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Wednesday, 08. February 2012 - 14:02

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Greens write off debt brake accord Greens chairwoman Eva Glawischnig has claimed the government stopped being interested in adding a debt brake to the constitution.
Electricity supplier switch barriers to disappear Peopleâ€™s Party (Ã–VP) Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner has promised a further reduction of bureaucratic obstacles for people planning to change their electricity providers.
End of austerity package talks in sight, says Khol A Peopleâ€™s Party (Ã–VP) board member has claimed that the upcoming savings package would be presented within the coming days.
Erste Bank expert optimistic about Hungary The chief analyst of Austriaâ€™s biggest bank has said chances for a political agreement about the difficult economic condition of Hungary are good.
Spindelegger upsets SPÃ– Peopleâ€™s Party (Ã–VP) Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger has caused a stir by revealing details of the upcoming austerity package.
Tragic schoolgirl Julia to be laid to rest An Austrian schoolgirl whose disappearance was once linked to incest monster Josef Fritzl is to be buried today.
Camera leads to hit and run boarder arrest Austrian police have arrested a hit-and-run snow boarder after issuing the man's picture to local media.
Vranitzky appreciates tuition fees discussion Former Social Democratic (SPÃ–) Chancellor Franz Vranitzky has said he welcomes the current debate about a reintroduction of tuition fees.
Westbahn welcomes 6,000 a day Westbahn manages to sell one in two of the overall number of tickets it offers, a spokesman said today (Fri).
Wiener Linien records rising demand for annual passes The number of people opting for annual Wiener Linien tickets is soaring.
Vice chancellor refuses to exclude FPÃ– The Peopleâ€™s Party (Ã–VP) keeps refusing to disassociate itself from the Freedom Party (FPÃ–) following FPÃ– leader Heinz-Christian Stracheâ€™s controversial comparisons with the Nazi era.
Vienna Ã–VP endorses proposed district cuts Vienna Peopleâ€™s Party (Ã–VP) Josefstadt district head Veronika Mickel suggested continuing to speak about a reduction of positions in the city's administration.

20. 07. 10. - 12:00

Confessional box auction offline after 'satanic' bid

Catholic Church killjoys have ordered a parish to take its confessional box auction offline - right after the highest bid was exactly 666 Euros.

Priest Otto Weber of cash-strapped Hirschstetten parish in Vienna-Donaustadt decided to offer one of the church’s confessional boxes on eBay to carry out essential renovations.

But Archdiocese Vienna decision-makers forced the canny cleric to stop the auction only hours after it went online last night (Mon).

Erich Leitenberger, a spokesman for the diocese, said today: "It’s not acceptable to sell objects used in administering a sacrament to someone."

Referring to Weber’s suggestions over what could be done with the confessional box, he stressed: "Confessional boxes must not be rebuilt into a sauna, a bar or anything else."

The auction was visited by thousands of internet users last night. More than 200 people put in offers, with a top bid of 666 Euros - the "number of the devil" - before it was abandoned.

Confessional box auction offline after 'satanic' bid

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