Before that, Austria's Catholic Bishops Warn

"An important goal of politics must be to reduce poverty and not to further increase the pressure on those in need," states a declaration from the Bishops' Conference following the autumn plenary assembly. Assistance for people in need should not be dependent on origin and religion, said the chairman of the Bishops' Conference, Salzburg's Archbishop Franz Lackner.

"In Austria, the groundwater level of solidarity and charity remains very high," Lackner admitted. However, it should give pause to all those who advocate for a socially just and solidary society when Pope Leo IV criticizes developments where "practiced charity is despised or ridiculed." Such tendencies have also increased in Austria, Lackner emphasized.

"Welfare State in Austria Must Remain Strong"

Charitable organizations like the Catholic Caritas provide valuable services for the public on behalf of the government, the bishops stated. Those who care about the common good must advocate for objectivity and a fact-based discourse, the bishops appeal not only to civil society but also to political decision-makers. "The welfare state in Austria must remain strong," the declaration states. And: "Solidarity must not end at the national border."

Another appeal from the bishops ahead of the anniversary of the November pogroms relates to the rising antisemitism. The fact that this attitude has not yet been overcome is shown by the high number of incidents and attacks even in Austria. "Peaceful and free living for people of any religion or belief must be guaranteed in Austria," states another declaration from the Bishops' Conference.

Synodal Process and Church in Armenia

Other topics addressed by the Bishops' Conference at their autumn plenary assembly include the synodal process and the situation of the Church in Armenia, for which solidarity is demanded. A meeting with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen was also on the agenda, whom the Catholic bishops commended and thanked for his "service." This is characterized by a "charisma of calmness," said Lackner.

With the appointment of Josef Grünwidl as the new Archbishop of Vienna, Lackner expressed continued satisfaction. That he could also become the new chairman of the Bishops' Conference after the episcopal consecration on January 24 is considered likely by the Salzburg Archbishop. "When, I do not know," he emphasized. Lackner's term ends in June of the coming year.

(APA/Red)

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