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Gerhard Maria Wagner (born 17 July 1954, Wartberg ob der Aist, Austria) is an Austrian Catholic priest who was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Linz on 31 January 2009. Amidst controversy over his views that sin caused Hurricane Katrina, Wagner turned the post down on 15 February 2009.

Ordained ministry

On 10 October 1978, Wagner was ordained to the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church by Cardinal László Lékai, Archbishop of Esztergom. Since 1988, he has been parish priest of Windischgarsten, Upper Austria in the Diocese of Linz.

Episcopal appointment

On 31 January 2009, Wagner was appointed auxiliary bishop of Linz, Austria, by Pope Benedict XVI. Amidst controversy over his views, Wagner resigned on 15 February 2009.

Wagner's appointment as auxiliary bishop was met with controversy among Austrian Roman Catholics, with Linz Diocese Bishop Ludwig Schwarz supportive, an informal group of priests led by Upper Austria church dean Franz Wild opposed, and Graz-Seckau Diocese Bishop Egon Kapellari optimistic that the "crisis" would be overcome by "good will" from both supporters and opponents.

Two weeks after his appointment Wagner requested its revocation because of the widespread criticism. In those 2 weeks the number of people leaving the Church had quadrupled in his Linz congregation, with similar or even higher numbers in the neighbouring communities, many of the ex-parishioners naming Wagner's appointment as the reason for their departure. The Times-Picayune reported Wagner's announcement in an Associated Press article concluding with a comparison between the Wagner situation and that surrounding the Holy See's decision to lift the excommunication of the bishops of the Society of St. Pius X, particularly Holocaust-denier Richard Williamson. The Vatican formally accepted the resignation and dispensed Wagner from his appointment on 2 March 2009.

Views

Wagner alleged that the Harry Potter novels partake of satanism.

Wagner became widely known in the world press for his 2005 comment attributing Hurricane Katrina to God's ire toward the sins of New Orleans.

References

1. "Gerhard Wagner ist neuer Weihbischof für Linz". Die Presse (in German). 13 January 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
2. Cheney, David M. "Father Gerhard Maria Wagner". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
3. "Dr Gerhard Maria Wagner". Diözese Linz (in German). Katholische Kirche in Oberösterreich. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
4. Veronika Oleksyn, "Priests protest pope's bishop choice" in Times-Picayune, 12 February 2009, Saint Tammany Edition, p. A11 (web version = "Austria: Priests criticize pope's bishop pick"). Archived 30 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine
5. "Papst um Rücknahme der Ernennung ersucht". Radio Oberösterreich (in German). 15 February 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
6. "Hunderte Kirchenaustritte in Oberösterreich". Radio Oberösterreich (in German). 10 February 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
7. Eric Willemsen, "Austrian pastor cedes promotion" in Times-Picayune, 16 February 2009, Metro Edition, p. A3 ("Austria: 'Katrina' pastor giving up promotion"). Archived 30 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine
8. "Austrian 'Katrina' pastor giving up promotion: report". CBC.ca. 15 February 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
9. "Controversial Austrian priest now a bishop". Archived from the original on 6 February 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
10. Cleric whose Katrina comment caused stir promoted; Veronika Oleksyn, Wagner appointment in Huffington Post.

• 1954 births
• 20th-century Austrian Roman Catholic priests
• Living people
• Pope Benedict XVI
• People from Freistadt District
• 21st-century Austrian Roman Catholic priests
• Religious controversies in Austria