Annual Report – Austria – 2013
European Network "Church on the Move" –
Annual Report from Austria about 2013
Date: 2014-03-04
Written by Matthias JAKUBEC
Activities Of the Movement "We are Church" (WaC)
• April 20, 2013: annual conference in Innsbruck, Tyrol, with a speech by
Sr. Florence DEACON , chair women of the American Leadership Conference of Women Religious who got the Herbert HAAG award 2013 for freedom in the church.
• May 09–12, 2013: Austrian single member Matthias JAKUBEC participates as an observer for WaC in the annual conference of the European Network “Church on the Move” at Alcalá de Henares, Spain.
• May 14–15, 2013: WaC delegates from Germany, Switzerland and Austria meet in
Innsbruck to discuss the goals and principles of future cooperation.
• October 2013: WaC Austria supports the international petition for the rehabilitation of archbishop Róbert BEZÁK of Trnava.
• November 01–03, 2013: participation in the IMWAC-Council in Dublin, Ireland.
• Project Vaticanum III: the project in consequence of the 50 th anniversary of the 2 nd Vatican council is in progress. Church reform groups from several countries participate. Contact:
• 3 issues of our news letter “Wir sind Kirche” (We are Church).
• Several press releases.
Events in the Austrian Church
• Spring 2013: Margit HAUFT becomes chair women of the Laieninitiative
(lay initiative).
• Easter 2013: We have a new Pope. But this also holds for others ☺.
• Spring 2013: Benno ELBS becomes the new bishop of Feldkirch, Vorarlberg. He is gladly appreciated by the people in his diocese.
• Summer 2013. Helmut SCHÜLLER , chair person of the Pfarrerinitiative (initiative of pastors) Qperforms a tour with speeches in 15 American cities.
• November 29, 2013: Study day of the Austrian church reform movements about the anointing of the sick in Salzburg.
Q• November / December 2013: Following the Vatican’s instruction the Austrian dioceses invite the faithful to answer the questionnaire in preparation of the bishops synod about marriage and family.
• Autumn 2013: Franz LACKNER becomes the new arch bishop of Salzburg. He is welcome by the people in his diocese, but he was the only acceptable candidate from a secret list of three provided by the Vatican from where the chapter of Salzburg could choose one. The other two are known as rather narrow minded, polarising conservatives. The modus of a choice for the chapter of the cathedral is a privilege for Salzburg, but by naming only one acceptable candidate the Vatican undermines this tiny blossom of democracy.
Looking Forward to 2014: Activities and Events
• Autumn 2014: Participation of WaC Austria in the shadow synod in Rome organised by IMWAC.
• Project Vaticanum III: The project will be continued.