Seshmeister
07-13-2004, 09:43 AM
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040712.waust0712/BNStory/International/
Vast cache of porn found at Austrian seminary
Vienna — Roman Catholic leaders called an emergency meeting Monday after officials discovered a vast cache of photos and videos allegedly depicting young priests having sex at a seminary.
About 40,000 photos and an undisclosed number of films, including child pornography, were downloaded on computers at the seminary in St. Pölten, about 80 kilometres west of Vienna, news magazine Profil reported.
Officials with the local diocese would not comment but were meeting privately on the scandal, Austrian state television reported. It said the seminary's director, Rev. Ulrich Kuechl, had resigned and that his deputy, Wolfgang Rothe, also had submitted his resignation.
The Austrian Bishops Conference issued a statement Monday pledging a full and swift investigation.
“Anything that has to do with the practice of homosexuality or pornography has no place at a seminary for priests,” it said.
Church officials first discovered the material a year ago on a computer at the seminary, Profil said. It published several images purportedly showing young priests and their instructors kissing and fondling each other and engaging in orgies and sex games.
The child pornography came mostly from websites based in Poland, the magazine said.
Bishop Kurt Krenn, a conservative churchman who oversees the St. Pölten diocese, told Austrian television he had seen photos of seminary leaders in sexual situations with students. Bishop Krenn, however, dismissed the photos as “silly pranks” that “had nothing to do with homosexuality.”
A group of St. Poelten Diocese officials planned to ask the Vatican to remove Bishop Krenn, Austrian radio reported Monday.
Vatican spokesman Ciro Benedettini told the Austria Press Agency that the Holy See had no comment.
Vast cache of porn found at Austrian seminary
Vienna — Roman Catholic leaders called an emergency meeting Monday after officials discovered a vast cache of photos and videos allegedly depicting young priests having sex at a seminary.
About 40,000 photos and an undisclosed number of films, including child pornography, were downloaded on computers at the seminary in St. Pölten, about 80 kilometres west of Vienna, news magazine Profil reported.
Officials with the local diocese would not comment but were meeting privately on the scandal, Austrian state television reported. It said the seminary's director, Rev. Ulrich Kuechl, had resigned and that his deputy, Wolfgang Rothe, also had submitted his resignation.
The Austrian Bishops Conference issued a statement Monday pledging a full and swift investigation.
“Anything that has to do with the practice of homosexuality or pornography has no place at a seminary for priests,” it said.
Church officials first discovered the material a year ago on a computer at the seminary, Profil said. It published several images purportedly showing young priests and their instructors kissing and fondling each other and engaging in orgies and sex games.
The child pornography came mostly from websites based in Poland, the magazine said.
Bishop Kurt Krenn, a conservative churchman who oversees the St. Pölten diocese, told Austrian television he had seen photos of seminary leaders in sexual situations with students. Bishop Krenn, however, dismissed the photos as “silly pranks” that “had nothing to do with homosexuality.”
A group of St. Poelten Diocese officials planned to ask the Vatican to remove Bishop Krenn, Austrian radio reported Monday.
Vatican spokesman Ciro Benedettini told the Austria Press Agency that the Holy See had no comment.