Pope Rescinds Promotion Of 'Katrina' Pastor

Rev. Gerhard Maria Wagner said Hurricane Katrina was divine retribution. "This was not the sinking of just any city but that of a people's dream city with the 'best brothels and prettiest prostitutes.'"

By: Jamie Burch | WKRG-TV
Published: March 02, 2009

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VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI has formally rescinded the
promotion of an ultraconservative priest who came under fire for
suggesting that God punished New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina.
The Vatican announcement Monday confirmed a previous decision by
the Rev. Gerhard Maria Wagner to pass up the promotion.
In January Benedict promoted Wagner to the post of auxiliary
bishop in Linz, Austria's second largest city. The move sparked an
outcry from Austrian Catholics, and Wagner last month decided to
give up the job.
The Vatican's announcement said the pope had "exonerated Wagner
from accepting the office of Linz auxiliary bishop."
Wagner has questioned whether Katrina was a result of
"spiritual pollution" and has characterized Harry Potter novels
as satanic.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)