An Austrian bishop described the techno festival that led to 21 deaths and 500 injuries as a sinful event and indirectly linked the deaths to God's punishment.

Salzburg's Roman Catholic bishop Andreas Laun said that the Love Parade and participation in it was "a rebellion against creation and against God's order" and "an invitation to sin".

Writing on the German-language website Kath.net, Bishop Laun warned against judging the dead and saying their death was God's punishment.

At the same time, he indirectly linked the deaths to God's right to punish apostates - those who turn their back on the true faith.

The tragedy occurred on July 24 when crowds of people streaming into the festival in the German city of Duisburg surged through a jammed entry tunnel.

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