The rector of Vienna cathedral has declared on St. Valentine’s Day, that he was convinced that homosexuals are no „outlaws“. The same evening he celebrated a blessing ceremony for „people in love“ – homosexuals included.

Picture: Cardinal Schönborn

(kreuz.net, Vienna) On St. Valentine’s Day, Fr. Anton Faber (43), the rector of the Stephansdom in Vienna and responsible for the Cathedral parish, spoke to the Austrian newspaper ‘Die Presse’.

The reason for the interview was a St. Valentine’s blessing ceremony for „people in love“ scheduled in the Stephansdom on the evening of the same day.

The Stephansdom is the cathedral church of the archdiocese of Vienna which is led by Christoph Cardinal Schönborn (61). Schönborn is a former secretary of the commission that elaborated the „Catechism of the Catholic Church“ which was published in 1992.

Answering the questions of the newspaper Fr. Faber expressed his intention to bless all lovers – „especially couples, fiances and people in love“. Asked about homosexuals, the priest said he had no intention to turn away anybody who would ask for the blessing.

„Today there is no possibility in the Church to bless a union of people with homosexual feelings“, the priest stated, expressing his grief that the Catholic Church can offer „relatively little“ to homosexuals.

An unidentified member of the cathedral parish contradicted the rector by saying that the priest had forgotten that – as for any other sin – the Church proposes holy Confession to those who are tempted by homosexual feelings or who have fallen in this respect.

Fr. Faber affirmed that he is involved in convincing his confreres and other Catholics that homosexuals are no „outlaws“ but „human beings like you and I, who often suffer badly from their orientation“.

He answered the question whether Cardinal Schönborn was happy with his statements and activities by saying that his initatives had obviously been discussed with the cardinal and approved by him.

Fr. Faber believes that his views „are based on solid Catholic ground and are in a 100% concordance with the directives of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference“.

During the interview the priest explicitly welcomed „people with homosexual inclinations to receive a blessing for their longing for love“.

The rector of the Cathedral admitted that his invitation to the „gay community“ did cause some opposition among Catholics. In a phone-call he was accused of promoting perversion by blessing sinful people.

But Fr. Faber is not aware of any guilt: „After all, I bless sinful people in every Mass“, he said.

Later ‘Die Presse’ reported that the „Blessing Ceremony for Lovers“ had attracted roughly 1000 persons. According to Fr. Faber there were „only 10% homosexuals“ in the congregation. They did not dress in a special way nor did they display particular signs.

‘Die Presse’ reported that the attending homosexuals were blessed one by one, but that this policy was not applied consistently. The Austrian Minster for Justice, Mrs Karin Gastinger – who is a notorious supporter of so called gay rights – was present at the ceremony in order „to back the courageous rector of the cathedral“.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Schönborn who was considered a Papabile during the last conclave keeps silent and seems to agree with the rector of his cathedral.