The Archbishop of Vienna has welcomed Pope Benedict's criticism of a group of Austrian priests who are advocating disobedience of church teaching including women's ordination.Cardinal Christoph Schönborn said the Pope's words are an encouragement for the Austrian Church and shows how seriously the Pope is taking the ongoing altercation on the future of the Church in Austria.
"This is true pastoral concern which reassures and gives courage," said the cardinal.
In a homily at the Chrism Mass at St Peter's Basilica on Thursday Pope Benedict suggested that members of the Austrian Priests' Initiative were trying to force their personal agenda on the rest of the Church.
"Do we sense anything here of that configuration to Christ which is the precondition for true renewal, or do we merely sense a desperate push to do something to change the Church in accordance with one's own preferences and ideas?" the Pope asked rhetorically.