Vienna's die Presse reports that the crisis in that country's St. Pölten diocese is likely to be resolved shortly. The apostolic visitator Bp. Klaus Küng, appointed to investigate the diocesan seminary where "gay" parties and a child-porn scandal were exposed in July, is expected to report his findings to Vatican officials in Rome Thursday. According to the word in "undisputed church circles", says die Presse, diocesan bishop Kurt Krenn signed his letter of resignation on Friday in a 15-minute one-to-one meeting with Giovanni Cardinal Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. Since Bp. Küng arrived in St. Pölten, he has ordered the seminary closed and has met with former students for personal interviews.
Update: Kathpress denies die Presse's story Wednesday, with a statement from someone "near to Bp. Küng" that he will not be going to Rome this weekend and that the visitation will proceed in a "peaceful and orderly" manner.
Correction: The first story in die Presse stated that Bp. Küng would be going to Rome "tomorrow", which I erroneously interpreted as Wednesday. It should have been Thursday, so I have corrected it in the text above.
Der Bericht ist auf Deutsch; soll ich er auch auf Deutsch diskuterien?
Although it seems to me prudent not to declare a "church crisis near its end" too easily, given the postconciliar track record on such matters, certainly the right things are being done so far in St. Poelten. Rome asked Krenn to resign, and he did. Judging from what went on at the seminary, the Apostolic Visitor's order that the place be closed is well-founded. Interviewing students--whom Kung himself, not seminary officials, should choose--is also in order.
Let Rome's response to St. Poelten be a model for a new approach to massive scandal. And a sign of hope that better appointments and governance can prevent them to begin with. St. Catherine of Siena, pray for us!