UNITED STATES
National Catholic Reporter
Kate Simmons | Jul. 11, 2013
Despite resistance from several dioceses, Austrian priest Fr. Helmut Schüller still will visit the 15 cities originally scheduled for his first American speaking tour this summer.
After being inspired by Schüller’s message of reform, 12 organizations are sponsoring his Catholic Tipping Point tour, which will begin July 16 and end Aug. 7.
Schüller famously led more than 400 priests in an “Appeal to Disobedience” in 2011, recommending women and married priests be ordained in response to the ongoing priest shortage. The appeal, published by the Austrian Priests Initiative, also called for laypeople to take a larger role in church leadership.
Progressive Catholic organizations and parishes are welcoming the tour, but some diocesan officials are less supportive. Expressing concern that Schüller’s message will “damage the unity” of the church, the Philadelphia archdiocese issued a statement prohibiting the Austrian priest from speaking at any parish or diocesan-related facility.
The tour’s Philadelphia venue, however, will not change its plans.
Chestnut Hill College, a Roman Catholic school with 2,318 students and fewer than 900 undergraduates, is not affiliated with the diocese, nor is it an official sponsor of the tour. Chestnut Hill is not turning Schüller away, even though Archbishop Charles Chaput communicated his concerns directly to the college.
While the college “fully respects” Chaput’s decision, it still will welcome Schüller to the campus “as part of the College’s continuing mission to encourage dialogue on issues of importance to society,” Chestnut Hill said in an email to NCR.
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