Papal Emissary Closes St. Poelten Seminary

At once encouraging and discouraging, the Washington Post today reported that, “A papal emissary investigating suspected homosexuality and child pornography among student priests shut down the Austrian seminary at the center of the scandal Thursday, saying his probe had resulted in “very painful” revelations of sexual misconduct.”

In the face of what is seemingly persistent pedophilia and homosexual activity throughout the Church, it is encouraging that a papal emissary has acted with speed to close the seminary for an unspecified period of time, and has ordered students who wish to continue studying for the priesthood to undergo screening to verify suitability. Two of the thirty-six students at the seminary have left, but the content and volume of the evidence of depravity would seem to indicate involvement by many more students and of and duplicitous homosexual relationships with staff and teachers. One prays that the papal emissary will take all necessary measures to completely and finally end the depravity.

Good news aside, it is utterly discouraging to read that in a Catholic seminary, “…40,000 photos and numerous videos… some featuring child pornography” have been discovered on computers, and that other photographs have been found showing, “… students kissing and fondling each other and their older religious instructors.” It is downright devastating to read that, Kurt Krenn, the Bishop of St. Poelten refuses to resign, and that he has been ordered by the Church, “… to stop speaking to reporters after he described the photos of priests kissing and fondling as "childish pranks" and made other comments playing down the affair.”

The papal emissary may have authority to purge and cleanse a sinful seminary, but his authority does not extend to the chair of an errant bishop. In this, as in other cases of sexual deviancy that have so harmed the Church, the news will not be entirely encouraging until bishops like Krenn who have so failed their flock, make the fullest act of contrition for their failings- managerial or personal- by resigning.