Austrian Catholics Demanding Church Reform; Others Leaving Church in Record Numbers

While far too many U.S. Catholics continue to act like docile sheep and continue to obsequiously grovel to the morally bankrupt Catholic Church hierarchy, it seems Austrian Catholics are increasingly saying "Enough!" Between officially leaving membership in the Church and/or demanding systemic changes these thinking individuals are over the dictatorship of the self-absorbed and morally challenged Church leadership. As I have said before, the only thing that the Vatican understands and cares about are money and membership numbers. If both begin to plummet sufficiently, rest assured suddenly "the Holy Spirit" will enlighten the leadership with a new revelation for change. Throughout history loss of money and membership are the only things that will bring change. Here are some highlights from Google News on the Catholic Church unrest in Austria:
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What is particularly troubling for Rome is that Austria — which in past centuries was famous for being a bulwark against the Protestant Reformation — is losing worshippers in record numbers as calls for reform grow stronger.
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Tens of thousands of Austrian Catholics — many of whom still consider themselves devout believers — are leaving the church each year, disgusted by the priestly sex abuse scandal and frustrated by what they see as the Catholic hierarchy's outdated ways.
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Earlier this week, the head of the Vienna archdiocese's church tax office estimated that up to 80,000 of Austria's roughly 5.5 million Catholics could leave the church this year — a new record. Last year alone, 53,216 people formally had their names removed from church registries, a 31 percent increase compared to 40,654 in 2008.
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In May, the Priest Initiative — a group of critical clerics — adopted a strongly worded resolution that criticized the "absolutist" church structure and urged both bishops and ordinary believers to take a stand. The Vatican has had no comment on the turmoil in the Austrian Church.
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Amid increasing calls for change, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn — the country's top churchman and a papal confidant seen as a possible successor to Benedict XVI — has stepped into the fray more forcefully in the past few months.
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Experts say Austria's unusually rebellious streak these days stems from a series of conservative Vatican appointments — including Groer's — following the retirement of the liberal and outspoken Cardinal Franz Koenig, a much beloved figure, in 1985.
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"The church took a new turn after Koenig and that, coupled with the Groer pedophilia story, sparked dissatisfaction," said theologian Paul Zulehner. "Austria is a special case caused by Rome."
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"The abuse scandal has shown that apparently the church's leadership is no longer primarily focused on Jesus' message but rather on its own interests," said Hans Peter Hurka, who heads We are Church, an influential Vienna-based lay organization active across Europe.

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Would that more Catholics worldwide would stand up to a Pope who views himself as a Roman emperor of old and who has proven to be just as morally challenged as many a past Roman emperor.