Elmar Fischer (Bishop)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Elmar Fischer ( October 6, 1936 in Feldkirch , † January 19, 2022 in Feldkirch ) was an Austrian clergyman and Roman Catholic bishop of the diocese of Feldkirch from 2005 to 2011.

Life

Elmar Fischer attended the teacher training college in Feldkirch from 1950 to 1955 and studied philosophy and Catholic theology at the University of Innsbruck until 1962 . In 1969 he received his doctorate in theology with his dissertation “About pastoral care in the General Vicariate of Feldkirch from 1818 to 1848” . He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1961 and was then chaplain in Lustenau /Rheindorf from 1962, and pastoral provost in Sibratsgfäll from 1965 . From 1970 to 1982 he was rector of the diocesan boarding school Marianum in Bregenz and from 1974 to 1990 director of the diocesan school for marriage, family and life counselors. From 1979 to 1990 he headed the Marriage and Family Center of the Diocese of Feldkirch (EFZ).

Bishop's house, Feldkirch, Hirschgraben 2

On March 6, 1989, Bishop Klaus Küng appointed him Vicar General of the Diocese of Feldkirch. Pope John Paul II conferred on him the title of Honorary Pontifical Prelate on February 27, 1990 . From October 7, 2004 he became the permanent representative of Bishop Klaus Küng, who first became Apostolic Visitator and then Bishop of the Diocese of St. Pölten .

On May 24, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him to the bishop of Feldkirch. The episcopal consecration took place on July 3, 2005 by Klaus Küng , Bishop of Sankt Pölten, in the cathedral of St. Nicholas in Feldkirch. Co -consecrators were Alois Kothgasser , Archbishop of Salzburg , and Alfredo Schäffler , Bishop of Parnaíba in Brazil . As the episcopal motto, Fischer chose the passage from the Gospel of Matthew “Seek the kingdom of God – in everything! The rest will be given to you."

On November 15, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI. the resignation submitted by Elmar Fischer for reasons of age. Fischer was involved in the beatification of Provikar Carl Lampert and the posthumous award of the Romero Prize to the Vorarlberg Missionary Sister Maria Pacis Irene Vögel CPS .

After his retirement he lived in a spiritual center of the Servants of the Blood of Christ in Hittisau . "As a private person, he was an avid sportsman, passionate mountaineer and accomplished skier to the end."

In January 2022, Fischer became seriously ill with COVID-19 at the age of 85 and died as a result after brief treatment in the intensive care unit. According to a report by the Vorarlberger Nachrichten , he was not vaccinated against the corona virus.

Works

Marriage and family counseling

Elmar Fischer has been involved in marriage and family counselling, marriage preparation and family education for many years. After managing the Marriage and Family Center of the Diocese of Feldkirch (EFZ) from 1979 to 1990, he was entered in the list of state-approved psychotherapists in 1991.

attitude towards homosexuality

In an interview with ORF Radio Vorarlberg in February 2009, Fischer explained his support for the controversial designated Auxiliary Bishop of Linz Gerhard Wagner and, contrary to today's general opinion in psychology and psychotherapy , argued that homosexuality , like alcoholism, should be classified as a "mental illness" and therefore curable may be.

A day later he apologized for his statements and withdrew them: "I assumed that the scientific literature was obviously no longer up-to-date."

Fischer had already caused a stir in 1996 as vicar general. At that time, in a letter to all Catholic parish offices in the diocese, he emphasized, among other things, the connection between homosexuality and promiscuity . He refers here mainly to literature and his experiences as a psychotherapist. Johannes Wahala, President of the Austrian Society for Sex Research, lodged a complaint with the Federal Ministry of Health based on Fischer's statements. Fischer was accused of violating the obligation to undergo further training, repeating pathologizing and discriminatory statements against his better judgment, abusing his role as a psychotherapist to spread discriminatory attitudes and damaging the profession of psychotherapist.

Allegations of violence in 2010

In the course of the abuse affair of March 2010, Bishop Fischer was accused by four former students of having abused them in the 1960s and 70s ; he is said to have beaten him to the point of hospitalization. The bishop initially only wanted to recall one slap in the face and took the rest for unproven allegations. The diocese hired Innsbruck psychiatrist Hartmann Hinterhuber to investigate these allegations. On June 1, 2010, the expert came to the conclusion that "the allegations are credible" and that Fischer had repeatedly punched young people. However, a resignation was excessive because at the time such abuse was not considered serious and was not tantamount to an excessive abuse of power. “The physical assaults must be viewed in an emotional context, although this neither justifies nor excuses the assaults. They are not to be interpreted as an expression of a pleasurable exercise of a power relationship.

Bishop Fischer said he would apologize to his victims in writing, but declined calls for his resignation.

honors and awards

  • Appointment to the Spiritual Council (Consiliarius)
  • Appointment by Pope John Paul II as Honorary Pontifical Prelate (Decree of February 27, 1990)

publications

  • As Editor: 33 Steps to Jesus. Preparation booklet for the surrender of life to Christ through the hands of Mary. n.d. (136 p.) (online)

literature

  • Elmar Fischer , in: International Biographical Archive 39/2005 of October 1, 2005, in the Munzinger Archive ( start of article freely available)

web links

itemizations

  1. ↑ Bishop Fischer's resignation accepted. In: vorarlberg.orf.at. 15 November 2011, retrieved 19 January 2022 . Thanksgiving service and farewell to Bishop Dr. Elmer Fischer. In: kath-kirche-vorarlberg.at. 14 November 2011, retrieved 19 January 2022 .
  2. ↑ Veronika Fehle: Old bishop Elmar Fischer died. In: kath-kirche-vorarlberg.at. January 19, 2022, retrieved January 20, 2022 .
  3. ↑ Klaus Hämmerle: Former diocesan bishop Elmar with Corona in the intensive care unit. In: VOL.at . January 17, 2022, retrieved January 19, 2022 .
  4. ↑ Old Bishop Elmar Fischer died. In: vorarlberg.ORF.at . 19 January 2022, retrieved 19 January 2022 .
  5. ↑ Austrian Bishop Elmar Fischer dies after corona infection. In: catholic.de . 19 January 2022, retrieved 19 January 2022 .
  6. ↑ Response of the federal government to the small question of the deputies Volker Beck (Cologne), Josef Philip Winkler, Hans-Christian Ströbele, other deputies and the parliamentary group Bündnis 90/Die Grünen: anti-homosexual seminars and pseudo-scientific therapy offers of religious fundamentalists. (pdf; 108 kB) In: bundestag.de. February 12, 2008, retrieved January 19, 2022 .
  7. ↑ Bishop Fischer considers homosexuality to be curable. In: derStandard.at . February 11, 2009, retrieved January 19, 2022 .
  8. ↑ "Homosexuality curable": Bishop Fischer apologizes. In: DiePresse.com . February 13, 2009, retrieved January 19, 2022 .
  9. ↑ Johannes Wahala, Christine Swarowsky, Elisabeth Cinatl: Complaint against Dr. Elmar Fischer, psychotherapist. (pdf; 80 kB) In: courage-beratung.at. March 26, 2009, retrieved January 19, 2022 .
  10. ^ "Homo healer" bishop Elmar Fischer died. In: Queer.de . 19 January 2022, retrieved 19 January 2022 .
  11. ↑ New allegation against Bishop Fischer. In: derStandard.at . 15 May 2010, retrieved 19 January 2022 .
  12. ↑ Dietmar Neuwirth: Allegations of violence against Bishop Fischer: No resignation. In: DiePresse.com . 1 June 2010, retrieved 19 January 2022 .
  13. ↑ Report: Allegations against bishop "credible". In: ORF-Vorarlberg. 1 June 2010, archived from the original on 2 May 2014 ; retrieved 19 January 2022 .
predecessor government office successor
Klaus Küng Bishop of Feldkirch
2005-2011 		Benno Elbs


personal data
SURNAME Fischer, Elmer
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Fischer, Elmar Otto (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian clergyman, bishop of the diocese of Feldkirch
BIRTH DATE October 6, 1936
PLACE OF BIRTH Feldkirch
DATE OF DEATH January 19, 2022
PLACE OF DEATH Feldkirch