The Austrian Times website reports today (February 27, 2012) that frustrated churchgoers in an Austrian town have put an advertisement in a paper for a new Catholic priest, after the Linz diocese failed to find a replacement for the current priest who is moving to another area.
The ad says that people in Scharding, Austria are looking for a qualified priest to manage the 3,600 souls in the community, and duties include spiritual management, and holding mass.
The ad was placed by villager Christoph Crepaz in the job section of the local newspaper and includes mention of the very good financial position of the community.
Linz diocese spokesman Martin Fureder said it was the first time that a job ad for a priest had been placed in a newspaper. But he praised the fact that locals felt strongly enough about the matter to try to encourage and aid the search for a replacement.
