Scandals, taxes and a right-wing pope contribute to a growing disenchantment with a church that is still the state religion
The Austrian Catholic Church has fallen on hard times, facing a declining membership that mirrors a similar phenomenon around the world. In September 2007, Austrian Catholic leaders were hopeful that Pope Benedict XIV’s visit to the Alpine republic would inspire the membership and bring in new energy.
However, according to the Catholic press agency Kathpress, the exact opposite occurred: some 53,200 registered Catholics have left the Church, decreasing the country’s Catholics to 66% of the population from nearly 90%, fifty years ago.
