Priest Banned by Archdiocese of Detroit from Speaking at Local Church

By Anu Prakash
WXYZ
July 27, 2013

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/priest-banned-by-archdiocese-of-detroit-from-speaking-at-local-church

[with video]

Rev. Helmut Schuller is the Catholic priest from Austria who is making headlines here in the US.

His views on the church have drawn support and criticism.

"We want the priesthood to become opened for married men ... for women also .. so we want a discussion

about it," he says.

Rev. Schuller is challenging the church leadership and says lay people should get active in the church and make changes.

The Austrian priest is on a 15 city nationwide tour. He was most recently banned from speaking at a Catholic church in Boston, but his speeches have also been drawing crowds.

He was supposed to speak at SS Simon and Jude parish in Westland Friday night, but Detroit's Archbishop Allen Vigneron banned him from speaking there. His address will be made at Wayne Memorial H.S. instead.

"They are afraid that there could be open, transparent discussion in church that could become prompted with different points of view," he says.

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Detroit says what Rev. Schuller has taught "is not in harmony with Catholic church teachings".

We're told the Archdiocese was first made aware of Rev. Schuller visit after receiving phone complaints.

Meanwhile, Rev. Schuller says he is planning on an international meeting in Austria next October in order to get the conversation going on a global level.