Rebel priests barred from travel

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna has barred clergy involved with the pro-reform Priests' Initiative (PI) from travelling to promote their cause, according to a leaked report of a meeting he had with senior priests.

He has also forbidden members who are deans from standing to have their five-year posts renewed.

These measures were noted in a report of a 10 May meeting in Vienna that included some members of the PI which was leaked to the Austrian daily Kurier and published on 1 July.

The leaked document also indicated that the cardinal is seriously concerned that the PI, with its appeal to disobedience on issues including clerical celibacy and ordaining women, is disseminating material that could lead to a schism. 

Around 10 per cent of Austria's 4,500 priests are now members of the initiative.