Anti-gay Austrian priest stopped from preaching

VIENNA – Austria's Roman Catholic church is forbidding a priest from preaching to his flock at Easter Mass because of his comments against homosexuals and Muslims.

The move comes after the priest, Karl Tropper, described homosexuality as "perverse," in a recent newspaper interview. He has also described Islam as "pure racism."

Spokesman Georg Plank of Austria's south eastern Graz-Seckau diocese said Friday that Tropper, 75, has repeatedly used an "unacceptably simplistic and inciting tone" about homosexuality and Islam.

He adds that this can no longer be explained away to the "obstinacy of old age."

Plank also notes Tropper will be pensioned Aug. 31.