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Old Catholic Church of Austria

Coordinates: 48°12′58″N 16°22′01″E / 48.2161°N 16.3669°E / 48.2161; 16.3669
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Old Catholic Church of Austria
ClassificationCatholic
GovernanceEpiscopal
LeaderMaria Kubin
AssociationsInternational Old Catholic Bishops' Conference
RegionAustria
HeadquartersVienna
Separated fromRoman Catholic Church
Congregations14
Members4,900 (2021)[1]
Ministers15
Official websitealtkatholiken.at

The Old Catholic Church of Austria (German: Altkatholische Kirche Österreichs) is the Austrian member church of the Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches. Within the Union of Utrecht, the Old Catholic Church of Austria also has delegated jurisdiction over the Old Catholic Church of Croatia, and other regions of former Yugoslavia.[2]

History

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In 1997, the church began ordaining women.[3] In 2007, the church elected as its head Bishop John Okoro, a Nigerian former Roman Catholic priest, who became a member of the Old Catholic Church of Austria in 1999.[4] Prior to his election he had been the parish priest in Vorarlberg. He retired in 2015, and new Bishop Heinz Lederleitner was elected at the Synod meeting in Klagenfurt on 24 October 2015, and consecrated in Vienna on 13 February 2016.[5] Following Heinz's retirement, Maria Kubin was consecrated as bishop for the church in 2023.[6]

Old Catholic Bishops of Austria

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The following bishops have governed the Old Catholic Church in Austria.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Religionszugehörigkeit 2021: drei Viertel bekennen sich zu einer Religion, Meldung vom 25. May 2022
  2. ^ Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches: Member Churches
  3. ^ "Wofür wir stehen: der lange Weg zur Frauenordination" [What we stand for: the long way to the ordination of women]. altkatholiken.at (in German). Vienna, AT: Altkatholische Kirche Österreichs. Archived from the original on 2012-03-03. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  4. ^ Pink, Oliver (2007-11-19). "Interview: 'Wollte Priester bleiben und Ja zur Liebe sagen'" [Interview: 'Wanted to remain a priest and say yes to love']. diepresse.com (in German). Vienna, AT: Die Presse. Archived from the original on 2008-04-20.
  5. ^ Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches (2016): New bishop consecrated in Austria
  6. ^ "Utrechter Union - New bishop of Austria consecrated". www.utrechter-union.org. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
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48°12′58″N 16°22′01″E / 48.2161°N 16.3669°E / 48.2161; 16.3669