A vast majority of Austrians think the Pope should step down were there a rule that enabled him to do so.Vienna-based public opinion research agency Karmasin found that 57 per cent of Austrians are of the opinion Pope Benedict XVI should resign amid sex abuse incidents at Catholic institutions across Europe.Only 34 per cent of […]
A suspected double killer soon to be released from behind bars has already walked free from jail once before after issuing death threats to one of the victims, it has emerged.Briton John Sweeney, 54, is wanted by cops in two countries as prime suspect over the brutal deaths of prostitute Paula Fields, 31, and model […]
Two Viennese men are facing drug production charges after cops discovered 256 cannabis plants at an estate in Groß-Enzersdorf, Lower Austria.Police said today (Thurs) they had acted on a tip-off, adding it would have been possible to produce drugs worth 16,000 Euros from the confiscated plants.Officials explained the plants were kept at a storage hall […]
Vienna Archbishop Christoph Cardinal Schönborn will preside at a “day of repentance” service today (Weds) in the wake of revelations of numerous cases of violence and sexual abuse by members of the Catholic clergy.His office said yesterday that the service at 7pm at Viennas St. Stephens Cathedral would constitute “an acknowledgement of guilt in the […]
Christoph Cardinal Schönborns announcement that Waltraud Klasnic will head a commission dealing with victims of Catholic Church abuse and violence has been met with harsh criticism.Schönborn said in a TV interview on Sunday that the former Styrian Peoples Party (ÖVP) governor will head a special commission checking on all claims and reports of sexual abuse […]
There have been 566 reports of various kinds of abuse by clergy at the Catholic Churchs ombudsmans offices this year, it was reported today (Tues).Vienna archdiocese has had the highest number, 174, followed by Innsbruck diocese with 115. More than half of them can no longer be prosecuted because of the statute of limitations.Cases of […]
A machine-building technician who crushed his right hand yesterday (Sun) while cleaning a machine has been told it cannot be saved.The 26-year-old man from Salzburgs Pinzgau region who got his hand trapped at work was taken to hospital in Salzburg where doctors said the injuries were too severe to fix.
A robber armed with a pistol fled on a bicycle after robbing a petrol station in Linz, Upper Austria, police said today (Mon).The man entered the station shortly after midnight and demanded money, which he put into a plastic sack before fleeing.Police said the robber was in his early 20s, 1.85 metres tall and thin. […]
Burgenland police warned people today (Mon) against purchasing smuggled Asian chainsaws being sold on the street by Eastern Europeans, mostly Romanians, as STIHL products.The saws, produced in Asia and smuggled into Europe by sea, sell for 25 Euros at home but are being hawked in Austria at a price of 300 Euros under a fake […]
A commission to investigate claims of sexual abuse within the Catholic church has named former Styrian Peoples Party (ÖVP) Governor Waltraud Klasnic as its head.Viennese archbishop Christoph Cardinal Schönborn told national broadcaster ORF yesterday (Sun) he will meet Klasnic to discuss details next week.Schönborn stressed that the commission will act totally independently to clarify as […]