of St. Peter's, called the cathedra altar under the gigantic Bernini wood reliquary of the papal throne. Present among the cardinals and bishops, there was also Müller's successor as Bishop of Regensburg, Gerhard Vorderholzer.

 There were also concelebrants  next to  Vorderholzer two victims of the anti-Church party: Bishop Emeritus of Augsburg Walter Mixa, and the almost-retired Bishop of Limburg, Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst. The Cardinal gave proof, that he does not share the reservations of some German Church circles. While Bishop Mixa, has been prohibited from public activity for  a long time, now operates as an Internet pastor, Bishop Tebartz van Elst has been for almost half a year in quarantine in the Lower Bavarian Metten Abbey. In his homily, Cardinal Müller, said that it was his first task as Prefect of the Congregation of the Faith, to defend and spread the faith of the Catholic Church. Among the many faithful who attended the Thanksgiving Mass and celebrations which followed, were close family members, among others Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, Federal Health Minister Hermann Gröhe, president of the Vatican bank IOR, Ernst von Freiyberg, former Bavarian Finance Minister Georg Fahrenschon. Numerous other representatives of the Church, politics, economy and culture, especially from Germany, including numerous prelates and former students of the former professor of Dogmatic Theology (1986-2002).

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Vatican.news
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholichees...
AMGD

The Ackermen: Throw Sexual Ethic Overboard, Tomorrow Doctrine?

(Trier) The "shocking" statements by Bishop Ackermann of Trier are currently in the ears and  bode little good for Germany's Catholic Church to expect. Whoever  today is willing readily to throw almost all of the sexual ethics of the Church over board, tomorrow will be ready to betray the whole of Catholic doctrine.  This conclusion was reached by Catholic journalist Mauro Faverzani, who reported for Corrispondenza Romana on the controversial Ackermann interview. Bishop Ackermann and in slightly different wording of Munich's Cardinal Reinhard Marx,   "wash my fur, but do not make me wet" seem to have found a new use for the saying. Given these and other omissions of bishops of the German-speaking countries, in Switzerland and Austria, things are quite similar, the question arises: Where  the Nuncios find only those bishops?

.

The Twisted and "Rewritten" Moral Teaching of the Church

The shocking words of Bishop Stephan Ackermann, Bishop of Trier, with the destructive effects of an overflowing   river causing suffering and pain: after they have broken through the dams of faith, they have devastated the Catholic doctrine, hurt the sensibility of the faithful and  confused everyone. All this with the usual complicity of an interview, this time by the daily newspaper "Allgemeine Zeitung".

Bishop Ackermann wants to throw Catholic sexual ethics overboard

According to a recent survey, the Catholics of the German dioceses would consider the sexual ethics of the Church as unworldly. Asked for an opinion, made Bishop Ackermann no secret of wanting to throw in the truest sense of the word, the entire rules and commandments overboard: "We need to strengthen the sense of responsibility of people, but then also respect their decision of conscience". One marvels and wonders when and where Jesus Christ may have probably taught his disciples. On the question of the admission of divorced remarried to the sacraments the bishop said: "We are here to make suggestions," just as if not to be all set since always clear and distinct.

For premarital sex Ackermann said almost apologetically: "We can not completely change the Catholic doctrine, but develop criteria by which we say: In this and this particular case it is justifiable. . It's not that there is only the ideal on the one hand and the condemnation on the other side "Obviously, playing what the Catholic Church teaches, for the German bishop not matter ... to family planning and contraception, he said:" The distinction by natural and artificial contraception is somehow artificial. I'm afraid that no one understands more. "

Appeal to a Sense of Responsibility and Respect Decisions

And as for homosexuality should the Church, according to Ackermann, appeal to the sense of responsibility of the individual: "The Christian view of man goes by the polarity of the sexes, but we can not simply say that homosexuality is unnatural."  But homosexuality should not be lived in promiscuity and gratification. Where the bishop may have only won his findings? Although the church emphasize the uniqueness of marriage between man and woman, but if a registered partnership, distinguishing by loyalty and responsibility, "then we can not ignore this responsibility," said the Bishop of Trier. After all, it is amazing, the blessing of homosexual couples as among the Protestants is  still yet  "not our solution." Truly a disconcerting bishop.

Priestly celibacy is still canonically "no dogma", but he was in favor of maintaining it. As for the future, however,  he  says he could not predict,  weakly added  the bishop immediately.

"Excessive Benevolence" for Project "Gay and Catholic"

What is certain, however, today, is the ambiguous and provocative behavior of the German Church, especially in matters of morality. On this theme,  the German Dioceses have put on the accelerator pedal and keep trying to stir up new conflicts to give rise to fault lines and tear open breaches. A sentire cum ecclesiam with the German side is no longer apparent.  Not surprisingly it's just in Germany and indeed in Frankfurt am Main in the parish of Maria Hilf there is a presently self-constituted community of homosexual believers. The whole thing runs under the motto "Gay and Catholic," but also stands open for "lesbian, bisexual, and transgender." The result was the "Project" to "reduce pain" those who had been inflicted on homosexuals by the teaching of the Church. The Church authorities are accused of a lack of understanding and only because it teaches what is the teaching of the Church as it was entrusted by tradition and written for Her  by God. The outlandish Frankfurt "experiment" was endorsed by the Emeritus  Bishop of Limburg, Franz Kamphaus. The homo-believers and the associations supporting the Catholic ground staff in Frankfurt cared not a whit to the heavy criticism that has been voiced by his successor, Bishop Franz-Peter van Elst Tebartz against the special community. [At last, some insight as to the true reason for Bishop van Elst's treatment by the "Catholic" press, as insidiously in the service of the enemy as always.]

There were Columns of Flame from Satan Coming Through "Cracks"  in the Church: Paul VI.

For the theologian Gregory Schorberger took all the more extreme, even excessive benevolence of the gay community and catholic project. In his dissertation he described it as important that homosexual believers possess a recognized place where they know they are also accepted by the local clergy. There are already efforts to set up similar special communities in other German dioceses. In 1972, Pope Paul VI. in a prophetic moment, described the cracks through which the "smoke of Satan" had entered the church. These columns show itself as large cracks and the smoke was only the first sign of that destructive activity of the infernal flames that caused these cracks.

Introduction / Translation: Corrispondenza Romana / Giuseppe Nardi
image: Corrispondenza Romana

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to katholisches...

AMGD

Limburg Report Provides for New Speculations

According to a preliminary report of the "Spiegel" the investigation report is be delivered on Wednesday  at the same time it will go to Pope Francis and to the chairman of the German Bishops Conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch,

Hamburg / Limburg (kath.net / KNA) New speculations on the investigation report on the construction of the Bishops residence on the Limburg Cathedral Hill. According to a previous report by  "Spiegel" published  Sunday, it will be given to Pope Francis and to the chairman of the German Bishops Conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch   at the same time on Wednesday. The Pope will not let the matter lie long, said the boulevard magazine, citing unnamed sources in the Vatican Secretariat of State.

The report, prepared under the chairmanship of Paderborn Auxiliary Bishop Manfred Grothe, is an important step in view of the further employment of the Limburg Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst.  This criticism was partly because of the cost of the Episcopal House of at least 31 million Euros. Tebartz van Elst is believed to be  currently, indefinitely outside of his diocese pending the Pope's decision.

 As "Spiegel" reported further, Tebartz van Elst has made a statement through his lawyer already that "extensive comments" elaborate on the allegations. The report itself will, however, will not contain comments on the evaluation,  it said.

The spokesman of the German Bishops Conference, Matthias Kopp, interviewed by  the magazine  the Catholic News Agency (KNA) with the words, "for the next few weeks"  there will be an "aggreement to the procedure for inspection and discussion of the report , which should take account of all interests fair statement," by the German Council of Bishops.  For this reason, they will not engage in speculation about timelines or content.

When and how the diocese of Limburg should be informed about the discussions at the Vatican on the report, according to diocese spokesman Stefan Schnelle is still open. "I hope we get the report available for inspection prior to publication, so that we can make an interpretation," said Schnelle to KNA.  First, however, it's Rome's turn. 

At the current whereabouts of Tebartz van Elst he could not say anything, the spokesman said. The bishop had retired to await the decision of the Pope in the Lower Bavarian Benedictine Monastery of Metten, but he has returned often in the past back to his Diocese.  In the middle of Janaury, he made a "purely private visit" to Rome.

Link to Kath.net....

You can get a look at the Bishop's residence. The bone of contention as it were. Tour of the diocesan center of St. Nicholas in Limburg - Amateur video from 05.09.2013 locally

 (C) 2013 Catholic News Agency KNA GmbH.All rights reserved. Limburg Cathedral Hill Photo (c) Diocese of Limburg

Bishop Tebartz-van Elst Often Back in His Diocese of Limburg

The "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" reported, citing "Church circles" remaining anonymous  that the Bishop of Limburg  residing more often in his diocese again. UPDATE: Opinion of the diocese

Limburg (kath.net) According to the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" (FAS), the Limburg Bishop Franz-Josef Tebartz van Elst  (photo) is back in his diocese on a regular  basis. The bishop, who had been temporarily relieved of his residence obligation by the Pope Francis, apparently spends at least several days every month  in the Episcopal House [Palace] of the Diocese of Limburg. The FAS has received this information from unnamed "church circles".  

Tebartz van Elst's driver cooks for him at his official residence, apparently he also celebrates  Holy Mass occasionally in the Bishop's Chapel, says the FAS.

The FAS also pointed out that the presence of the Bishop of Limburg  "is critically eyed in German church circles", [a good sign] since they are concerned  that Tebartz van Elst will have "influence on official business". The FAS wrote, but without any reference to sources: "In fact, he issues instructions to the new Vicar General. Wolfgang Rösch, who officially leads the diocese, in the background." 

From the environs of the bishop it is also to be learned that he  continues to strive for his full reinstatement to Limburg. In this he will be assisted by the Archbishops of the Curia Gerhard Ludwig Müller and Georg Gänswein and who also had actually become very cautiously positive for the Limburg Bishop.  Gänswein, Prefect of the Papal Household, had also said to "Mittelbayrischen Zeitung"   in mid-January that the Commission of Inquiry will exonerate  Tebartz van Elst  kath.net has reported . 

The Limburg Bishop had also received support from Cardinal Walter Brandmüller in Rome. In an article in the "Daily Post" of last Friday, Brandmüller blamed the difficulties in the diocese of Limburg not of the current bishop, but his predecessor, Bishop Franz Kamphaus. This one is said to essentially support an "anti-Roman sentiment" that has spread in the diocese. Kamphaus has defended, for example, the Church advising consent to abortion  to pregnant women against the Vatican. 

Brandmüller had been quoted in the "Daily Mail": "There can be no doubt that this attitude of a bishop will have destructive consequences for the relationship of the faithful of the diocese of Limburg to the Magisterium of the  church - and the  successor of Franz Kamphaus." 

And this was Brandmüller's diagnosis on the events in Limburg for the "Daily Mail": "But what had happened in Limburg, was basically nothing more than the transfer of the partnership model, the form of government of modern democracy, to the Church. Such attempts at transmission  - and that is secularization in the proper sense  - have been made ​​several times in history and each time has done damage. The Church is, after all, neither monarchy [?] nor dictatorship, nor aristocratic republic or corporate state - it is simply the "Church", though in this world, but not of this world. It is a mystery of faith and follows her own, her own law legislated by  Jesus Christ." 

In the mean time now  an article by the "Focus" with news from Rome has become public, after which the results of the investigation conducted by the Church will be shown to have largely exonerated Bishop Tebarz-van Elst. "Focus" has  also reported that the diocese of Limburg may even be disolved by Roman considerations, as kath.net has reported .

 UPDATE: Statement of the Diocese of Limburg: The Limburg Bishop Franz-Peter van Elst Tebartz regularly stays in his diocese. A report of the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" (FAS) confirmed by Diocese Spokesman Stephan Fast on Sunday for the Catholic News Agency (KNA). The bishop among other things, being criticized the way he managed and because of the cost of a construction project on the Limburg Cathedral Hill, has returned briefly to Limburg  for "personal reasons". 

But this was neither an interdict nor libelous because he lived "neither in exile nor in restriction", even if it the Pope had granted an break at the end of October for an indefinite period  outside his diocese. FAS further reports that Tebartz van Elst imparts instructions to the new Vicar General Wolfgang Rösch, who leads the ongoing administration of the diocese during the absence of the bishop. To that, KNA was quick to reply that of course Rösch is in contact with the bishop, but is "solely and exclusively" accountable to the Vatican."

Foto Bischof Tebartz-van Elst: (c) Bistum Limburg