After Church Criticism: Kickl Wants a Conversation with Archbishop Lackner

Herbert Kickl wants to exchange views with Salzburg's Archbishop Franz Lackner. The latter had accused the Freedom Party of politically co-opting and instrumentalizing religion after their party congress. "I would gladly invite you to a personal conversation to exchange our positions," Kickl wrote on Tuesday in a Facebook post. Kickl had made biblical references in his party congress speech.

Kickl reminded Archbishop Lackner of previous conversations

The FPÖ leader reminded the chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of previous personal conversations in the past. At that time, among other things, the behavior of the church leadership during the Corona years was discussed. "I expressed my criticism that the church leadership, instead of providing support, comfort, and hope to all people, uncritically took the side of power and thus left many believers alone and alienated."

In his party congress speech on Saturday, the FPÖ leader had drawn on the Apostle Paul and promised to return "faith, hope, and love" to the people. Already during the election campaign before the national election last year, church representatives had criticized biblical references in the FPÖ campaign.

(APA/Red)

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