George Cardinal Pell Function: Archbishop of Sydney, Australia Title: Cardinal Priest of St. Mary Dominic Mazzarello Birthdate: Jun 08, 1941 Country: Australia Elevated: Oct 21, 2003 More information: www.catholic-hierarchy.org Send a text about this cardinal » Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal criticised over clampdown on reform group Feb 24, 2010 CARDINAL GEORGE PELL, the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, has been likened to a ''despot'' after banning a faith group from using a church hall. Dr Pell wrote to a parish priest in Rose Bay ordering him not to allow the Australian Reforming Catholics to hold their annual general meeting on church property, even though the organisation counts two bishops and dozens of priests and nuns as members and supporters. No explanation has been offered to the group as to why next month's meeting was banned. A former priest, Dr Paul Collins, had been due to give a lecture on the history of the reform movement in the church at the meeting. ''If Cardinal Pell doesn't like somebody it seems he can unilaterally ban them from speaking on church property,'' said the group's spokesman, John Buggy. Members of the group believe that Dr Pell has acted without proper authority and breached canon law, the rules that govern the running of the Catholic Church. Criticising Dr Pell's leadership style, Mr Buggy said: ''An elected leader can act within their rights and be dictatorial, but when somebody acts outside the rules of their organisation and makes rules that suit themselves, they become a despot.'' He added: ''To ban somebody you have to go through a procedure. The least you would expect is for him to meet with these people he seeks to outlaw and have a discussion with them; to see what they are about, get an understanding of their beliefs and to at least discuss the issues. ''But to ban somebody because you think they may say something that you disagree with would appear to be a grave injustice.'' The Herald understands that a decision will be made at the annual meeting, now to be held at Club Rose Bay, as to whether to make a formal protest. The group insists it had no plans to discuss topics that go against the church's teachings. In 2004 Dr Pell was criticised after demanding the Sisters of St Joseph rescind an invitation allowing the ARC, a lay organisation, to hold a conference at the order's headquarters at MacKillop Place in North Sydney. He also wrote to two priests telling them not to address that meeting and asked Bishop Pat Power of Canberra-Goulburn not to say Mass for the group within the archdiocese of Sydney. A spokeswoman for Dr Pellsaid he was unavailable for comment as he is in Rome. http://www.smh.com.au/national/cardinal-criticised-over-clampdown-on-reform-group-20100207-nkxu.html Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell: Rome-Bound? Nov 01, 2009 B16's weekend integration of Cardinal Peter Turkson into his top team was just the latest instance of this pontificate's significant trait for drawing senior Curialists from among the ranks of diocesan bishops. Whispers in the Loggia, Tuesday, October 27, 2009 Cardinal Pell: Rome-Bound? B16's weekend integration of Cardinal Peter Turkson into his top team was just the latest instance of this pontificate's significant trait for drawing senior Curialists from among the ranks of diocesan bishops. For the record, that's Joseph Ratzinger's keen commentary on a longstanding complaint of ordinaries the world over -- namely, that the Roman Curia had enjoyed a too-heavy hand in the oversight of their local churches during the reigns of his recent predecessors. Almost five years since his election, nearly three-fifths of Benedict's picks to head the global church's 24 cabinet ministries -- ten of the 17 he's named -- have come from the trenches... and with Turkson's appointment now finally put to bed, one of Australia's leading papers is running buzz that Down Under's leading churchman could be next:    Catholic circles in Rome and Australia are abuzz with speculation that Pope Benedict XVI will shortly appoint Australia's Cardinal George Pell to a prestigious job in the top echelons of the Roman Curia.    Cardinal Pell's experience as Archbishop of Sydney and Melbourne, and his service on a range of Vatican organisations, is seen as an ideal background to take on a senior Vatican job.    Cardinal Pell, who was ordained in 1966, served as a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith when Cardinal Ratzinger was in charge.    He is also a member of the Congregation for Divine Worship and president of the Vox Clara Committee, which advises the Vatican on English translations of liturgical texts used at Mass.    One possible senior job becoming vacant in Rome is the powerful position of Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, which helps advise the Pope on the appointment of new bishops across the world.    Its Prefect, Cardinal Battista Re, who has held the job since 2000, reached the retirement age of 75 this year. Tip to Insight Scoop. To be sure, speculation on a potential Pell-to-Rome move has been bandied about since the weeks following last summer's World Youth Day in Sydney; talk linking the fiercely outspoken prelate to the Bishops post was reported on these pages last March. As one Oz op put it at the time, Pell "has done everything you could do here," indicating that the 68 year-old cardinal -- who once famously remarked that he didn't "think a Christian can say 'I’m a lover, not a fighter'" -- isn't one to rest on his laurels. On a related note, only in recent days were the traditional post-WYD papal honors conferred on several of the top planners behind Sydney's staging of the church's "Olympic event." In its report, the Australian already took to proffering two potential successors to Pell at the helm of the 580,000-member Sydneyside church; Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Canberra, a former Melbourne auxiliary and lead player on the Roman Missal project, and the Oxford-trained Sydney auxiliary Antony Fisher, a onetime barrister, leading moral theologian and Pell protege long seen as a rising star of the English-speaking church worldwide. That said, Fisher earned scorn during WYD's first days by characterizing the family of a dead abuse victim who garnered a high profile in the event's run-up as "dwelling crankily on old wounds." In the incident's aftermath, the 50 year-old prelate maintained that he was taken out of context, terming the quote's fallout "very hard." "It taught me not to criticise the media," Fisher told a local paper, "because they’ll get you back." Since the internationalization of the Curia began in earnest under Paul VI, there is a history of Australians serving in top Vatican posts; a former archbishop of Melbourne -- Oz's largest diocese -- Cardinal James Knox ran two dicasteries (including the Congregation for Divine Worship) before his 1983 death, and Cardinal Edward Cassidy held the influential post of Sostituto in the Secretariat of State before becoming head of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in 1990. (Now 85, Cassidy chose to retire to his homeland.) The latter's successor at the ecumenical office, Cardinal Walter Kasper, is one of four Curial heads currently serving past the retirement age; alongside Re, Cardinals Franc Rode (prefect of the "Congregation for Religious") and Paul Josef Cordes (president of Cor Unum, which handles humanitarian affairs) both turned 75 last month. Translation (automatic) English German « Sans Dieu nous ne sommes rien », affirme le cardinal George Pell Oct 08, 2009 Intervention de l'archevêque de Sydney au « Festival des idées dangereuses » ROME, Mardi 6 octobre 2009 (ZENIT.org) - C'est dans des guerres culturelles - la défense de la vie, du mariage, de la famille - que se trouve, pour beaucoup, l'origine de la haine de Dieu et de la religion, estime le cardinal George Pell, archevêque de Sydney, en Australie. Le cardinal Pell a participé le week-end dernier au « Festival des idées dangereuses » qui s'est déroulé à l'Opera House de Sydney, en présence notamment de l'écrivain britannique anti-religieux Christopher Hitchens dont l'intervention avait pour thème « La religion empoisonne tout », et de la féministe Germaine Greer qui a parlé de la liberté comme « la plus dangereuse des idées ». Dans son intervention, le cardinal Pell a expliqué, selon un communiqué de l'archidiocèse de Sydney, que « l'absence de Dieu dans le débat australien ne relève généralement pas d'une quelconque théorie politique de langue anglaise, mais est davantage due à l'hostilité laïque contre le christianisme ». « Il arrive souvent que Dieu soit englobé dans l'hostilité laïque envers la défense par les chrétiens de la vie humaine, en particulier au début et à la fin, la défense du mariage, de la famille et le rapport de la sexualité à l'amour et à la vie », a-t-il expliqué. « C'est là, dans ces guerres culturelles, que se trouve, pour beaucoup, l'origine de la haine de Dieu et de la religion, tandis que la nouvelle violence d'une minorité de terroristes islamistes a offert aux laïcs occidentaux de nouvelles raisons d'attaquer toutes les religions. Toutefois, il est beaucoup moins dangereux de s'en prendre aux chrétiens ! » a fait observer le cardinal Pell. Même s'ils sont nombreux, notamment parmi les anti-théistes et les provocateurs, à voir encore en Dieu un ennemi, les récents développements de la physique et de la biologie plaident en faveur de Dieu, premier mathématicien, a expliqué le cardinal australien. Le cardinal George Pell a déclaré qu'il est impossible d'accéder à Dieu dans le cadre de la science, car Dieu est en dehors de l'espace et du temps. Citant Antony Flew, philosophe athée notoire, très influent, qui a changé d'avis et proclame qu'il y a un Dieu, le cardinal Pell a affirmé que lorsque nous étudions l'interaction de corps physiques, tels que les particules sous-atomiques, nous faisons de la science. Quand nous nous demandons comment et pourquoi ces particules existent, nous dépassons la physique pour entrer dans la métaphysique, nous faisons de la philosophie. « Je le répète, le Dieu qui est au coeur du débat n'est pas un Dieu des ‘trous' (vides), pas un Dieu qui est là pour colmater les trous existant dans notre connaissance scientifique actuelle, qui pourraient être remplis plus tard, au fur et à mesure des progrès de la science », a insisté le cardinal Pell. « C'est l'ensemble de l'univers qui n'a pas d'explication par lui-même, y compris l'infrastructure et des éléments que nous comprenons scientifiquement. » Le cardinal Pell a déclaré qu'il prévoit la popularité mondiale future de Dieu, rien qu'à observer les tendances actuelles qui montrent que la Chine pourrait bien, d'ici la fin du 21e siècle, compter la population chrétienne la plus nombreuse du monde. Le cardinal Pell a enfin confié qu'il est toujours intrigué par le fait que tant de gens dans le monde occidental aujourd'hui sont incapables de croire, notamment ceux qui de par leur culture sont attachés au christianisme et au judaïsme. « Pour moi, c'est une question trop importante pour être l'objet de polémiques ou pour se faire plaisir, » a-t-il déclaré. « Je continuerai à croire en un seul vrai Dieu, parce que je maintiens qu'aucun athée ne peut expliquer le sourire d'un enfant ». « Contre ceci, le tsunami nous rappelle également brutalement le problème de la souffrance des innocents. Mais une telle souffrance est pire s'il n'y a rien après la vie pour contrebalancer les degrés de malheur et d'injustice, et pire encore s'il n'y a pas d'innocence ou de culpabilité, ni bien ni mal, si tout a l'importance morale de l'écume sur la vague. Sans Dieu, nous ne sommes rien », a conclu le cardinal. Translation (automatic) English Cardenal Pell preside en Sydney Misa "por la vida" con mujeres embarazadas Aug 13, 2009 SYDNEY, 10 Ago. 09 / 02:42 pm (ACI) El Arzobispo de Sydney (Australia), Cardenal George Pell, presidió este domingo en la basílica de St. Mary una "Misa por la Vida", en homenaje a las mujeres que esperan un hijo. La Misa, que se celebra por segunda vez, contó con la presencia de más de 150 futuras madres que, al final de la celebración, recibieron cada una la bendición personal del Purpurado. "El Cardenal desea así rendir homenaje al don extraordinario de una nueva vida y a la disponibilidad de la mujeres de ser portadoras de esta vida", señaló Chris Meney, Director del Centro para el Matrimonio y la Familia de la Arquidiócesis de Sydney. La idea de la Misa, surgida en enero de 2008, le vino al Cardenal Pell durante su visita a Seúl (Corea del Sur), donde fue el primer personaje mundial en recibir el "Mysterium Vitae Grand Prix Award de la Arquidiócesis de Seúl por su compromiso a favor de la vida, especialmente por el establecimiento de un fondo de 100 mil dólares para sostener la investigación de células estaminales adultas en Australia. Allí el Cardenal Pell conoció esta Misa que la Arquidiócesis coreana realiza todos los años, y decidió llevar la iniciativa a su país. Translation (automatic) English El cardenal Pell ofrece 100000 dólares más para investigar con células adultas Jul 14, 2009 MADRID- George Pell, cardenal arzobispo de Sydney (Australia), ha ofrecido cien mil dólares australianos (55.862 euros) para proyectos de investigación médica en Australia que usen células madre adultas. No es la primera vez que lo hace: en 2003 financió con 50.000 dólares australianos investigaciones contra el Parkinson con células de la nariz, en 2005 dedicó cien mil dólares a investigar con células de la piel para regenerar tejidos quemados y en 2007 otros cien mil dólares para investigar cómo crear neuronas que ayuden en derrames cerebrales. «Los avances en células madre adultas sobrepasan cualquier cosa que se haya conseguido con células embrionarias», ha dicho el cardenal, que condena la destrucción de embriones humanos en investigación. «Cada vida humana merece plena protección de la ley, y eso incluye a los miembros más pequeños de la familia humana», afirma. Kevin Rudd con el Papa El anuncio ha coincidido con la visita del primer ministro australiano, Kevin Rudd, a Benedicto XVI, quien le regaló una copia de su encíclica «Caritas in veritate». Rudd le dio un vino australiano y un documento por el que el Gobierno de la isla-continente pide perdón a sus aborígenes por pasados abusos. www.larazon.es Translation (automatic) English Pell e l'AIDS: i porci voleranno. Apr 29, 2009 Un'intervista del cardinale arcivescovo di Sidney sulla polemica seguita alla dichiarazione di Benedetto XVI nel volo verso l'Africa. Torno a distanza di tempo sull'argomento che ci ha intrattenuto tanto per offrire alcuni brani di un'intervista che il cardinale Pell (arcivescovo di Sidney, e probabile futuro Prefetto della Congregazione di Propaganda Fide) ha rilasciato a un giornale del suo paese sull'argomento. Non conosco personalmente il cardinale Pell, ma mi colpisce il suo modo così poco "clericale" di non aver paura dei mass media, e di dire quello che pensa in linguaggio chiaro e comprensibile. Ecco il testo. "Qualcuno ha persino accusato i papi, specialmente Giovanni Paolo II, di aver fatto di più per spargere l’Aids di quanto hanno fatto il settore del trasporto su ruote e la prostituzione messi insieme. Accusare la dottrina cattolica per la diffusione dell’ HIV/AIDS richiede la prova che quelli che seguono il primo requisito essenziale del Cattolicesimo, cioè una vita casta all’interno e prima del matrimonio stanno ancora morendo di AIDS. I porci voleranno prima che quell’accusa possa essere provata. Altri suggeriscono un’altra variante della linea anti cattolica, e cioè che i Cristiani che si rifiutano di obbedire all’insegnamento cattolico contro l’adulterio, la fornicazione e i rapporti omosessuali seguono ancora l’insegnamento cattolico contro l’uso dei condoms. La verità può essere più strana della fiction, ma gente di questo tipo sarebbe davvero rara. Molti uomini rifiutano l’uso del condom perché non lo amano. Persone infette che sono pronte a mettere a rischio la salute del proprio partner non è probabile che diano un secondo di attenzione all’insegnamento cattolico sui condoms. L’evidenza empirica attuale dall’Africa e da altrove conferma la dichiarazione del Papa. Edward C. Green è uno scienziato anziano della ricerca alla Scuola di Sanità Pubblica di Harvard negli Stati Uniti e direttore del Progetto di Ricerca e Prevenzione dell’AIDS laggiù. Harvard è uno dei migliori centri di ricerca medica nel mondo. Green è un liberal che sostiene l’uso del condom come una strategia di back up. Non è contro i condom e pensa che il condom, come la contraccezione, sia un simbolo di libertà e di emancipazione femminile. Crede che la promozione del condom abbia funzionato in Tailandia e Cambogia dove l’HIV si trasmette soprattutto grazie al commercio del sesso. Ma di recente Green ha detto: “Il Papa ha ragione, o per dire meglio, la miglio evidenza di cui disponiamo conferma I commenti del Papa”. Un altro fattore è che la gente in relazioni stabili in Africa usa di rado il condom perché farlo implicherebbe una mancanza di fiducia. Il programma autonomamente creato in Uganda, che sottolinea la necessità di “fedeltà a un solo partner”, e “niente brucare qua e là”, e “amare fedelmente” ha portato tali progressi che programmi simili sono stati avviati in Swaziland e in Botswana. In Africa e altrove la risposta alle malattie trasmesse sessualmente comincia con la fedeltà reciproca e l’astinenza, specialmente fra I giovani non sposati. La purezza del cuore è centrale". www.lastampa.it Translation (automatic) English Pell: inchiesta sui Legionari Mar 19, 2009 Il cardinale di Sidney, di cui si parla come di un prossimo responsbile di un importante dicastero vaticano, propone una "visita apostolica" per la Legione di Cristo. Il cardinale di Sidney, George Pell di cui si parla come di un possible candidato a un ruolo di grande importanza nella Curia romana, ha dichiarato pubblicamente che è necessario un intervento esterno per affrontare la crisi che ha colpito la Legione di Cristo. Il porporato, famoso per la sua franchezza, è il primo esponente di rilievo della Chiesa a esprimere un’opinione che però è stata condivisa da molti, nel mondo anglosassone, e fra gli altri dallo storico della Chiesa George Weigel. Pell parlava a Oxford; e ha detto che un’autorità esterna alla Legione dovrebbe investigare sulla persona del fondatore, e riesaminare il carisma dell’organizzazione. I suoi commenti seguivano la rivelazione del fatto che padre Marcial Maciel, che è morto l’anno scorso, aveva una relazione segreta con una donna da cui aveva avuto una figlia. Il cardinale ha detto che non era “interamente ragionevole” aspettarsi che il vertice della Legione possa gestire la situazione nata da queste rivelazioni senza un aiuto esterno. “Credo che dovrebbe esserci un intervento, forse una Visita apostolica o qualche cosa del genere. Non conosco quali sono gli elementi del problema, la presunta corruzione, se questo è il termine giusto, da parte del fondatore, fino a che punto c’è stata una copertura, fino a che punto l’intero quadro dell’ordine dovrebbe essere rivisto, ma credo che dovrebbe essere affidato a un ente eccelsiastico fuori della Legione”. Pell ha detto che c’è “una quantità enorme di persone buone fra i Legionari, fra i loro membri, i seminaristi e i laici”. Il movimento laico “Regnum Christi” conta circa settantamila aderenti in tutto il mondo. Il vetrice della Legione è venuto a conoscenza, secondo quanto è stato detto, alcuni mesi fa della doppia vita del fondatore, e ha cercato di informare i suoi membri prima che la notizia diventasse di dominio pubblico. La reazione è stata molto forte. I ritratti di padre Maciel sono stati rimossi dai seminari, e membri della Legione hanno espresso il loro dolore e shock in messaggi on line. E l’attuale leader della Legione, padre Alvaro Corcuera, è stato criticato da alcuni membri della Legione per non aver fornito dettagli più ampi sulla “corruzione” di padre Maciel. Translation (automatic) English Il Cardinale Pell: cristiani discriminati e minacciati in Occidente Mar 19, 2009 I credenti non devono essere “una minoranza meramente tollerata” LONDRA, mercoledì, 11 marzo 2009 (ZENIT.org).- il Cardinale George Pell, Arcivescovo di Sydney (Australia), ha affermato che la Chiesa cattolica in Occidente è perseguitata e discriminata dal laicismo in un intervento alla Oxford University Newman Society il cui contenuto è stato raccolto da “L'Osservatore Romano”. Il porporato, che ha offerto una conferenza sull'intolleranza, ha spiegato che affrontare l'intolleranza religiosa è uno dei compiti cruciali dei cristiani nel XXI secolo, osservando che “i cristiani devono riscoprire il coraggio se devono affrontare questo problema. Devono riscoprire il loro talento per dimostrare che esistono stili di vita migliori per edificare una buona società”. Questa intolleranza, ha osservato, deriva dalla nuova e pericolosa tendenza all'uso di leggi antidiscriminazione e di rivendicazione dei diritti umani che attaccano il ruolo della religione nella vita pubblica. Per il Cardinale, l'aumento dell'intolleranza ha portato a rafforzare il conformismo e a privare il cristianesimo della forza della sua testimonianza pubblica. La Chiesa cattolica in Occidente, ha riconosciuto, è sotto pressione perché “l'intimidazione e l'emarginazione nei confronti dei cristiani vengono passate sotto silenzio”. A questo proposito, ha ricordato gli atti di vandalismo contro le comunità cristiane della California, che si sono opposte alla legge sul matrimonio omosessuale. “In una democrazia sana le persone dovrebbero essere libere di discutere e criticare le convinzioni degli altri. La reciprocità è essenziale, ma i laici sembrano preferire strade a senso unico”, ha affermato il Cardinale Pell. “I credenti non dovrebbero essere trattati dai Governi come una minoranza meramente tollerata e destabilizzante, i cui diritti devono sempre essere al secondo posto rispetto alle istanze laiche”, ha concluso. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Interview with Cardinal George Pell Oct 10, 2008 Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia, is one of three co-presidents of the Synod of Bishops on the Bible, which means that he alternates with Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer of São Paulo, Brazil, in presiding over each session. Interview with Cardinal George Pell All Things Catholic By John L Allen Jr Created Oct 10 2008 Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia, is one of three co-presidents of the Synod of Bishops on the Bible, which means that he alternates with Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer of São Paulo, Brazil, in presiding over each session. [Among other things, it also means Pell shares responsibility for tracking attendance; as we were making our way out of the parking lot in front of the synod hall on Friday afternoon, Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga pulled Pell aside to tell him he would be absent the next day because he was scheduled to ordain new priests. “That sounds like a great thing to do,” Pell cheerily replied.] Pell, 67, has a reputation as a staunch defender of Catholic orthodoxy in the highly secular milieu of Sydney, which has given him a high public profile and also made him something of a lightning rod. In July, he hosted Pope Benedict XVI in Sydney for celebration of the Catholic church's World Youth Day. Pell is also the chair of the Vox Clara Commission, which advises the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship on the translation of liturgical texts into English. On Friday, Oct. 10, Pell sat down for an interview about the Synod of Bishops. The following is a complete transcript, which also includes comments from Pell about the possible canonization of Pope Pius XII. Let’s start with a question I’m sure many people outside Rome may be asking. The global economy is in meltdown, there’s a crucial election looming in the United States, violence continues to rage in Iraq and elsewhere. In the context of all this, why should anyone care what’s happening at the Synod of Bishops? That’s an interesting question. In a time of difficulty like this, it highlights what are for us the central religious concerns. We’re not a political party, and we’re not a welfare agency. We’re not primarily interested in money. We’re interested in the call to conversion, and we affirm the importance of an afterlife, of reward and punishment after this life. Most people in times of upheaval look at the most important things in their lives – their family, love, God – the essential things. Their concern for these things is generally strengthened in moments of crisis. Sometimes people lose their faith in the midst of suffering, but in any event, these essential questions are seen in a new light as empires crumble around us. Do you think the synod will have anything to say about the economic crisis? The only thing we can say is to repeat the central teachings of Christ. When men and women over-reach themselves, when they set out to be totally autonomous, to be like God, trouble often follows. Also, greed is one of the seven deadly sins. Both McCain and Obama have pointed out that greed is one element of what caused the current troubles. There was reckless risk-taking to get a cut, to boost profits. A classic example of this came with one of the companies that recently folded, which wanted billions in a bailout, but apparently one of their non-negotiables was over $400 million for the chief executives. Well, that seems to me to be a classical example of misdirected ambitions. Would the concluding message be a place for the synod fathers to say a word about the crisis? The financial crisis is enormously complicated, and I would hope that we don’t attempt to say too much. You’ve really got to know what you’re talking about on these matters if you’re going to say something sensible. I think we can call for a return to the central moral teachings of the Christian message, our central personal concerns. As far as the specifics of the economic situation, I don’t anticipate that the synod would say anything extensive, and I would be very keen that if we do say something, it make good financial sense as well as good religious sense. What are the most important issues at stake in the synod? I’ve been to a number of synods … I think this is my fifth. I would say the synod is going along very sedately and securely. I’d say there’s less division in this synod than in any synod I’ve been to. We’re all in favor of the Word of God, we’re all in favor of treating it as a foundation of inspiration, we’re all in favor of trying to help people be enriched by it. There’s a lot of discussion about lectio divina, there’s a lot about small communities being regularly nourished by their prayerful reading of the scriptures. There’s been no great debate about whether scripture and tradition make up one source or two, no dissension from a recognition that the Word of God, and the scriptures, come from within the church. That second point is important. The scriptures, under the inspiration of the Spirit, were written by early members of the church. It was the church, over hundreds of years, which recognized what books make up the canon of the scriptures. These sorts of considerations are often forgotten by the Protestant sects. I think it was St. Augustine who said that he only came to believe in Christ after he came to believe in the church, because we only know about Christ because of the reliable witness of the church. There’s a number of other things I hope will be taken up [by the synod]. One thing I’m going to mention is the importance of Bible translations. In Asia and Africa, especially with the local languages, this is a major problem. It’s been mentioned already, but I’m going to support the idea that an Institute for Biblical Translation be set up, especially for those in Asia and Africa. In an ideal world, it would be a post-graduate institute. In Rome? It could be anywhere, although Rome would be one good place for it. It would offer post-graduate study of the scriptures. It might be people who are writers in their local language, and don’t have the time to study the scripture. That’s a significant challenge. You’re talking about an institute for translation, not for exegesis? Yes, that’s correct, specifically for translators. That would be useful even in the European languages. You’ve had some experience with translation issues, working with the Vox Clara Commission. I suppose that’s focused my attention on this issue. We’ve got a particular problem there, because the number of people who really understand Latin is vastly reduced. There hasn’t been a similar reduction in the number of people who know Biblical languages. Nonetheless, translation is an exact science, and it takes people who know what they’re doing. Is it fair to say that the emphasis in this synod is more pastoral than doctrinal? Yes, I think very explicitly so. That’s the ambition. It’s very difficult to discern any significant doctrinal tensions. If there aren’t tensions, are there areas of doctrinal consensus – for example, the need for a method of exegesis that goes beyond historical-critical study, or the importance of seeing scripture and tradition as interdependent? Rather than being debated, are these ideas basically assumed? Yes, that’s right. There have been a number of calls for a closing of the gap between exegetes and pastors. Are you hearing any ideas about how to do that? Not many. There’s been quite a lot of talk about the spiritual sense of scripture, the tradition of exegesis going back to the fathers. But no, I haven’t really heard any new strategies along these lines. Several bishops – Cardinal Ouellet in his opening relation, Cardinal Pengo, Cardinal Vingt-Trois – have talked about a gap between exegetes and the magisterium. Assuming that’s correct, what concretely can be done about it? It’s not just a gap between exegesis and the magisterium, but between exegesis and preaching and pastoral life in the parishes. One useful suggestion was made by Cardinal Francis George, and that was to ask the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to put out something on inerrancy. I think that could be useful, not just for the dialogue between experts and pastors, but also in speaking with young educated people. What issues would such a document treat? One issue is to make clear that saying the Bible is ‘inspired’ is not necessarily the same thing as claiming that it’s universally inerrant, in every way. So the challenge is to present the Bible as fundamental without being fundamentalists? I’d agree with that. We are committed to fundamentals, but we’re not fundamentalists. One of the easier areas to delineate is the scientific competence of the Bible, such as evolution … whether, and to what extent, the Bible is talking in a scientific language in any sense at all. So we can affirm the creation accounts in the Bible as ‘true’ without ending up in creationism? It depends on what you mean by ‘creationism,’ but yes, basically, that’s right. We’re not obliged to believe that the world was created in seven days. Obviously, we’re not compelled to accept the cosmology of the Book of Genesis. A document on inerrancy would treat these questions? It would have to. I’m not sure we’re in a position to have an enormously comprehensive document, but there are a few points, perhaps more than a few firm points, that would be helpful to make. What does it mean to say that the scripture teaches truth? Probably the scientific side of things is easier than some of the historical issues. We are a historical religion, so we’re committed to some basic claims. For example, this historicity of Jesus’ life, the fact that he lived, died, and rose again. Then you’ve got all the difficult questions that spill over into the Old Testament, and I’m no expert in those areas. But I think it might be useful [to produce such a document], not only for theologians but for the pastoral world, in attempting to explain the Bible to educated young Western people. At the level of the local church, will anything come out of the synod about how the gap between exegetes and pastors can be bridged? Well, people have referred quite a bit to the relationship between the Catechism and scriptures. The Congregation for Worship is working on a document, or a handbook, which will set out a doctrinal framework over the three years of the Lectionary. It could be a comprehensive treatment of all the basic Christian themes tied in with the readings. The motive would be so that people would have a systematic coverage of essential topics [over three years]. The charge is often made that sermons today reflect a fairly individual selection of topics, perhaps just using the Bible as a springboard. Sometimes sermons avoid controversial topics, hard Christian teachings. For example, birth control? Yes, but even more basically than that, I wonder how many sermons you’d hear on hell … or, to put it a little more politically correctly, reward and punishment after death. It’s a special difficulty given the age range of people in many congregations, but I wonder how many sermons you’d hear on sexuality, marriage, and the family. The document from the Congregation for Worship will give preachers resources for engaging some of these delicate topics? Yes, and map out a comprehensive set of topics. There’s been a lot of talk at the synod about the weakness of preaching. Do you think things are as bad as it sounds? No, I don’t. I can speak primarily about Australia. I was pleasantly surprised in some of the survey’s we’ve done of church-goers to find a high level of satisfaction with the homilies. Now, you might say the survey is skewed because we’re not asking the people who aren’t there, and it’s possible some people don’t go because they don’t like the homily. But I was pleased and slightly surprised by the approval rating of sermons in Australia among church-goers, and I don’t think that would all be explained by loyalty to their local priest. One thing I can say, without any fear of contradiction, is that there’s immense variety in the Catholic world. There’s immense variety in my diocese, in terms of levels of affluence, educational levels, ethnicity, level of church practice, and so on. These are multiplied ad infinitum across the Catholic world. It’s difficult to generalize about anything, including the quality of preaching. Bishop Kicanas mused aloud about declaring 2009 a ‘Year of Preaching.’ What did you make of that? It’s an interesting idea. How much will come of it, I just don’t know, but it’s a good idea. Is there a risk of asking the homily to carry more weight than it’s meant to bear? Yes, and I also think there’s also a danger that we will invest the sacred scriptures with more tasks than they were designed to carry. Newman said something like the scriptures weren’t written to offer a program of conversion, but to preserve the memory of the person of Christ and his teaching. I’ve been thinking about the World Youth Day ‘Way of the Cross’ in Sydney, which was just a public re-enactment of it, and which was a spectacular success. I think that in this new media age, we need the equivalent of the medieval mystery plays, without all the traditional distractions. I’ll probably also say [in the synod] that at the time of the Reformation, we weren’t the first to have catechisms, we were slow into the vernacular, and we were slow to put scripture into the hands of the people. We don’t want to make the same mistake with the new media. In some ways, haven’t we already made that mistake? Often Evangelicals and Pentecostals are much more media-savvy about how to bring the Bible to life, aren’t they? Yes, that’s probably true. But there are good things happening … the Canadian “Salt and Light” network, EWTN in the United States. This world is developing. In Australia, we’ve just set up an interactive web site called “Xt3,” meaning “Christ in the Third Millennium.” It’s got 30,000 members world-wide. Especially for young adults who are in parishes, where they might find themselves a bit isolated, they can get together with friends who have similar interests. Your point is that promotion of the Bible shouldn’t come at the expense of creative new modes of evangelization? Exactly. Let me ask a deliberately provocative question. At the time of the Reformation, some Catholic voices warned that setting the Bible loose on the world would be dangerous. Several speakers at this synod have complained precisely that exegesis and even individual spiritual reading of the Bible has been cut off from the church’s broader tradition. In effect, are you saying those Counter-Reformers who opposed private reading of scripture were right? No, not at all. Anything you do always has an element of danger, but the church has been enormously enriched by access to the scriptures and study of the scriptures. I remember working with an elderly nun who’s quite a bit older than me, and she told me that when she started out in the convent they didn’t even have their own Bible. They weren’t supposed to. That’s where we’ve come from, and that was wrong. These days you can grab a Bible at any supermarket, in hotel rooms, or on the Internet, but lots of folks aren’t coming to church – so how do you encourage them to read the Bible in the context of the church? You do it by using other means of communication, trying to reach them through the public media one way or another. Priests, bishops, and Christian leaders need to talk publicly on public issues, drawing attention to what Catholic teaching, what Biblical teaching, actually is. One of the things that has scandalized me, although there’s a certain logic to it, is that in the big Evangelical gatherings in Australia – when they get thousands of people together to pray, often young people – is that they don’t have any formal reading of the scriptures. I’m shocked, and a little bit scandalized by that. The preaching and the hymns are full of scriptural references, but they don ‘t have formal reading of the scriptures. I think that’s definitely a mistake, but it’s an implicit recognition, perhaps, that the simple, stark, and pure presentation of the written Word of God, by itself, isn’t enough. You’re saying that at a strategic level, modern Evangelical and Pentecostal movements are no longer sola scriptura? They’re not, because they use all sorts of modern gimmicks and tap into all sorts of contemporary sensibilities … one of which, sometimes, is money. The other point is that as a theological matter, the sola scriptura argument is intrinsically unintelligible. It seems to presume that an angel wrote the scriptures, or that Jesus did, or that they dropped from heaven. In fact, church people produced them. Here’s another provocative question. Probably the most commercially successful presentation of Biblical imagery in recent times has been Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. You may not like it, but it was an undeniably compelling presentation of Biblical themes in popular culture. Yet so far in the synod, the only reference to The Da Vinci Code has come in a footnote to Cardinal Ouellet’s opening speech. Does that suggest the synod is out of touch with the real world? What Brown did wasn’t exegesis, it was eisegesis [reading into the Bible], and it was shockingly flippant stuff. I almost think it’s a sign of the seriousness of the synod that we haven’t spent too much time on Dan Brown! But don’t writers like Brown have impact on shaping how a lot of people think about the Bible? Don’t you have some obligation to engage that? A number of people have spoken about a ‘new Gnosticism,’ and Dan Brown is an example of a kind of popular Gnosticism … you take a bit from here, a bit from there, and so on. To be honest, this is probably more of a problem for those of us in the prosperous Western world. Many of the bishops from other parts of the world are very much enmeshed in their local situations, which have nothing to do with Dan Brown. One of the big things coming from India, for example, is the persecution Indian Christians are experiencing. What will be fascinating is how it puts a new dimension to inter-religious dialogue, when some of the people you’re keen to dialogue with, and to emphasize how much you have in common with, are persecuting you. Here’s another point that seems to be missing so far from synod discussions – the difference between a Western and a non-Western way of reading the Bible. For the Western mind, the thought-world of the Bible, the whole concept of the supernatural, is often a bit alien, whereas it’s often more congenial for non-Westerners. Has that come up at all? No, not really. One of the Filipino bishops, a very capable man, [Archbishop] Orlando Quevedo, who’s secretary of the Asian bishops’ conference, talked about how the relativist-secularist mindset from the West is coming in throughout Asia, through television and so on, and the impact it’s having on their local religious sensibility. In a globalized world, is secularism destined to spread? So far, it hasn’t worked like that among the people. In most parts of the [non-Western] world that I have visited, the local people have been totally unimpressed by progressive Western thinking. Today, Africa, Asia and Latin America are home to two-thirds of the Catholics in the world, and by mid-century that number will be three-quarters. Is there some reason to hope that the rise of the south will affect Biblical exegesis in the church? I don’t know. I think our pastoral life will be affected, and already is. In Australia, here in Europe, and other places, there are quite a lot of priests from Africa and Asia. Generally, they’re pretty straight up and down theologically. It will depend upon to what extent schools of theology develop significantly. Liberation theology in South America is one example, and there’s been some take-up of it in the Philippines. There’s been a whole movement for inculturation in India, though it will be interesting to see how that pans out in this new climate of persecution. As far as Biblical exegesis goes, I’d be a bit skeptical. I think so many of our educated Westerners would be immune to those manifestations of simple faith. When all is said and done, what are you hoping for from this synod? I’m not sure how many practical proposals that will be effective in different parts of the world will come out of it. One of the most consoling things about the synod will be the devotion of all the people at the synod to the Word of God which is in the scriptures, and their determination in a whole host of different ways to continuing spreading the Word of God and getting people to follow it more closely. Rather than a program, it will give us an impulse? That’s probably better put than anything I was about to say! I think that’s nicely put, because the situation in the church is so ferociously different [in various parts of the world]. We heard from the bishop of Chad this morning, where they’ve had forty years of war. The Catholic people are still being attacked by marauding Muslim Berbers. We heard a beautiful story from a Latvian priest, who during Soviet times was asked to spit on the Bible. Instead, he knelt down and kissed it, and they put him in jail. When he came back to the parish and read the first gospel, he held it up and said, ‘This is the Word of God.’ The people wept. They weren’t allowed to cheer, because that would have been a provocation and they all could have ended up in jail, but they wept. It’s a beautiful story. One of the things that’s clear to me, as a Westerner, is the importance of devoting money and resources to the translation of the scriptures into local languages, in Africa and Asia in particular. Do you have any fears about the synod? I don’t have any particular fears. Perhaps one of the hopes I do have is based on the fact that the pope is an absolutely splendid teacher and he’s steeped in the scriptures, so no matter what we give him from the synod, whatever he comes out with will be much better! I also think the synod is significant for the visit of Rabbi Cohen and for the visit that’s going to happen of Patriarch Bartholomew I. Both of those moments are of long-term significance. What did you make of what Rabbi Cohen had to say about Pius XII? I’m a long-time admirer of Pius XII. I wrote an article on Hochhuth’s play [“The Deputy,” accusing Pius of silence during the Holocaust] soon after it came out back in the 1960s. We now know he was put up to that by the East German Communists, and it’s so unfortunate that a lot of the line he ran then has been taken up. As a bishop and a cardinal, I can’t help thinking how the cards that were dealt to Pius XII were so terrible … the rise of fascism, the Second World War, and then after the war the rise of communism. Are you in favor of declaring Pius XII a saint? Yes, I am. Immediately? I can’t see any reason to hurry. We have to let the process run its course. But in deference to Jewish sensibilities, do you think it ought to be delayed? No, I think this is unfortunately one case where Jewish sensibilities are a bit misdirected. It was an appalling time, but more Jews survived in Italy than anywhere else, and especially in Rome. The whole Dutch experience, when the bishops there spoke out [and the Nazis rounded up Jews in reprisal], shows the real danger that more explicit condemnations would have been not just counter-productive, but almost self-indulgent. You mean the pope would have eased his conscience at the expense of Jewish lives and the lives of others? Yes, exactly. Even some defenders of Pius XII, however, would argue that now is not the right time to declare him a saint because of the damage it would do to Catholic/Jewish relations. I can’t see any reason for undue delay. Certainly we don’t need to hurry or be provocative, but we also don’t need to drag it out. I’m a long-term friend of the Jewish community, and one of the characteristics of friends is that you can speak the truth charitably to one another. You don’t think the climate would be more serene 100 years from now? After all, if he’s a saint, he’s already in heaven. He’s not waiting on a declaration from the pope. I’m not sure it would be fair to Pius to wait 100 years. That might be an implicit judgment that in some way he was guilty of not doing more. If he’s innocent, he deserves to be declared so, and I think that should follow the normal process. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese WYD Sydney's success is principally religious, says Cardinal Pell Sept 05, 2008 One month after the end of World Youth Day in Australia, the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell underscored that the success of the event is not only related to the numbers of those who attended, but above all to the spiritual and religious fruits that were achieved. Rome, Aug 21, 2008 / 03:02 pm (CNA).- In an interview with the L’Osservatore Romano, the cardinal explained, “We cannot be certain about how the divine economy operates, but the response to the Via Crucis showed the spiritual power of Christ our Lord and his redemptive history.” Cardinal Pell expressed thanks for the economic support given to WYD and for the numerous initiatives aimed at welcoming young people from all over the world to Australia, including young people who traveled to WYD for the first time from countries such as Papua New Guinea. After noting that a recent poll showed that 80% of the inhabitants of Sydney said they were happy to see so many young Catholics in their city, the cardinal praised the Australian media’s positive coverage of the visit of Pope Benedict XVI.  The Pontiff, he said, conveys a “tranquil nature that reveals a good and gentle man, at peace with himself and with the world around him.” “People said they had the feeling he was taking to them personally.  Benedict XVI was happy and thankful for the official and public cordiality that was shown to him, and he was perhaps a bit surprised at the depth of faith he found,” the cardinal added. He said that he used important ornaments during WYD, such as the pectoral cross of the first Archbishop of Sydney, “the English Benedictine John Bede Polding, and the staff of the first Australian cardinal, Francis Patrick Moran, of Irish origin,” as a way of “keeping the heritage of our Church’s faith alive.” Cardinal Pell wished success upon the Spaniards who will be hosting the next WYD.  “The faith of the Church in Australia has been strengthened by WYD and I am sure the same thing will take place in Spain.” Translation (automatic) English German Journées Mondiales de la Jeunesse, bilan du cardinal Pell Jul 23, 2008 Le 23 juillet 2008  - E.S.M. - Le Card. Pell a remercié les pèlerins, les volontaires, et le gouvernement australien, qui ont soutenu et rendu possible l’évènement des JMJ, mais aussi les citoyens de Sydney pour l’accueil réservé à Benoît XVI et aux jeunes du monde entier. Tous ont mis leur touche pour que “le doigt de Dieu écrive un nouveau chapitre de l’histoire de l’Australie”. “Des journées mémorables, dans une ville qui refleurit”: le Card. George Pell trace un bilan des JMJ “Ce sont des journées mémorables. C’est un beau moment pour être catholique. Des milliers de jeunes heureux ont rendu heureux le reste de la population. Les habitants de Sydney, catholiques ou non, ont pris à cœur les pèlerins et se sont offerts de les accueillir et de les aider. Je vois une cité qui refleurit”: c’est par ces paroles que le Card. George Pell, Archevêque de Sydney, a tracé un premier bilan des XXIIIe Journées mondiales de la jeunesse à peine achevées. L’Archevêque a manifesté toute sa joie et sa satisfaction pour un évènement qui a parfaitement réussi, qui a fait de Sydney pendant quelques jours “le centre du monde”, et qui a donné un élan remarquable au message chrétien en Océanie. Le Card. Pell a remercié les pèlerins, les volontaires, et le gouvernement australien, qui ont soutenu et rendu possible l’évènement des JMJ, mais aussi les citoyens de Sydney pour l’accueil réservé à Benoît XVI et aux jeunes du monde entier. Tous ont mis leur touche pour que “le doigt de Dieu écrive un nouveau chapitre de l’histoire de l’Australie”. Même le temps, démentant les prévisions qui parlaient de pluie pendant toute la semaine, “a été parfait”. Des éloges aussi à la police “qui a fait un excellent travail en usant de bon sens et de tact” en présence de lois spéciales adoptées pour les grands évènements comme les JMJ et les Jeux Olympiques. Selon le Cardinal, “L’accueil du Pape sur le quai de Barangaroo, le chemin de croix, la veillée, la messe finale et en particulier la joie exprimée sous de nombreuses formes par de très nombreux jeunes” resteront gravés dans le souvenir de la ville. Parmi les chiffres cités par le Cardinal Pell: 400.000 pèlerins étaient présents à la messe de clôture sur l’hippodrome de Randwick, des jeunes de 170 nations ont participé aux JMJ; 8.000 volontaires se sont occupés de la partie logistique et de l’organisation. L’Archevêque a souligné que le rassemblement de Randwick avait été le plus grand rassemblement de l’histoire australienne. Un autre record a été enregistré, dans les transmissions télématiques: en plus du site officiel en 4 langues www.wyd2008.org , parmi les plus visités du monde, d’autres services de web-vidéo ont rediffusé les images du Centre télévisé du Vatican, des plus grandes agences internationales, et de divers envoyés sur place. Le site www.wydcrossmedia.org, fruit de la convergence de plusieurs médias catholiques, a aussi apporté une riche contribution, avec de nombreux liens. Les JMJ de Sydney ont aussi bénéficié de “Youtube” qui, avec plus de 3.000 pages actives, s’est révélé un formidable moyen d’évangélisation par les nouveaux médias. Tous les articles sur les JMJ de Sydney 2008 ► Cliquer ici Source : Eucharistie Sacrement de la Miséricorde Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal: Pope's Meeting With Abuse Victims Positive Jul 21, 2008 Said They Were Grateful for Opportunity. SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 21, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal George Pell said the private pastoral visit Benedict XVI had with victims of sexual abuse by clergy was positive and particularly moving. The Pope celebrated Mass and had a meeting with four Australian victims of sexual abuse by clergy on Monday morning local time at St. Mary’s Cathedral House in Sydney. The Pontiff was in Australia to preside at the World Youth Day celebrations, which end Sunday. He left Monday evening for Rome. Cardinal Pell, the archbishop of Sydney, said the visit with four victims -- two men and two women aged 30 and over, chosen by the Professional Standards Office of New South Wales -- had been organized over a number of weeks. “We have a system to deal with these problems and [the Professional Standards office] do that, I believe, well and sensitively,” the cardinal said. “I was moved by the encounter," he added. "I think it will have a positive effect with the people that were there. The Pope repeated generally what he said so beautifully in public.” Benedict XVI expressed his deep sorrow for the suffering of sexual abuse victims during his homily at Mass on Saturday with Australian clergy. Departing from his prepared homily the Pope said, "Indeed, I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured, and I assure them that as their pastor, I too share in their suffering." When asked whether the victims offered any ideas on how the Church an better tackle clergy abuse, Cardinal Pell said: “The conversations were private; we’re always open to hear constructive, practical suggestions that will try to make this vexed and difficult situation better and we have to respect the decisions of the people who came along." He said the victims had the opportunity to "say whatever they wanted to the Pope, and he replied." The cardinal said some of the victims were from Sydney, but said it was “another matter” whether they still lived in there. Cardinal Pell added, “The people there were very grateful that they were there.” Translation (automatic) English French Predigt von Kardinal Pell zum Auftakt des 23. Weltjugendtages Jul 17, 2008 „Wir werden gute Frucht bringen, wenn wir die Sprache des Kreuzes lernen“. SYDNEY, 17. Juli 2008 (ZENIT.org).- „Viele haben ihre Berufung auf einem Weltjugendtag gefunden“, erklärte Kardinal George Pell am Dienstag in seiner Predigt während des großen Eröffnungsgottesdienstes zum 23. Weltjugendtag. „In dieser Woche haben wir alles Recht, über die Befreiung unserer Reue und die Erneuerung unseres Glaubens zu jubeln und dies zu feiern. Wir sind aufgerufen, unser Herz der Macht des Geistes zu öffnen.“ Wir veröffentlichen die Predigt des Erzbischofs von Sydney. *** Wir alle wissen, dass unser Herr Jesus Christus oft als der gute Hirte beschrieben wird, wie heute im Antwortpsalm. Es heißt, er führe uns auf grüne Auen, erfrische unseren Geist und schenke uns inneren Frieden. In der Entfaltung dieses Bildes erklärte Jesus, ein solcher Hirte sei bereit seine neunundneunzig Schafe zu verlassen, um dem einen nachzugehen, das er verloren hat. Es gibt heute nur wenige Länder, in denen ein Hirte nur für zwanzig oder dreißig Schafe sorgt. In Australien mit seinen großen Farmen und riesigen Herden ist der Rat unseres Herrn nicht besonders praktisch. Wenn das verlorene Schaf wertvoll und gesund ist, dann könnte es sinnvoll sein Zeit zu investieren, um es zu suchen. Aber in der Regel lässt man es zurück, bemerkt vielleicht gar nicht, dass es fehlt. Jesus sagt, dass Er und sein Vater nicht so sind, weil Er jedes seiner Schafe kennt und wie ein guter Vater ein verlorenes Schaf, das er liebt, sucht, besonders dann, wenn es krank ist oder in Not oder unfähig, sich selbst zu helfen. Am Beginn dieser Messe habe ich euch alle zum WJT willkommen geheißen und ich wiederhole meinen Willkommensgruß jetzt. Aber ich beginne nicht mit den neunundneunzig gesunden Schafen, jenen von euch, die schon offen sind für den Geist und vielleicht schon zuverlässige Zeugen für den Glauben und die Liebe sind. Ich beginne damit, jede und jeden zu begrüßen und zu ermutigen, der sich verloren fühlt, der unglücklich ist, dessen Hoffnung gering ist oder vielleicht sogar ganz am Ende. Jung oder alt, Frau oder Mann, Christus ruft immer noch jene, die leiden, zu sich, um sie zu heilen, so wie er das vor zweitausend Jahren getan hat. Die 2 Ursachen der Wunden sind zweitrangig, seien es Drogen, Alkohol, Zerrüttung der Familie, die Begierden des Fleisches, Einsamkeit, Tod – vielleicht sogar die Leere des Erfolges. Der Ruf Christi gilt allen, die leiden, nicht nur Katholiken oder Christen, sondern besonders jenen, die keine Religion haben. Christus ruft euch nach Hause: zur Liebe, zur Heilung, zur Gemeinschaft. Unsere erste Lesung war aus Ezechiel, der mit Jesaja und Jeremia zu den drei größten jüdischen Propheten gehört. Viele Teile Australiens leiden immer noch unter der Dürre, deswegen wissen alle Australier, was eine Ebene, übersät mit ausgetrockneten Gebeinen und Skeletten, bedeutet. Aber dieses düstere Bild ist für jeden gemeint, der auch nur in Versuchung ist zu sagen, „unsere Hoffnung ist fort, wir sind so gut wie gestorben“. Das ist niemals wahr, solange wir noch die Möglichkeit haben zu wählen. Wo es Leben gibt, gibt es auch immer die Möglichkeit der Hoffnung, und mit christlicher Hoffnung kommen auch Glaube und Liebe. Bis zum Ende sind wir immer fähig, zu wählen und zu handeln. Diese Vision einer mit ausgetrockneten Knochen übersäten Ebene, eines der eindringlichsten Bilder der ganzen Bibel, wurde gegeben, als sich Gottes Hand auf Ezechiel legte zur Zeit der Babylonischen Gefangenschaft, wahrscheinlich eher zum Beginn als gegen Ende des sechsten Jahrhunderts vor Christus. Seit ungefähr 150 Jahren ging es mit dem politischen Schicksal des jüdischen Volkes bergab, erst durch die Assyrer bis zur katastrophalen Niederlage 587 v. Chr., die das Exil brachte. Das jüdische Volk war verzweifelt und ohnmächtig, seine Situation zu verändern. Das ist der historische Hintergrund der dramatischen Vision Ezechiels, in der die Toten wirklich tot sind und die Raubvögel mit ihrem scheußlichen Geschäft längst fertig waren das Fleisch von den Knochen zu reißen. Es war ein riesiges Schlachtfeld, voll mit Gefallenen, die nicht begraben waren. Der zögerliche und widerstrebende Ezechiel wurde von Gott gedrängt, diesen Knochen zu prophezeien, und als er das tat, rückten die Knochen geräuschvoll zusammen, begleitet von einem Erdbeben. Sie wurden mit Sehnen überspannt und mit Fleisch umgeben, und die Leichen mit Haut überzogen. Eine weitere Stufe war nötig. Der Atem oder der Geist kam von den vier Enden der Erde, und „sie wurden lebendig und standen auf – ein großes, gewaltiges Heer.“ Während wir in dieser Vision heute ein Vorausbild der Auferstehung der Toten sehen, glaubten die Juden zur Zeit Ezechiels nicht an diese Vorstellung des Lebens nach dem Tod. Für sie stellte die gewaltige Armee, die wieder zum Leben erweckt worden war, das ganze jüdische Volk dar, jene vom nördlichen Königreich, die nach Assyrien verschleppt worden waren, jene zu Hause und jene in Babylon. Sie sollten als Volk wiederhergestellt werden, in ihrem eigenen Land. Sie sollten erkennen, dass dies allein der eine wahre Gott getan hatte. Und all dies ist tatsächlich geschehen. Über die Jahrhunderte haben wir diese Textstelle liturgisch an Ostern verwendet, besonders bei der Taufe der Katechumenen in der Nacht des Karsamstags, und sie ist natürlich ein machtvolles Bild für die Leben spendende Kraft des einen wahren Gottes für dieses Leben und für die Ewigkeit. Die weltliche Weisheit behauptet, Leoparden würden ihre Flecken nicht ändern, aber wir Christen glauben an die Macht des Geistes, Menschen zu bekehren und zu verändern vom Bösen zum Guten, von Angst und Ungewissheit zu Glaube und Hoffnung. Gläubige werden durch die Vision Ezechiels gestärkt, weil wir die Macht der göttlichen Vergebung kennen, die Kraft Christi und der katholischen Tradition, neues Leben zum Blühen zu bringen, selbst wenn die Umstände dies sehr unwahrscheinlich machen. Diese Kraft, die wir in der Vision Ezechiels erahnen, wird uns heute angeboten, jedem von uns ohne Ausnahme. Ihr jungen Pilger könnt nach vorne in die Zukunft schauen, die so reich an Verheißungen ist. Das Gleichnis vom Sämann und der Saat erinnert euch an die großartige Möglichkeit, eure Berufung zu ergreifen und hundertfältig Frucht zu bringen. Matthäus, Markus und Lukas stellen alle das Gleichnis vom Sämann an den Anfang der Gleichnisse Jesu. Es vermittelt eine grundlegende Wahrheit über die Herausforderungen christlicher Jüngerschaft und zeigt die Alternativen zu einem fruchtbaren christlichen Leben auf. Ein Detail macht das Gleichnis plausibler: es scheint, dass die Juden zur Zeit Unseres Herrn die Saat einfach auf das Erdreich warfen, ohne vorher zu pflügen. Das erklärt ein bisschen besser, warum die Samen an so unwirtliche Stellen fielen und nicht einfach in die Furchen. Gehören wir zu jenen, deren Glaube bereits vom Teufel weggenommen wurde – denn so erklärt Unser Herr dieses Bild von den Vögeln des Himmels, die die Samen fressen Niemand hier bei dieser Messe gehört in diese Kategorie. Manche sind vielleicht wie der Same auf felsigem Boden, der keine Wurzeln schlagen konnte. Wer hier zu dieser zweiten Kategorie gehört, strebt wahrscheinlich danach, im spirituellen Leben einen neuen Anfang zu machen oder doch wenigstens die Möglichkeit in Betracht zu ziehen. Aber die meisten von uns gehören in die dritte oder vierte Kategorie, wo der Same auf guten Boden fiel und wächst und blüht; oder wir sind in Gefahr, an den Sorgen dieser Welt zu ersticken. Wir alle, auch jene, die nicht mehr jung sind, müssen um Weisheit und Beharrlichkeit beten. Bestimmt hat Unser Herr seinen nächsten Jüngern den Sinn dieses Gleichnisses erklärt, worum sie ihn sicher immer wieder gebeten haben. Aber diese Bitte der Jünger hat eine bestürzende Antwort hervorgerufen. Unser Herr teilt seine Hörer in zwei Gruppen ein, jene, denen die Geheimnisse des Himmelreichs offenbart wurden, und der Rest, für den die Gleichnisse nur Geschichten sind. Die zweite Gruppe wird in den Worten des Propheten Jesaja beschrieben als jene, „die sehen und doch nicht sehen, hören und doch nicht hören und nichts verstehen“. Wahrscheinlich ist der Hintergrund davon das Erstaunen der Jünger Unseres Herrn, dass so viele seine Lehre nicht angenommen haben. Warum ist das immer noch so? Was müssen wir tun, um zu jenen zu gehören, denen die Geheimnisse des Himmelreichs offenbart werden? Der Ruf des einen wahren Gottes bleibt geheimnisvoll, besonders heute, wo es viele gute Menschen schwer finden zu glauben. Selbst zur Zeit der Propheten blieben viele ihrer Hörer taub und stumm, und über die Jahrhunderte haben viele die Schönheit der Lehre Jesu bewundert, sich aber nie dazu bewegen lassen, auf seinen Ruf zu antworten. Unsere Aufgabe ist es, für die Kraft des Geistes offen zu sein und zuzulassen, dass der Gott der Überraschungen durch uns handelt. Die menschliche Motivation ist vielschichtig und geheimnisvoll. Es gibt starke Katholiken und andere starke Christen, die beten und ein gutes Leben führen, die aber fest entschlossen sind, keinen Schritt weiter zu gehen. Auf der anderen Seite gibt es Menschen in der Nachfolge Christi, die viel weniger eifrig und glaubensstark sind, die aber für Entwicklung offen sind, für einen Wandel zum Besseren, weil sie ihre Unwürdigkeit und ihre Unwissenheit erkennen. Wo stehst du? In welcher Situation wir uns auch befinden mögen, wir müssen für die Offenheit unseres Herzens beten, für die Bereitschaft den nächsten Schritt zu tun, selbst wenn wir Angst haben uns weiter hinaus zu wagen. Wenn wir die Hand Gottes ergreifen, wird Er den Rest tun. Vertrauen ist der Schlüssel. Gott wird uns nicht im Stich lassen. Wie können wir vermeiden, von der letzten und besten Kategorie derer, die Frucht bringen, zu denen abzurutschen, die von „den Sorgen dieser Welt und dem trügerischen Reichtum erstickt“ werden und keine Frucht bringen? Die zweite Lesung aus dem Brief des Paulus an die Galater weist uns in die richtige Richtung, dass sich jeder Mensch zwischen Gut und Böse entscheiden muss, zwischen dem, was Paulus das „Fleisch“ und den „Geist“ nennt. Es genügt nicht, nur ein Mitfahrer zu sein und zu versuchen, im „Niemandsland“ zwischen den kämpfenden Parteien sein Zelt aufzuschlagen. Das Leben zwingt uns zur Entscheidung und macht allmählich jede Möglichkeit der Neutralität zunichte. Wir werden gute Frucht bringen, wenn wir die Sprache des Kreuzes lernen und sie in unser Herz schreiben. Die Sprache des Kreuzes bringt uns die Früchte des Geistes, die Paulus aufzählt, sie schenkt uns die Erfahrung des Friedens und der Freude und macht uns fähig, zu anderen freundlich und großzügig zu sein. Jesus nachzufolgen ist nicht kostenlos, ist nicht immer leicht, denn es erfordert, dass wir gegen „das Fleisch“ kämpfen, wie Paulus es nennt, gegen unser aufgeblasenes, unbarmherziges Ego, unseren altmodischen Egoismus. Es ist immer ein Kampf, selbst für alte Leute wie mich! Verbring nicht dein Leben damit, auf dem Zaun sitzen zu bleiben, dir alle Möglichkeiten offen zu halten, denn nur Engagement und Bindung bringt Erfüllung. Glück entsteht, indem wir unseren Verpflichtungen nachkommen, unsere Pflicht erfüllen, besonders in kleinen Dingen zuverlässig sind, so dass wir größeren Herausforderungen gewachsen sind. Viele haben ihre Berufung auf einem Weltjugendtag gefunden. Ein Jünger Jesu zu sein, erfordert Disziplin, besonders Selbstdisziplin, was Paulus Selbstbeherrschung nennt. Die Übung der Selbstbeherrschung wird dich nicht vollkommen machen (mich jedenfalls nicht), aber Selbstbeherrschung ist notwendig, um die Liebe in unseren Herzen zu entfalten und zu schützen und andere davor zu bewahren, besonders unsere Familie und unsere Freunde, durch unsere Verfehlungen verletzt zu werden, sei es aus Bosheit oder Faulheit. Ich bete darum, dass ihr alle durch die Kraft des Geistes zu dieser gewaltigen Armee der Heiligen gehören werdet, die geheilt und neugeboren wurden, so wie es Ezechiel offenbart wurde, welche die menschliche Geschichte über zahllose Generationen bereichert und mit dem ewigen Leben im Himmel belohnt hat. Lasst mich schließen mit einer Anleihe bei einer der stärksten Predigten des heiligen Augustinus, dem größten Theologen des ersten Jahrtausends, der vor rund 1600 Jahren Bischof der kleinen nordafrikanischen Stadt Hippo war. Bestimmt werdet ihr in den nächsten fünf Tagen des Gebets und des gemeinsamen Feierns auf diesem Weltjugendtag – so wie ich – in Hochstimmung kommen. Bitte Gott, wir freuen uns, dass wir teilnehmen dürfen trotz der Kosten, der Mühsal und der weiten Entfernung, die wir zurückgelegt haben. In dieser Woche haben wir alles Recht, über die Befreiung unserer Reue und die Erneuerung unseres Glaubens zu jubeln und dies zu feiern. Wir sind aufgerufen, unser Herz der Macht des Geistes zu öffnen. Die jungen Teilnehmer möchte ich sanft daran erinnern, in eurem Enthusiasmus und der ganzen Aufregung nicht zu vergessen, zuzuhören und zu beten! Viele von euch sind so weit gereist, dass ihr den Eindruck haben mögt, ihr seid am Ende der Erde angekommen! Gut so, denn Unser Herr hat seinen ersten Aposteln gesagt, dass sie seine Zeugen in Jerusalem sein würden und bis an die Enden der Erde. Diese Prophezeiung wurde erfüllt durch das Zeugnis vieler Missionare auf diesem riesigen südlichen Kontinent, und sie wird jetzt wieder durch eure Gegenwart hier erfüllt. Aber diese Tage gehen schnell vorbei, und nächste Woche landen wir wieder auf der Erde. Eine Zeitlang werden einige von euch das normale Leben zu Hause, in der Gemeinde, bei der Arbeit oder im Studium flach und enttäuschend finden. Bald, zu bald, werdet ihr wieder abreisen. Kurz sind wir jetzt hier in Sidney im Zentrum der katholischen Welt, aber nächste Woche wird der Heilige Vater nach Rom zurückkehren, wir, die wir in Sidney leben, in unsere Gemeinden und ihr Pilger nach Hause, zu euren Wohnorten nah und fern. Nächste Woche werden wir also wieder auseinander gehen. Aber wenn wir diese glücklichen Tage hinter uns lassen, so wollen wir doch nie unseren liebenden Gott und seinen Sohn Jesus Christus verlassen. Möge Maria, die Mutter Gottes, die wir bei diesem Weltjugendtag als Unsere Liebe Frau des Südlichen Kreuzes anrufen, uns in diesem Entschluss festigen. Und so bete ich: Komm, komm o Atem Gottes, von den vier Winden, von allen Nationen und Völkern der Erde und segne unser großes Südland des Heiligen Geistes.  Gib auch uns die Kraft, ein großes, gewaltiges Heer demütiger Diener und gläubiger Zeugen zu sein. Darum bitten wir Gott, unseren Vater, im Namen Christi, seines Sohnes. Amen. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Homily for WYD08 Opening Mass Jul 17, 2008 AT BARANGAROO – TUESDAY, 15TH JULY Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 23. Gal. 5:16-17, 22-25; Lk. 8:4-15 We all know that Christ Our Lord is often described as the Good Shepherd of today’s responsorial psalm.  We are told that he leads us near restful waters, revives our flagging spirits, enables us to rest peacefully. In developing this image on one occasion, Jesus explained that such a shepherd was prepared to leave the ninety-nine sheep to search out the one who was lost. Few countries today have a shepherd who cares for only 20 or 30 sheep, and in Australia with large farms and huge flocks Our Lord’s advice is not very practical.  If the lost sheep was valuable and probably healthy, it might make sense to take the time to search for it.  More usually it would be left behind or its absence not even noticed. Jesus was saying that both He and His Father are not like this, because He knows each one of His sheep and like a good father he goes searching for the lost one he loves, particularly if he is sick, or in trouble, or unable to help himself. Earlier in this Mass I welcomed you all to this World Youth Day week and I repeat that welcome now.  But I do not begin with the ninety- nine healthy sheep, those of you already open to the Spirit, perhaps already steady witnesses to faith and love.  I begin by welcoming and encouraging anyone, anywhere who regards himself or herself as lost, in deep distress, with hope diminished or even exhausted. Young or old, woman or man, Christ is still calling those who are suffering to come to him for healing, as he has for two thousand years.   The causes of the wounds are quite secondary, whether they be drugs or alcohol, family breakups, the lusts of the flesh, loneliness or a death. Perhaps even the emptiness of success. Christ’s call is to all who are suffering, not just to Catholics or other Christians, but especially to those without religion.  Christ is calling you home; to love, healing and community. Our first reading today was from Ezekiel, with Isaiah and Jeremiah one of the three greatest Jewish prophets.  Many parts of Australia are still in drought, so all Australians understand a valley of dry bones and fleshless skeletons.  But this grim vision is offered first of all to any and all of you who are even tempted to say “our hope is gone, we are as good as dead”. This is never true while we can still choose.  While there is life there is always the option of hope and with Christian hope come faith and love.  Until the end we are always able to choose and act. This vision of the valley of the dry bones, the most spectacular in the whole of the Bible, was given when the hand of God came upon Ezekiel while the Jews were in captivity in Babylon, probably earlier rather than later in the sixth century B.C.  For about 150 years the political fortunes of the Jewish people had been in decline, first of all at the hands of the Assyrians.  Later in 587 B.C. came the final catastrophic defeat and their transportation into exile.  The Jewish people were in despair, powerless to change their situation. This is the historical background to Ezekiel’s dramatic vision where the dead were well dead, whitened skeletons as the birds of prey had long finished their ghastly business of stripping off the flesh.  It was an immense battlefield of the unburied. A hesitant and reluctant Ezekiel was urged by God to prophesy to these bones and as he did so the bones rushed together noisily, accompanied by an earthquake.  Sinews knitted them together, flesh and then skin clothed the corpses. Another stage was needed and the breath, or Spirit, came from the four corners of the earth as the bodies came “to life again and stood up on their feet, a great and immense army”. While we now see this vision as a pre-figuration of the resurrection of the dead, the Jews of Ezekiel’s time did not believe in such a conception of the afterlife.  For them the immense resurrected army represented all the Jewish people, those from the northern kingdom taken off to Assyria, those at home and those in Babylon.  They were to be reconstituted as a people in their own land and they would know that the one true God alone had done this.  And all this came to pass. Over the centuries we Christians have used this passage liturgically at Easter, especially for the baptism of catechumens on Holy Saturday night and it is, of course, a powerful image of the one true God’s regenerative power for this life and eternity. Secular wisdom claims that leopards do not change their spots, but we Christians believe in the power of the Spirit to convert and change persons away from evil to good; from fear and uncertainty to faith and hope. 2 Believers are heartened by Ezekiel’s vision, because we know the power of God’s forgiveness, the capacity of Christ and the Catholic tradition to cause new life to flourish even in unlikely circumstances. That same power glimpsed in Ezekiel’s vision is offered to us today, to all of us without exception.  You young pilgrims can look ahead to the future stretching out before you, so rich in promise.  The Gospel parable of the sower and the seen reminds you of the great opportunity you have to embrace your vocation and produce an abundant harvest, a hundredfold crop. Matthew, Mark and Luke all place this story of the sower at the beginning of their collection of Jesus’ parables.  It explains some fundamental truths about the challenges of Christian discipleship and lists the alternatives to a fruitful Christian life.  Fidelity is not automatic or inevitable. One detail makes the parable more plausible, because it seems the Jews in Our Lord’s time threw the seed on the ground before they ploughed it, so explaining a little better the seed being in unlikely places rather than just in the furrows. Are we amongst those whose faith has already been snatched away by the devil, as Our Lord explained the image of the birds of the sky gobbling up the seed?  No one at this Mass would be in that category.   Some might be like the seed on rocky ground which could not put down roots.  Those here in this second category are likely to be striving to start again in the spiritual life, or at least examining the possibility of doing so.  But most of us are in the third and fourth categories, where the seed has fallen on good soil and is growing and flourishing; or we are in danger of being choked off by the worries of life.  All of us, including those who are no longer young, have to pray for wisdom and perseverance. I have no problem in believing that Our Lord spelt out the meaning of this parable to his closest followers and that he would have been asked by them regularly to do so.  But the disciples’ enquiries provoked a disconcerting response, when Our Lord divides his listeners into two groups; those to whom the mysteries of the Kingdom are revealed and the rest for whom the parables remain only parables.  This second group is described in words from the prophet Isaiah as those who “may see but not perceive, listen but not understand”.  Probably the background to this is the amazement of Our Lord’s disciples at the large number who did not accept his teaching. Why is this still so?  What must we do to be among those for whom the mysteries of the Kingdom are revealed? 3 The call of the one true God remains mysterious, especially today when many good people find it hard to believe.  Even in the time of the prophets many of their hearers remained spiritually deaf and blind, while any number over the ages have admired the beauty of Jesus’ teaching, but never been moved to answer his call. Our task is to be open to the power of the Spirit, to allow the God of surprises to act through us.  Human motivation is complex and mysterious, because sometimes very strong Catholics, and other strong Christians, can be prayerful and regularly good, but also very determined not to take even one further step.  On the other hand, some followers of Christ can be much less zealous and faithful, but open to development, to change for the better because they realize their unworthiness and their ignorance.  Where do you stand? Whatever our situation we must pray for an openness of heart, for a willingness to take the next step, even if we are fearful of venturing too much further.  If we take God’s hand, He will do the rest.  Trust is the key.  God will not fail us. How can we work to avoid slipping from the last and bestcategory of the fruit bearers into those “who are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life” and so do not produce much fruit at all? The second reading from Paul’s letter to the Galatians points us in the correct direction, reminding us all that each person must declare himself in the age-old struggle between good and evil, between what Paul calls the flesh and the Spirit.  It is not good enough to be only a passenger, to try to live in “no-mans land” between the warring parties.  Life forces us to choose, eventually destroys any possibility of neutrality. We will bring forth good fruit by learning the language of the Cross and inscribing it on our hearts.  The language of the Cross brings us the fruits of the Spirit which Paul lists, enables us to experience peace and joy, to be regularly kind and generous to others.  Following Christ is not cost free, not always easy, because it requires struggling against what St. Paul calls “the flesh”, our fat relentless egos, old fashioned selfishness.  It is always a battle, even for old people like me! Don’t spend your life sitting on the fence, keeping your options open, because only commitments bring fulfilment.  Happiness comes from meeting our obligations, doing our duty, especially in small matters and regularly, so we can rise to meet the harder challenges.  Many have found their life’s calling at World Youth Days. To be a disciple of Jesus requires discipline, especially self discipline; what Paul calls self control.  The practice of self control won’t make you perfect (it hasn’t with me), but self control is necessary to develop and protect the love in our hearts and prevent others, especially our family and friends, from being hurt by our lapses into nastiness or laziness. I pray that through the power of the Spirit all of you will join that immense army of saints, healed and reborn, which was revealed to Ezekiel, which has enriched human history for countless generations and which is rewarded in the after-life of heaven. Let me conclude by adapting one of the most powerful sermons of St. Augustine, the finest theologian of the first millennium and a bishop in the small North African town of Hippo around 1600 years ago. I expect that in the next five days of prayer and celebration that your spirits will rise, as mine always does, in the excitement of this World Youth Day.  Please God we shall all be glad that we participated, despite the cost, hassles and distances travelled.  During this week we have every right to rejoice and celebrate the liberation of our repentance, the rejuvenation of our faith.  We are called to open our hearts to the power of the Spirit.  And to the young ones I give a gentle reminder that in your enthusiasm and excitement you do not forget to listen and pray! Many of you have travelled such a long way that you may believe that you have arrived, indeed, at the ends of earth!  If so, that’s good, for Our Lord told his first apostles that they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth.  That prophesy has been fulfilled in the witness of many missionaries to this vast southern continent, and it is fulfilled yet again in your presence here. But these days will pass too quickly and next week we shall return to earth.  For a time some of you will find the real world of home and parish, work or study, flat and disappointing. Soon, too soon, you will all be going away.  Briefly we are now here in Sydney at the centre of the Catholic world, but next week the Holy Father will return to Rome, we Sydneysiders will return to our parishes, while you, now visiting pilgrims, will go back to your homes in places near and far. In other words during next week we shall be parting from one another.  But when we part after these happy days, let us never part from our loving God and his Son Jesus Christ.  And may Mary, Mother of God, whom we invoke in this World Youth Day as Our Lady of the Southern Cross, strengthen us in this resolution. And so I pray.  Come, come O Breath of God, from the four winds, from all the nations and peoples of the earth and bless our Great South Land of the Holy Spirit. Empower us also to be another great and immense army of humble servants and faithful witnesses.   And we make this prayer to God our Father in the name of Christ his Son.  Amen.  Amen. George Cardinal Pell Archbishop of Sydney Translation (automatic) English German Ouverture des JMJ à Sydney, homélie du Cardinal Pell Jul 15, 2008 Sydney, le 15 juillet 2008  - E.S.M. - L'archevêque de Sydney, le Cardinal George Pell, a présidé la messe d'ouverture des XXIII èmes Journées Mondiales de la Jeunesse, dans une atmosphère de fête, animée par des danses exécutées par des groupes d'Aborigènes. Mardi 15 juillet, l'archevêque de Sydney, le Cardinal George Pell, a présidé la messe d'ouverture des XXIIIèmes Journées Mondiales de la Jeunesse, dans une atmosphère de fête, animée par des danses exécutées par des groupes d'Aborigènes. Le Cardinal Pell était assisté de 26 cardinaux et 400 évêques du monde entier. Plus de 150.000 pèlerins originaires de 170 pays de tous les continents s'étaient rassemblés à cette occasion sur le quai de Barangaroo, une vaste esplanade donnant sur la baie de Sydney. Benoît XVI rejoindra les festivités jeudi lors d'une cérémonie d'accueil sur le port de Sydney. Après la procession des 168 drapeaux représentant les groupes nationaux participant au rassemblement, le Premier ministre australien Kevin Rudd a souhaité la bienvenue aux jeunes. "Trop souvent, dans l'histoire du monde, quand les jeunes voyagent en grand nombre dans d'autres régions du monde c'est en raison d'une guerre, mais vous êtes aujourd'hui des pèlerins de la paix", leur a-t-il dit. La cérémonie étai cérémonie concélébrée par 26 cardinaux, 400 évêques et 4000 prêtres. Dans son homélie, le cardinal Pell a insisté, entre autres, sur l'importance de la prière. Et il a exhorté les jeunes à prendre leurs responsabilités. Le bonheur - a-t-il dit - s’obtient par le respect de ses engagements et de ses devoirs, surtout les plus modestes, ceux de tous les jours, pour pouvoir grandir et affronter les défis les plus exigeants On attend de 400.000 à 500.000 fidèles à la cérémonie d'accueil de Benoît XVI, prévue jeudi. Homélie du Cardinal Pell Le Christ vient à la rencontre de son troupeau en Australie. Nous savons tous que le Christ notre Seigneur est souvent décrit comme le Bon Berger du psaume d’aujourd’hui. Il nous est dit qu’il nous mène vers les eaux tranquilles, qu’il nous fait revivre et qu’il nous permet de reposer en paix. Utilisant un jour cette image, Jésus expliqua qu’un tel berger était prêt à laisser quatre-vingt-dix-neuf brebis pour partir à la recherche de la centième égarée. De nos jours, il existe peu de pays où un berger possède un troupeau de seulement 20 ou 30 brebis et, en Australie, où les fermes sont vastes et les troupeaux immenses, le conseil de notre Seigneur n’est pas très pratique. Si la brebis égarée a de la valeur et est en bonne santé, il est possible que cela vaille la peine d’aller la chercher. Plus souvent cependant, elle est abandonnée ou son absence n’est même pas remarquée. Jésus rappelait que Lui et Son Père ne sont ainsi parce qu’Il connaît chacune de ses brebis et, comme un bon père, Il part à la recherche de la brebis égarée qu’il aime, en particulier si elle est malade, qu’elle a des problèmes ou qu’elle est incapable de s’aider elle-même. Un peu plus tôt, je vous ai tous souhaité la bienvenue pour cette semaine des Journées Mondiales de la Jeunesse et je renouvelle maintenant cette bienvenue. Je ne commence pas cependant par les quatre-vingt-dix neuf brebis bien portantes, ceux d’entre vous déjà ouverts à l’action de l’Esprit, peut-être même déjà témoins fidèles de la foi et de la charité. Je commence par accueillir et encourager tous ceux, où qu’ils soient, qui se considèrent égarés, en détresse profonde, sans espérance ou même épuisés. Jeunes et vieux, hommes et femmes, le Christ continue d’appeler ceux qui souffrent à venir à lui pour être guéris, comme il le fait depuis deux mille ans. La cause de la blessure est quelque chose de secondaire, qu’il s’agisse de la drogue ou de l’alcool, des divisions familiales, des désirs de la chair, de la solitude ou de la mort. Peut-être même de la vacuité du succès. L’appel du Christ s’adresse à tous ceux qui souffrent, pas seulement aux catholiques ou aux autres chrétiens, mais en particulier à ceux qui n’ont pas de religion. Le Christ vous appelle à revenir à la maison c’est-à-dire à l’amour, à la guérison et à l’aspect communautaire. La première lecture d’aujourd’hui est tirée du livre d’Ézéchiel qui, avec Isaïe et Jérémie, est l’un des trois grands prophètes juifs. Beaucoup de régions d’Australie souffrent encore de la sècheresse. Tous les Australiens comprennent donc l’image de la vallée d’ossements desséchés et de squelettes sans chair. Mais cette vision sinistre est offerte avant tout à quiconque et à tous ceux d’entre vous qui sont tentés de dire « notre espérance est détruite, nous sommes perdus ». Ce n’est jamais vrai tant que nous pouvons poser un choix. Tant qu’il y a la vie, il y a toujours la possibilité d’espérer et, avec l’espérance chrétienne, viennent la foi et la charité. Jusqu’au bout, nous sommes toujours capables de choisir et d’agir. Cette image de la vallée d’ossements desséchés, la plus spectaculaire de toute la Bible, est donnée lorsque la main de Dieu se posa sur Ézéchiel pendant la captivité du peuple juif à Babylone, très certainement au début plutôt qu’à la fin du sixième siècle avant J.C. Pendant environ 150 ans, le destin politique du peuple juif s’était assombri, principalement au profit des Assyriens. En 587 avant J.C, survint l’ultime et catastrophique défaite qui donna lieu à leur envoi en exil. Le peuple juif était désespéré et impuissant face à sa situation. C’est le contexte historique dans lequel la vision dramatique d’Ézéchiel où les morts étaient bien morts, des squelettes blanchis, festin funèbre des oiseaux prédateurs qui se rassasiaient de leur chair. C’était un immense champ de bataille d’hommes sans sépulture. Un Ézéchiel hésitant et réticent fut envoyé par Dieu pour apporter la parole à ces ossements et, alors qu’il prophétisait, un tremblement de terre survint et les ossements se rassemblèrent avec grand bruit. Les ligaments se reconstituèrent entre eux, la chair et la peau se reformèrent autour des corps. Une étape manquait cependant encore, et le souffle, ou l’esprit, venu des quatre coins de la terre emplit les corps « qui revenaient à la vie, se levèrent en une grande et puissante armée ». Alors que nous voyons aujourd’hui cette vision comme la préfiguration de la résurrection des morts, le peuple juif du temps d’Ézéchiel ne croyait pas à une telle conception de l’au-delà. Pour eux, cette immense armée de juifs ressuscités représentait tout le peuple juif, ceux venus du royaume du nord pris à l’Assyrie, ceux restés chez eux et ceux de Babylone. Ils se réuniraient en un seul peuple sur leurs propres terres et sauraient que l’unique vrai Dieu était l’auteur de tout cela. À travers les siècles, nous chrétiens avons utilisé ce passage de la liturgie au moment de Pâques, particulièrement lors du baptême des catéchumènes pendant la veillée pascale et c’est, bien sûr, une image puissante du pouvoir régénérateur du Vrai et Unique Dieu pour cette vie et pour l’éternité. La sagesse du monde prétend que les léopards ne changent pas de territoire, mais nous chrétiens croyons dans le pouvoir de l’esprit à convertir et transformer les hommes en les éloignant du mal pour les attirer au bien ; en les éloignant de la peur et de l’incertitude pour les rapprocher de la foi et de l’espérance. Les croyants sont encouragés par la vision d’Ézéchiel, car nous connaissons le pouvoir du pardon de Dieu, cette capacité du Christ et de la tradition catholique à engendrer une vie nouvelle même dans les circonstances les plus désespérées. Nous avons un aperçu de ce même pouvoir dans la vision qu’Ézéchiel nous offre aujourd’hui, à chacun d’entre vous sans exception. Vous, jeunes pèlerins, pouvez regarder vers le futur qui se présente à vous, ce futur si riche de promesses. La parabole de l’Évangile du semeur et de la semence vous rappelle la formidable opportunité qui vous est offerte d’embrasser votre vocation et de produire une moisson abondante, une récolte au centuple. Mathieu, Marc et Luc situent tous les trois cette parabole du semeur au début de leur recueil des paraboles de Jésus. Elle explique certaines des vérités fondamentales sur les défis posés aux disciples chrétiens et énumère les obstacles à une vie chrétienne qui porte du fruit. La fidélité n’est pas innée ou inévitable. Un détail rend cette parabole plus plausible, car il semble que les juifs au temps de Notre Seigneur ne labouraient pas la terre avant d’ensemencer. Ainsi nous comprenons mieux que le grain puisse tomber ailleurs que dans les sillons. Sommes-nous parmi ceux dont la foi a déjà été enlevée par le diable, comme le traduit l’explication donnée par Notre Seigneur à l’image des oiseaux du ciel mangeant le grain ? Personne ici n’aimerait faire partie de cette catégorie. Certains sont peut-être comme le grain tombé dans les pierres qui ne peut pas s’enraciner. Ceux qui sont dans cette deuxième catégorie s’efforcent de prendre un nouveau départ dans leur vie spirituelle, ou tout au moins d’examiner la possibilité de le faire. Mais la plupart d’entre nous se trouvent dans la troisième et la quatrième catégories : le grain est tombé dans de la bonne terre, a poussé et a porté du fruit. Toutefois nous sommes en danger d’être étranglés par les soucis de la vie. Nous tous, même ceux qui ne sont plus de la première jeunesse, devons prier pour obtenir sagesse et persévérance. Je n’ai aucune difficulté à croire que Notre Seigneur a expliqué clairement la signification de cette parabole à ses disciples les plus proches et que ceux-ci lui demandaient régulièrement de leur redonner des explications. Mais la réponse du Seigneur est déconcertante ; il répartit ces disciples en deux groupes : ceux auxquels le mystère du Royaume a été révélé et ceux pour lesquels les paraboles resteront toujours des paraboles. Ce second groupe est décrit dans des mots du prophète Isaïe comme ceux qui ont beau regarder mais ne voient pas, qui ont beau entendre mais ne comprennent pas. Le contexte de cette parabole est la stupéfaction des disciples de Notre Seigneur au nombre important de ceux qui n’ont pas accepté son enseignement. Pourquoi en est-il encore ainsi ? Que devons-nous faire pour être au nombre de ceux à qui les mystères du Royaume ont été révélés ? L’appel du Vrai Dieu unique demeure mystérieux, en particulier de nos jours où tant de bonnes personnes ont du mal à croire. Même aux temps des prophètes beaucoup de ceux qui les écoutaient demeurèrent spirituellement sourds et aveugles, tandis que beaucoup à travers les âges ont admiré la beauté de l’enseignement de Jésus, mais n’ont jamais été poussés à répondre à son appel. Notre tâche est d’être ouvert à la puissance de l’Esprit, de permettre à Dieu d’agir en nous. La motivation humaine est complexe et mystérieuse. En effet, certains catholiques et autres chrétiens très croyants sont parfois dévots et agissent avec bonté mais sont déterminés à ne pas faire un pas de plus. D’autre part, certains disciples de Christ peuvent être beaucoup moins zélés et fidèles, mais plus enclins à devenir meilleurs parce qu’ils comprennent leur pauvreté et leur ignorance. Et vous, où vous situez-vous ? Quelle que soit notre situation, nous devons prier pour avoir un cœur ouvert, pour avoir la volonté de faire un pas de plus, même si nous nous avons peur de nous aventurer un peu plus loin. Si nous prenons la main que Dieu nous tend, Il fera le reste. La confiance est la clé. Dieu nous ne décevra pas. Comment pouvons-nous faire pour éviter de passer de la dernière et meilleure catégorie de ceux qui portent du fruit à ceux “qui sont étranglés par les soucis, la richesse et les plaisirs de la vie” et ainsi ne produisent pas de fruit ? La seconde lecture de la lettre de St Paul aux Galates nous montre la bonne direction, nous rappelant tous que chacun doit prendre position dans la lutte séculaire entre le bien et le mal, entre ce que Paul appelle la chair et l’Esprit. Ce n’est pas suffisant d’être seulement un passager, d’essayer de vivre en zone neutre entre les parties qui s’affrontent. La vie nous force à choisir et finit par détruire la possibilité de neutralité. Nous donnerons de bons fruits en apprenant le langage de la Croix et en l’inscrivant dans nos cœurs. Le langage de la Croix nous apporte les fruits de l’Esprit qui sont énumérés par Paul , nous permettant d’être habités de la paix et de la joie, et d’être gentils et généreux envers notre prochain. Suivre le Christ a un coût, n’est pas toujours facile, car cela requiert de combattre ce qui St Paul appelle « la chair », notre ego implacable, notre bon vieil égoïsme. C’est toujours un combat, même pour un senior comme moi ! Ne vivez pas votre vie sans prendre position, mais posez des choix car seulement l’engagement apporte la plénitude. Nous parvenons au bonheur en répondant à nos obligations, en faisant notre devoir, en particulier en nous engageant dans les petites choses régulièrement afin de relever les défis plus grands. Beaucoup ont trouvé l’appel de leur vie aux Journées Mondiales de la Jeunesse. Etre un disciple de Jésus requiert de la discipline, en particulier de l’autodiscipline, ce que Paul nomme la maitrise de soi. La pratique de la maîtrise de soi ne fera pas de vous une personne parfaite (cela n’est pas mon cas), mais la maîtrise de soi est nécessaire pour faire grandir et protéger l’amour dans nos cœurs et empêcher que les autres, spécialement nos familles et nos amis, soient blessés par nos écarts dans la méchanceté ou la paresse. Je prie que, par la puissance de l’Esprit, chacun d’entre vous se joigne à cette immense armée de saints, guéris et nés à la vie, qui a été révélée à Ézéchiel, a enrichi l’histoire humaine pour des générations innombrables et qui est récompensée dans l’autre vie. Permettez-moi de conclure en adaptant l’un des plus puissants sermons de St Augustin, le plus brillant théologien du premier millénaire et évêque, il y a 1600 ans, de la petite ville d’Hippone en Afrique du Nord. Je pense que dans les cinq prochains jours de prière et de célébration, vos esprits seront élevés, comme c’est toujours le cas pour moi, dans l’enthousiasme de ces Journées Mondiales de la Jeunesse. Si Dieu le veut, nous serons tous heureux d’y avoir participé, en dépit du coût, des difficultés et de la distance parcourue. Pendant cette semaine, nous avons toutes les raisons de nous réjouir et de célébrer notre libération et le renouvellement de notre foi. Nous sommes appelés à ouvrir nos cœurs à la force de l’Esprit. À vous les plus jeunes, je vous donne un petit conseil : dans l’enthousiasme et l’excitation n’oubliez pas d’écouter et de prier! Beaucoup d’entre vous ont fait tant de chemin que vous pensez peut-être être arrivés aux extrémités de la terre ! Si c’est le cas, tant mieux, car notre Seigneur a dit aux apôtres qu’ils seraient ses témoins à Jérusalem et jusqu’aux extrémités de la terre. Cette prophétie s’est réalisée dans le témoignage apporté par de nombreux missionnaires dans ce vaste continent austral et elle se réalise à nouveau par votre présence ici. Ces journées vont passer trop vite et la semaine prochaine nous redescendrons sur terre. Pendant un temps, certains d’entre vous trouveront morose et décevant le monde réel de la famille et de la paroisse, du travail et des études. Bientôt, trop vite, vous serez partis. Pour un court temps, nous sommes ici à Sydney au centre du monde catholique mais, la semaine prochaine, le Saint-Père rentrera à Rome, nous habitants de Sydney retourneront dans notre paroisse tandis que vous, pèlerins du monde, rentrerez chez vous dans des régions proches ou lointaines. Autrement dit, la semaine prochaine, nous nous dirons au revoir. Mais lorsque nous nous quitterons après ces jours heureux, ne nous séparons pas de notre Dieu aimant et de son Fils Jésus Christ. Que Marie, Mère de Dieu, que nous invoquons pendant ces Journées Mondiales de la Jeunesse sous le titre de Notre Dame de la Croix du Sud, nous fortifie dans cette résolution. Je prie donc. Viens, viens ô Souffle de Dieu, des quatre vents, de toutes les nations et peuples de la terre et répands tes bénédictions sur cette grande terre australe de l’Esprit Saint. Donne-nous la force également d’être une nouvelle magnifique et immense armée d’humbles serviteurs et de fidèles témoins. Nous adressons cette prière à Dieu notre Père au nom du Christ, Son Fils. Amen. Amen. George Cardinal Pell Archevêque de Sydney Source : Eucharistie Sacrement de la Miséricorde Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell Kicks Off World Youth Day Jul 15, 2008 Benedict XVI Sends Pilgrims a Text Message. SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 15, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal George Pell gave a message of welcome and hope to an energized crowd gathered together for the opening Mass of World Youth Day. Before the Mass got under way at Barangaroo today, the some 150,000 youth were greeted by warm weather in Sydney and a welcome event celebrating indigenous culture. And the young people got a text message from none other than Benedict XVI. The Pope's message said: "Young friends, God & his people expect much from u, because u have within u the Father's supreme gift: the Spirit of Jesus -- BXVI." After a 168-flag procession and the entrance of the youth day cross and icon, Cardinal Pell welcomed the international pilgrims in four languages. His greeting was reciprocated with wild applause and accompanied by chants and cheers similar to those used for papal receptions. Cardinal Pell was joined by 26 other cardinals, 400 bishops, a 300-person youth choir, and an 80-piece orchestra. He had told members of the media earlier this week that he was looking forward to celebrating the biggest Mass of his life. As the sun set over the western Sydney waterfront skyline, Cardinal Pell used the first reading from Ezekiel about the valley of dry bones to illustrate the promise of hope. From a stage built of original Australian timber, the archbishop of Sydney talked to the youth about Ezekiel's presentation of the dead being preyed on by birds that had long since finished stripping off the flesh, in an "immense battlefield of the unburied." Ezekiel, he noted, was urged by God to prophesy to these bones. As he did so, the bones "rushed together noisily, accompanied by an earthquake. Sinews knitted them together, flesh and then skin clothed the corpses." Then God breathed life into them and "a great and immense army" arose. God of surprises Cardinal Pell stressed that his first priority was not those who are already strong in the faith, but "welcoming and encouraging anyone, anywhere who regards himself or herself as lost, in deep distress, with hope diminished or even exhausted." He affirmed that the causes of any personal wounds -- whether alcohol, drugs, family break-ups or even the loneliness of success -- were "quite secondary" compared to Christ's call to all those who are suffering. "Christ is calling you home; to love, healing and community," he said. He encouraged hope for "all of you who are tempted to say 'our hope is gone, we are as good as dead.'" "We Christians believe in the power of the Spirit to convert and change persons away from evil to good; from fear and uncertainty to faith and hope," Cardinal Pell added. "Our task is to be open to the Spirit, to allow the God of surprises to act through us. Whatever our situation, we must pray for an openness of heart, for a willingness to take the next step, even if we are fearful of venturing too much further. "If we take God's hand, he will do the rest. Trust is the key. God will not fail us." Referring to the second reading from Paul's Letter to the Galatians, Cardinal Pell urged the youth to avoid spending their lives "sitting on the fence, keeping your options open -- because only commitments bring fulfillment." He said being a disciple of Jesus requires discipline, adding that while "self control won't make your perfect -- it hasn't with me -- [it] is necessary to develop and protect the love in our hearts and prevent others, especially our family and friends, from being hurt by our lapses into nastiness or laziness." New Spirit Earlier in the day, Cardinal Pell's auxiliary bishop, Anthony Fisher, spoke to ZENIT about the Mass and what the cardinal planned to say. He characterized the homily as particularly poignant for Australia. Bishop Fisher noted that a literal interpretation of Ezekiel is apt for the nation, suffering a 10-year drought. But the message is more about a "people in decline," he said. "The promise Christ makes of new life is for our culture, our country, the countries from which the pilgrims come, for those who are suffering and those youth experimenting in drugs," said bishop affirmed. He contended that the reading and the cardinal's message would give disaffected youth hope to get them over their fear, depression or anxiety. He acknowledged that the homily would be challenging for the thousands of youth gathered Down Under, but he said its message for young people is that World Youth Day will offer Christ and his Church as hope for them. "When they are feeling like dry bones, there is hope for a new Spirit, of new life for them," he affirmed. Sydney's auxiliary bishop noted as well the historical significance of the Mass: Cardinal Pell carried the crosier of one of his predecessors, Cardinal Patrick Moran, Australia's first cardinal. He also wore the episcopal ring and pectoral cross of Archbishop John Polding, Sydney's first archbishop. Translation (automatic) English German Le Card. Pell se prépare à accueillir les jeunes du monde entier aux JMJ de Sydney Jul 11, 2008 Vatican, le 11 juillet 2008  - E.S.M. - “Les Journées mondiales de la jeunesse constituent une belle opportunité et une réponse aux questions des jeunes”- Interview par l’Agence Fides du Cardinal George Pell, Archevêque de Sydney, qui se prépare à accueillir les jeunes du monde entier et le pape Benoît XVI “Dans mon pays l’Eglise doit faire face à des situations et des phénomènes divers” affirme le Card. George Pell, Archevêque de Sydney, siège des Journées mondiales de la jeunesse 2008, en présentant la réalité de l’Eglise australienne dans une interview accordée à l’Agence Fides. « En ce qui concerne la pratique religieuse - poursuit le Cardinal - elle est aujourd’hui certainement plus élevée parmi les personnes âgées, même s’il y a des mouvements contredisant cette tendance. Parmi ceux-ci, je peux citer la pratique du Chemin de croix, qui dans chaque diocèse enregistre une participation croissante des jeunes. Ce sont des signes qui nous font espérer ». L’interview du Card. Pell fait partie du Dossier consacré à l’Australie qui sera publié samedi 12 juillet par l’Agence Fides. Quelle est l’évolution des vocations au sacerdoce? Cela dépend des diocèses. Dans l’Archidiocèse de Sydney, nous avons 50 séminaristes, un nombre plutôt convenable pour les besoins pastoraux. De même dans les séminaires de Melbourne et de Wagga Wagga le nombre des inscrits est satisfaisant. Parmi les religieux au contraire il y a une baisse. Je pense qu’il est évident qu’ici la situation est difficile. A côté de cela, le nombre des jeunes laïcs décidant de travailler pour l’Eglise pendant plusieurs années est élevé. Nous avons un bon nombre de volontaires. Comment répondez-vous à la sécularisation? L'Australie a les mêmes problèmes que les autres pays occidentaux, riches et développés. Face à la sécularisation nous avons misé surtout sur notre système éducatif. 20 pour cent des jeunes australiens fréquentent les écoles catholiques. J’ai travaillé quant à moi pour que les jeunes aient un aumônier dans leurs universités avec qui parler et se confronter, et j’ai en outre entièrement renouvelé les textes de l’enseignement religieux dans toutes les classes, des classes élémentaires aux collèges et aux lycées. Je crois qu’une réponse passe nécessairement par l’éducation des jeunes générations. C’est aussi pour cela que les Journées mondiales de la jeunesse qui ont lieu à Sydney et avec la présence du Saint-Père Benoît XVI, représentent une grande opportunité et une réponse aux questions des jeunes. L’Australie a été pendant des siècles une terre de mission. Aujourd’hui quelle est sa contribution à la mission dans le monde ? Nous avons près de 300 missionnaires italiens qui travaillent à l’étranger. Dans le passé ce nombre était supérieur, surtout grâce aux religieux présents en Nouvelle Guinée, dans les îles du Pacifique et en Asie. Parmi les groupes de missionnaires les plus actifs, je peux citer les Christian Brothers, irlandais, aujourd’hui présents surtout en Afrique où ils font un travail magnifique. Quelle est l’action de l’Eglise pour les aborigènes? Et comment l’Etat affronte-t-il le problème ? 26% des aborigènes sont catholiques, donc sont nos frères et font partie intégrante de l’Eglise. Leurs conditions de vie ont toujours été bien connues de l’Eglise, qui les a plusieurs fois défendus contre les attaques venant de la société et parfois de l’Etat. Aujourd’hui la situation est encore difficile, mais nous cherchons toujours à travailler pour eux. Le problème n’est pas tant la pauvreté qu’un manque d’intégration dans la culture australienne. Ce qui a incidence élevée sur des problèmes comme la toxicodépendance, l’alcoolisme, la pornographie. En cela je dois dire aussi que nous sommes très aidés par l’Eglise anglicane et par les autres communautés protestantes. Qu’attendez-vous des JMJ de Sydney? J’espère que la foi de nos jeunes, et des jeunes du monde entier, en sortira renforcée et qu’ils pourront reconnaître le Christ comme centre de leur vie. Le programme détaillé de la visite du Saint-Père  ► Cliquer ici Tous les articles parus avant l'envoi des JMJ de Sydney 2008 ► Cliquer ici Source : Eucharistie Sacrement de la Miséricorde Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Pope asked to indulge sin city with a reprieve Jun 28, 2008 Pope Benedict has been asked to grant special indulgences - remittances of punishment for sins already forgiven - to thousands of young Catholics expected to attend World Youth Day in Sydney. (smh.com.au, June 28, 2008) When the event was held in Cologne in 2005, young Catholics who took part in confession and communion during the jubilee of devotion received full, or plenary, indulgences. The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, has asked that the Pope grant an indulgence for pilgrims who visit St Mary's Cathedral and pray the prayer of consecration to Our Lady of the Southern Cross, the patroness of Australia and of World Youth Day. The request is before Cardinal James Stafford, of the Apostolic Penitentiary, a ministry of the Vatican. If the request were granted, it would enhance the position of the cathedral as a place of pilgrimage during the six-day youth gathering. Monsignor Marc Caron, responsible for the celebration of the sacraments of reconciliation in World Youth Day's main venues, said: "It draws people's attention to the pilgrimage to the cathedral and encourages them to be more intentional, to say that they are not coming as a tourist but they are coming to the building for the purpose of prayer." The World Youth Day website states indulgences are "particular expressions of the mercy of God". Catholic teaching holds that sins require purification in this life or the next. Purification in this life takes place through prayer, acts of charity and the patient bearing of trials and sufferings - or via dispensation of indulgences. The belief is that indulgences draw on the storehouse of merit acquired by Jesus' sacrifice. An indulgence may be used either for yourself or for souls who have died and gone to purgatory, a state of purification before heaven. Indulgences are not magical, the Vatican says, and like all graces require the proper attitude by those receiving them. "Sin has consequences, beyond the action itself, on other people and society," Monsignor Caron said. An example, he said, is of parents who say to a child, "Don't play baseball in the front yard." "Sure enough, the child does, the ball goes through the window and breaks it. The child says sorry, but they still have broken the window, so who is going to pay for the broken window? There has to be expressions of good that help repair the damage that sin causes." The selling of indulgences in the Middle Ages helped trigger the Reformation. John Paul II revived the practice at World Youth Day 2000. Translation (automatic) English Il Cardinale Pell sull'aspetto ecumenico e interreligioso della GMG Jun 23, 2008 La Giornata Mondiale della Gioventù 2008 è un evento cattolico, ma i suoi organizzatori stanno approfittando di questa opportunità per promuovere il dialogo con altre denominazioni cristiane e altre fedi. SYDNEY (Australia), domenica, 22 giugno 2008 (ZENIT.org).- Una recente conferenza stampa ha rivelato che i team degli organizzatori progettano di gettare ponti tra questi gruppi durante il Festival della Gioventù della GMG attraverso atti di solidarietà, esibizioni artistiche e presentazioni teologiche e musicali. La conferenza stampa ha apparentemente placato i media secolari australiani, che avevano parlato di “minaccia di tentata conversione” e di potenziali “eventi antisemiti” come la Via Crucis. Il Cardinale George Pell e la sua squadra non sono intimoriti da queste insinuazioni, e si stanno attenendo alla linea per cui l'evento è cattolico ma inclusivo. Come ha sottolineato il porporato ai partecipanti alla conferenza stampa, i cattolici rappresentano la più alta percentuale di fedeli nella Nazione che ospita la GMG08, seguiti da anglicani, altri protestanti, ebrei e musulmani. Il Cardinale ha quindi passato il testimone ai rappresentanti di ciascuno di questi gruppi che, a turno, hanno espresso con vigore il proprio sostegno all'evento. Il rabbino capo della Grande Sinagoga di Sydney, Jeremy Lawrence, ha detto a ZENIT che la comunità ebraica apprezza il calore e il rispetto dimostrati dagli organizzatori cattolici della GMG. Riferendosi alla dichiarazione del Concilio Vaticano II sui rapporti della Chiesa con le religioni non cristiane, ha parlato di “una continuazione tangibile dello spirito della 'Nostra Aetate' e dell'eredità e delle previsioni di Giovanni Paolo II”. Il rabbino ha aggiunto che “la visita di Benedetto XVI, che ha stretto forti legami con il rabbino capo di Roma e ha contribuito in modo sostanzioso e diretto ad affrontare questioni di dottrina e liturgia con esperti nel rabbinato, dà preminenza e sottolinea la fede, che è importante per la società australiana”. Il reverendo Tara Curlewis, presidente del Consiglio Ecumenico del Nuovo Galles del Sud e ministro della Uniting Church, ha concordato sostenendo che “indipendentemente da come adoriamo Dio, la GMG è un'opportunità per accendere la fiamma di Dio in tutti noi”. La Curlewis ha ricordato che “la religione può essere una grande forza per unire il nostro mondo piuttosto che per dividere la gente”. Il Vescovo ausiliare Anthony Fisher di Sydney, coordinatore della Giornata Mondiale della Gioventù, ha sottolineato come queste parole vengano tradotte in pratica visto che “i membri di altre chiese, comunità ecclesiali e tradizioni religiose cristiane aprono la propria casa per il programma HomeStay o si uniscono al nostro gruppo di volontari [...]; perfino la scuola islamica di Greenacre, Malek Fahed, ha offerto alloggio a più di 300 pellegrini”. Ikebal Patel, presidente della Federazione Australiana dei Consigli Islamici, ha sostenuto l'idea, affermando: “Come musulmani in Australia vogliamo dimostrare in modo positivo che siamo parte della comunità”. Il Vescovo Fisher ha annunciato che alcuni dei centri di preghiera avranno una dimensione ecumenica, soprattutto quelli guidati dalla Comunità di Taizé. C'è poi il forum dal titolo “Australians All: Face to Face and Faith to Faith”, che coinvolgerà leader cattolici ma anche leader e comunità ebraici, islamici, buddisti e induisti. “Senza menzionare tutti i 300 eventi previsti – ha aggiunto il Vescovo Fisher –, posso ricordare i laboratori di danza delle donne ebree, l'evento 'Music Talks Peace' nella sinagoga, in cui artisti musulmani, ebrei e cristiani si esibiranno insieme, e ovviamente la nostra altamente rispettosa ed ecumenica Via Crucis... ecumenica nel senso che è una versione interamente neotestamentaria-scritturale di raccontare l'ultimo giorno di Cristo”. “La GMG dimostrerà che tutta la vera fede è gemellata con speranza e amore, e così la vera religione deve essere fonte di pace”, ha concluso il Cardinale. Translation (automatic) English German Appel du cardinal George Pell en faveur de la Birmanie May 28, 2008 Le 28 mai 2008 - E.S.M. - Article du Cardinal George Pell, Archevêque de Sydney. Paru dans le Sunday Telegraph du 25 Mai 2008 . Plus de 100.000 personnes ont été tuées et 1,5 million déplacées depuis que le delta de l'Irrawadi a été frappé par le cyclone Nargis. 220.000 autres sont portées disparues. Cette tragédie dévastatrice a été suivie peu de temps après par un tremblement de terre massif en Chine, dont on estime qu'il aurait coûté plus de 74.000 vies. Plus d'un quart de million de personnes ont été blessées et 5 millions laissées sans toit. Le coût économique pour les deux pays pourrait s'élever à 10 milliards de dollars chacun. Le gouvernement chinois a réagi rapidement pour acheminer sauveteurs et secours, mais, en Birmanie, la dictature militaire est restée inerte et a bloqué les offres d'aides internationales. Bien des excuses ont été faites, mais les besoins du peuple birman devrait être la priorité face à un tel désastre. La junte birmane a fait de lourdes dépenses militaires au détriment de services essentiels comme la santé, l'éducation et les infrastructures. Avec de trop faibles dépenses pour les routes, les gens ne peuvent pas apporter leurs produits au marché, les briques et le ciment ne peuvent pas être transportés pour construire des maisons plus solides et les communautés ne peuvent se développer. Au milieu de cette stagnation, l'Église catholique a tranquillement réussi à aider le peuple birmans durant les vingt dernières années. Le matin après que le cyclone a frappé, l'Église birmane, soutenue par l'agence catholique internationale d'aide Caritas, a mis en oeuvre toutes ses ressources limitées a aider les efforts de sauvetage et a sauver des vies et l'espoir. Les réseaux de l'Eglise ont atteint des villages parmi les plus reculés pour apporter de la nourriture, de l'eau, des tentes et des médicaments venus de l'intérieur du pays. Plus tard, alors que le gouvernement allait agir, un groupe catholique a entraîné 400 volontaires en réponse d'urgence, logistique, assainissement et comptabilité. Avec l'aide de la Caritas, la conférence des évêques catholiques de Birmanie est déjà venu au secours de plus de 60.000 personnes. La Caritas et ses partenaires locaux se trouvent face à un énorme défi en Birmanie. Le montant de l'aide qui passe n'est qu'un faible pourcentage de ce qui est nécessaire. La Caritas a une vaste expérience des situations d'urgence et prépare la logistique pour une distribution massive de nourriture aussitôt que cela sera autorisé en Birmanie. Je veux me faire l'écho des mots d'un membre de Caritas sur le terrain, qui disait : je suis très fier que nous, en tant qu'Église, ayons été capables d'être là à un moment où le peuple birmans avait tant besoin d'aide. (...) Nous avons besoin de faire ce que nous pouvons pour supporter ces efforts. Un don à Caritas Australie en réponse à son appel pour la Birmanie est un moyen de le faire (www.caritas.org.au).. Sources : HERMAS - Eucharistie Sacrement de la Miséricorde Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell: Thomas Aquinas College Graduates “Unusually Blessed and Advantaged” May 22, 2008 His Eminence George Cardinal Pell presided over commencement ceremonies at Thomas Aquinas College on Saturday, May 10, 2008. The Archbishop of Sydney, Australia, Cardinal Pell served as principal celebrant and homilist of the Baccalaureate Mass, delivered the commencement address, and awarded diplomas to 80 graduates from 22 states and five countries. This was the college’s largest graduating class in its 37-year history. SANTA PAULA, CA (MAY 20, 2008) — Cardinal Pell remarked during his commencement address that “Students at Thomas Aquinas College have an unusual advantage from their direct engagement for four years with the profound thinkers who have shaped our Western civilization. They have followed the traditional Socratic method of questioning and dialogue, continued their search for meaning and truth in a learning institution which is committed to the Catholic faith. Faith and reason are offered for their acceptance or rejection as they rigorously examine the intellectual claims of these great authors, religious or otherwise. I repeat that they have been unusually blessed and advantaged, because they have an ideal base for any professional course they might now choose to pursue.” During the commencement exercises, by resolution of the Board of Governors, Cardinal Pell was awarded the Saint Thomas Aquinas Medallion, the college’s highest honor, established by its Board of Governors in 1975. The resolution was given in recognition that “His Eminence George Cardinal Pell has shown an exemplary loyalty and devotion to the Holy Father and the magisterium of the Church and has worked tirelessly to proclaim, support, and defend the teachings of the Church, and to advance the mission of Christ on earth.” A native of Australia, Cardinal Pell was a member of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from 1990 to 2000, and he has been Chairman of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Commission for Doctrine and Morals since 2001. He has also served on the Pontifical Council for the Family, the Congregation for Divine Worship, the Congregation for Education, and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Moreover, since 2002, Cardinal Pell has been president of the Vox Clara Committee, which advises the Congregation for Divine Worship on English translations of liturgical texts. This summer, he will host Pope Benedict XVI in Sydney for World Youth Day, scheduled for July 15-20. The event will attract more than 200,000 young people from around the world. Said President Tom Dillon, “We were honored and delighted to welcome His Eminence Cardinal Pell to our campus for this joyful occasion. Our graduating seniors, their families, and all our guests were blessed by his priestly presence and edified by the words of wisdom he shared with us. We are most grateful to Cardinal Pell for making the long journey to our campus, especially as he prepares to welcome the Holy Father to his own archdiocese only weeks from now for World Youth Day.” ABOUT THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE: Ranked the #5 “Best Value” in the country for 2008 among all liberal arts institutions in the United States by The Princeton Review, Thomas Aquinas College is a four-year Catholic liberal arts college with a fully-integrated curriculum composed exclusively of the Great Books, the seminal works in the major disciplines by the great thinkers who have helped shape Western civilization. There are no textbooks, no lectures and no electives. Instead, using only the Socratic method of dialogue in all of their classes, students read and discuss the original works of authors such as Euclid, Dante, Galileo, Descartes, the American Founding Fathers, Adam Smith, Shakespeare, Copernicus, Kepler, Newton, Einstein, Aristotle, Plato, St. Augustine, and of course, St. Thomas Aquinas. Graduates consistently excel in the many world-class institutions at which they pursue graduate degrees in fields such as law, medicine, business, theology and education. They have distinguished themselves serving as lawyers, doctors, business owners, priests, military service men and women, educators, journalists and college presidents. ABOUT CARDINAL PELL: CARDINAL GEORGE PELL was born in Ballarat in1941, and studied for the priesthood at Corpus Christi College, Werribee, and Propaganda Fide College, Rome. He was ordained a Catholic priest St Peter’s Basilica in 1966, and an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Melbourne in 1987. He was appointed seventh Archbishop of Melbourne in 1996, and in 2001 Pope John Paul II appointed him the eighth Archbishop of Sydney. He was made a member of the Sacred College of Cardinals in 2003. From 1990 to 2000 Cardinal Pell was a member of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and he has been Chairman of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Commission for Doctrine and Morals since 2001. He has also served on the Pontifical Council for the Family, the Congregation for Divine Worship, the Congregation for Education, and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Moreover, since 2002, Cardinal Pell has been president of the Vox Clara Committee, which advises the Congregation for Divine Worship on English translations of liturgical texts. Cardinal Pell holds a Licentiate in Theology from Urban University, Rome (1967), a Masters Degree in Education from Monash University, Melbourne (1982), and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Church History from the University of Oxford (1971). He is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators, and was Visiting Scholar at Campion Hall, Oxford University, in 1979 and at St Edmund’s College, Cambridge University, in 1983. He was elected an Honorary Fellow of St Edmund’s in 2003. Cardinal Pell is the author of Issues of Faith and Morals, published by Oxford University Press in 1996. Other publications include The Sisters of St Joseph in Swan Hill 1922-72 (1972), Catholicism in Australia (1988), Rerum Novarum: One Hundred Years Later (1992) and Catholicism and the Architecture of Freedom (1999). Since 2001, he has been a weekly columnist for Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph. Be Not Afraid, a collection of Cardinal Pell’s homilies and writings was published in 2004, and God and Caesar, a selection of Cardinal Pell’s essays on religion, politics and society, was published in late 2007 by Catholic University of America Press. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese The Archbishop of Sydney on why Cardinal Newman is relevant today Mar 10, 2008 "Cardinal Newman is a most important figure today," the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, told me during a private visit to quiet Quarr Abbey, the Benedictine monastery, near Ryde on the Isle of Wight. (Times, March 10, 2008) "Many of the issues that Newman was writing about in the 19th century are now being played out more generally in the life of the Catholic Church in the 20th and 21st centuries," he said, "Newman's letter to the Duke of Norfolk on the topic of conscience, his Development of Doctrine, and the role of lay people in the Church are still crucial issues today." The Australian cardinal said his personal interest in Newman dates back to his time as a seminarian in the 1960s. "I was secretary and president of the Newman Society when I was a student at the Propaganda Fide College in Rome. I edited the Newman magazine. I have read a lot of Newman and I have written and spoken about Newman many times. Cardinal Pell is hosting the 23rd World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney during July. Asked what message of encouragement he had for young Catholics who are struggling to practise their Catholic faith in today’s secular and materialist society, he paused for a moment and replied. "My central concerns are religious and my task as a priest is to preach Jesus Christ and to try to explain the person and the teaching of Jesus Christ to young people. My interest in other matters follows as a consequence of Christian teaching. I do not know too much about the present situation in the UK but two things are encouraging. "One is the increase in the number of worshipping Catholics through Polish and other overseas immigration. Secondly is the fact that forces our trying to push the Christian viewpoint out of public life and discussion. English people don’t like being pushed around, especially young English Catholics. These hostile pressures will help to produce a healthy reaction." Cardinal Pell added: "I would encourage young Catholics in the UK and Ireland to come to Australia for World Youth Day. We are on the other side of the world geographically but the way of life is very similar. "I would urge them to come for two reasons. First of all to strengthen their own faith and secondly to help strengthen the faith of young Australians. My hopes are that the World Youth Day 2008 will showcase the Catholic package and will strengthen the faith and goodness of many, many young people." Young people found the last World Youth Day held in Germany during 2005 to be rather chaotic. Did he think arrangements in Sydney would run more smoothly? "We organised a successful Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 but a World Youth Day is not a success because it is well organised. "Cologne was a big success both spiritually and religiously but certainly some of the organisation did not match my stereo type of Germany efficiency. We believe in Australia that we are pretty competent organisers. I have said on a number of times in Australia that our bigger challenge is for the World Youth Day to be a spiritual success." The calm silence of the cloisters at Quarr Abbey was only broken by the sound of the bell ringing to call the monks to prayer. Translation (automatic) English No alla forma deviata del matrimonio omosessuale Feb 27, 2008 Il Cardinale George Pell difende il matrimonio e ribadisce il “no” alle unioni civili. Sydney (Agenzia Fides, 26/2/2008) - Il matrimonio fra uomo e donna è un’istituzione fondante, essenziale per la società. Né la forma deviata del matrimonio omosessuale, né altre forme di convivenza, come le unioni civili, possono sostituirlo o rappresentare un’alternativa. Ne va del bene e del futuro della società stessa. Sono le affermazioni diramate di recente dal Card. George Pell, Arcivescovo di Sydney, che è intervenuto pubblicamente su uno dei temi che in Australia innesca accesi dibattiti, riflessioni e commenti nel mondo della politica, delle organizzazioni civili, delle associazioni ecclesiali. Si tratta di questioni che toccano la vita stessa della nazione, sulle quali la popolazione e il Parlamento australiano saranno chiamati a esprimere il proprio parere. Per questo la campagna culturale condotta dalle Chiese cristiane intende interpellare la coscienza delle persone e valorizzare quanto più possibile l’istituto della famiglia naturale, fondata sul matrimonio fra uomo e donna. “Il Parlamento australiano ha affermato, nella scorsa legislatura, che il matrimonio può essere celebrato unicamente fra un uomo e una donna”, riconoscendo una certa linea antropologica, “e io sostengo fermamente questa posizione”, ha ribadito l’Arcivescovo di Sydney. Il Cardinale ha notato anche che, visto il declino del tasso di natalità, le nascite extraconiugali, le pressioni che ogni famiglia subisce, “è assolutamente giusto che il governo privilegi l’unione di un uomo e di una donna per tutelare la nascita e la vita di un bambino, perché i coniugi rimangano fedeli l’un l’altro e possano prendersi cura della nuova vita”. “Penso sia nell’interesse stesso della società continuare a tutelare legalmente il matrimonio fra uomo e donna”, ha aggiunto. Anche rispetto alle “unioni civili” che alcuni partiti politici stanno proponendo alla nazione, come possibilità di registrare le convivenze e le relazioni eterosessuali o anche omosessuali. I temi legati al matrimonio e alla famiglia, ha aggiunto il Cardinale, saranno trattati anche nel corso della Giornata Mondiale della Gioventù, che si terrà a Sydney a luglio 2008, vista la necessità di invogliare le nuove generazioni a fare propri i valori cristiani fondamentali e costruire una società giusta e fraterna. Translation (automatic) English German Le cardinal George Pell défend le mariage et répète le “non” aux unions civiles Feb 27, 2008 Le mariage entre homme et femme est une institution basique, essentielle pour la société. (eucharistiemisericor.free.fr, 27.2.08) Ni la forme déviée du mariage homosexuel, ni d’autres formes de cohabitation, comme les unions civiles ne peuvent le substituer ou représenter une alternative. Il en va du bien et du futur de la société même. Telles sont les affirmations diffusées récemment par le Card. George Pell, Archevêque de Sydney, qui est intervenu publiquement sur l’un des thèmes qui en Australie amorce des débats ouverts, des réflexions et des commentaires dans le monde de la politique, des organisations civiles, des associations ecclésiales. Il s’agit de questions qui touchent la vie même de la nation, sur lesquelles la population et le Parlement australien seront appelés à exprimer leur avis. C’est pourquoi la campagne culturelle menée par les églises chrétiennes entend interpeller la conscience des personnes et valoriser le plus possible l’institut de la famille naturelle, fondée sur le mariage entre un homme et une femme. “Le Parlement australien a affirmé, lors de la dernière législature, que le mariage peut être célébré uniquement entre un homme et une femme”, reconnaissant une certaine ligne anthropologique, “et je soutiens fermement cette position”, a répété l’archevêque de Sydney. Le cardinal a remarqué que, vu le déclin du taux de natalité, les naissances extraconjugales, les pressions que chaque famille subit, “il est absolument juste que le gouvernement privilégie l’union d’un homme et d’une femme pour soutenir la naissance et la vie d’un enfant, pour que les conjoints demeurent fidèles l’un l’autre et puissent prendre soin de la nouvelle vie”. “Je pense qu’il est dans l’intérêt même de la société de continuer à protéger légalement le mariage entre homme et femme”, a-t-il ajouté. Également dans le respect aux “unions civiles” que quelques partis politiques proposent à la nation, comme possibilité d’enregistrer les cohabitations et les relations hétérosexuelles ou également homosexuelles. Les thèmes liés au mariage et à la famille, a ajouté le cardinal, seront traités également dans le cours des Journées Mondiales de la Jeunesse, qui aura lieu à Sydney en juillet 2008 en présence du pape Benoît XVI, vu le besoin d’inciter les nouvelles générations à faire leurs les valeurs chrétiennes fondamentales et construire une société juste et fraternelle. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell Challenges Listeners to Comprehensive Pro-Life Ethic Jan 25, 2008 The Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul has awarded its first annual Mysterium Fidei (Mystery of Faith) Grand Prix award for outstanding pro-life work to George Cardinal Pell, the archbishop of Sydney, Australia. SEOUL, South Korea, January 24, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In his address at the award ceremony January 17, the Cardinal gave a comprehensive examination of the issues surrounding abortion, euthanasia, artificial procreation and the destruction of the traditional family. Cardinal Pell urged the pro-life movement "to draw society into deeper reflection about the mystery, wonder and value of human life," and reject the new utilitarian morality. The award included a prize of more than $104,000, which Cardinal Pell said will go to fund pro-life initiatives. In his address, He warned against the growth of the materialistic "post-modern" and environmentalist ethic which he called "a minority neo-pagan, anti-human mentality," that reduces human value to issues of "efficiency, functionality and usefulness." The cardinal rejected the materialist philosophy that supports the anti-human environmental movement, saying that such "extreme" proposals as taxing new parents to compensate for the "carbon footprint" of their offspring "are often expressions of modern society's deep confusion about the place and value of the human person in the world." "They should set off warning bells for us. If we have learnt anything from the atrocities of the last century, it is that wide scale attacks upon human life and dignity both stem from and sustain reductive understandings of the human person." It is not only the physical, biological ecology that is of concern to humanity, but the "moral and social ecology of the earth also calls for urgent attention". Pell, who has long been one of the world's deepest and most articulate Catholic defenders of the comprehensive life ethic, said, "We need to promote an alternative to the technological outlook which seeks to control and manipulate birth and death, to reduce nature to 'matter', to elevate having over being, to depersonalise the body and sexuality, and to replace the criterion of personal dignity with the criterion of efficiency, functionality and usefulness." Taking an all-inclusive approach, he touched upon most of the issues that pertain to the pro-life and pro-family movement, showing that abortion is only one grave threat of many against human life. Summing up the goals and challenges of the pro-life movement, the cardinal elucidated the ways pro-life people can make a case for the entire ethical tradition of the Judeo-Christian west. Apart from abortion and euthanasia, the cardinal pointed to the apparent paradox of the massive destruction of human life involved in the new reproductive technologies. "Where anti-life practices once largely involved the taking of human life, today they may also involve the making of human life". He cited recent Australian research that concluded that, of embryos created by fertility labs, the overall survival rate is about 3.5 per cent. The deeper problem, he said, is the reduction in the value of human life and dignity. As pro-life advocates have long pointed out, the cardinal said that the manufacture of children in fertility clinics, "however much they will be loved by their parents," reduces these children's dignity. They "do not come into being as an equal third party to their love, but as an object of scientific technology". "Children are no longer seen principally as gifts in their own right, but primarily as commodities to satisfy adult wants." He linked so-called "same-sex marriage" to this anti-life principle, saying that giving the social equivalence of marriage to same sex relationships "says that there is no right of a child to be known and raised by their biological mother and father". In all of this apparent ethical chaos, the cardinal called for pro-life people to take their principles and set about the re-ordering of the "moral ecology of society". "It can be tempting," he said, "to think that this is too hard." But he clearly laid upon his hearers the task of re-presenting the traditional ethical principles that created the national and international laws protecting human life. "We need first of all to foster, in ourselves and in others, a contemplative outlook. Such an outlook arises from faith in the God of life, who has created every individual as a 'wonder'. It is the outlook of those who see life in its deeper meaning, who grasp its utter gratuitousness, its beauty and its invitation to freedom and responsibility." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Pro-Lifers Need to Pull Heartstrings Jan 24, 2008 Receives "Mysterium Vitae" Award From Seoul Archdiocese. SEOUL, South Korea, JAN. 23, 2008 (Zenit.org).- When Cardinal George Pell received an award for his pro-life work, he encouraged fellow defenders of life to work at awakening wonder and awe among their contemporaries. The archbishop of Sydney, Australia, received the first annual "Mysterium Vitae" (Mystery of Life) Grand Prix award granted by the Archdiocese of Seoul. The award included a prize of more than $104,000, which Cardinal Pell said will go to fund pro-life initiatives. At an acceptance speech Jan. 17, Cardinal Pell reviewed some of the main attacks against life in all of its stages, ranging from abortion and euthanasia, to the destruction of embryos for research and cloning. But, he said, "We should remember that people are often moved more by their heartstrings than by their heads." "This fact is certainly not lost on proponents of destructive embryo research who continue to advance their case through the mouths of young children with insulin-dependent diabetes or former high-profile athletes who have been tragically struck down by paraplegia," the cardinal noted. "A five-day-old human embryo in a Petri dish usually has little chance of evoking the same degree of sympathy as people with incurable illnesses or disabilities." Drawing in But the cardinal contended that emotive arguments can also work in favor of the pro-life cause. "There are other deep emotions and intuitions such as wonder and awe which can draw people toward a pro-life perspective," he said. Cardinal Pell used the example of Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka to prove his point. The scientist investigated the reprogramming of human skin cells to pluripotent stem cells, thus avoiding the ethical problems with the cloning and destruction of human embryos. The cardinal explained that it was "ethical qualms" that led Yamanaka to work on reprogramming: The doctor was viewing a human embryo through a microscope when, the New York Times reported, he realized that "there was such a small difference between it and my daughters." The 66-year-old cardinal said the example "reminds us that while morally upright principles are indispensable, it is impossible to apply them in a vacuum." He added that "the modern discipline of bioethics usually has very little to say about these deeper questions." He lamented that too often "bioethics has become overly rational, abstract, procedural and ideological." Contemplation Cardinal Pell contended that the role of religious traditions can aid this situation, "especially in helping others to develop what John Paul II described as a 'contemplative outlook.'" He explained: "We need first of all to foster, in ourselves and in others, a contemplative outlook. Such an outlook arises from faith in the God of life, who has created every individual as a 'wonder.' It is the outlook of those who see life in its deeper meaning, who grasp its utter gratuitousness, its beauty and its invitation to freedom and responsibility. "This outlook does not give in to discouragement when confronted by those who are sick, suffering, outcast or at death's door. Instead, in all these situations it feels challenged to find meaning, and precisely in these circumstances it is open to perceiving in the face of every person a call to encounter, dialogue and solidarity." Cardinal Pell contended, then, that "a primary task for the pro-life movement is to draw society into deeper reflection about the mystery, wonder and value of human life." He added: "We need to promote an alternative to the technological outlook which seeks to control and manipulate birth and death, to reduce nature to 'matter,' to elevate having over being, to depersonalize the body and sexuality, and to replace the criterion of personal dignity with the criterion of efficiency, functionality and usefulness. "Our task is to call our brothers and sisters' hearts and minds to wonder and awe." Changing tides Cardinal Pell was awarded the prize, in part, for the founding of the Australian campus of the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and the Family while he was archbishop of Melbourne, the establishment of the Archdiocese of Sydney's biannual grant of 100,000 Australian dollars (US $87,442) to support adult stem cell research in Australia, and the formation of a support service for pregnant women in Sydney. "It is an immense honor to receive this prize, and I am particularly delighted to receive it from Cardinal [Nicholas] Cheong who has himself given such distinguished and effective leadership to pro-life efforts in his region," Cardinal Pell said. He added: "In 2005, for example, Cardinal Cheong committed $10 million to the establishment of the Catholic Institute of Cell Therapy in Seoul to support adult stem cell research. "The year before the institute was established, 60% of government and private funding for stem cell research was directed to embryonic stem cells and cloning. This situation has now been reversed, with 60% of funding from all sources last year going to adult stem cell work. "Cardinal Cheong and his collaborators are creating new and effective ways of promoting a culture of life from which the Church throughout the world, and in Australia, can learn." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese George Pell honoured in South Korea for anti-abortion stand Jan 18, 2008 Catholic Archbishop Cardinal George Pell has received an award from the Catholic church in South Korea for his strong stand against abortion. (Herald Sun, January 18, 2008) SYDNEY - Cardinal Pell, an outspoken opponent of abortion, is the first recipient of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul's The Mysterium Vitae (Mystery of Life) Grand Prix award. He received the award from Archbishop of Seoul Cardinal Nicholas Cheong in front of more than 400 people at a ceremony in central Seoul last night. A statement from the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney said Cardinal Pell was given the award for his pro-life stance in public debates, founding the Australian campus of the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and the Family, and the establishment of a $100,000 grant to support adult stem cell research in Australia. He was also recognised for the establishment of "life offices" in Melbourne and Sydney and a support service for pregnant women in Sydney. Cardinal Pell said the award's prize money of about $120,000 would be used to fund pro-life initiatives. "Discriminating against individuals or destroying human life on the grounds of race, sex, religion, disability, illness, or stage of development is not only a grave injustice - it also undermines human rights and social justice, and makes the task of building good societies harder," Cardinal Pell said in a statement. In 2005, Cardinal Cheong committed $US10 million towards the establishment of the Catholic Institute of Cell Therapy in Seoul to support adult stem cell research. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell credits friendship with Pope Benedict for Sydney WYD Choice Jan 17, 2008 Cardinal George Pell credited his two-decades-long friendship with Pope Benedict XVI for the success of his efforts to bring World Youth Day to Australia in 2008. Sydney, Jan 17, 2008 / 04:32 am (CNA).- According to The Bulletin magazine, Cardinal Pell said that he admired his “personal friend…very much.” When asked if his friendship with the Pontiff helped him secure Sydney as the location for the youth event, Pell said it was “no disadvantage”. He also added that "it is impossible to know whether the bid would have been successful if it wasn’t for his Vatican connections." Cardinal Pell also said he hoped World Youth Day would aid the Church in Australia in its efforts to reach the youth. “I wouldn't be surprised if we don't have a bit of a bounce for a couple of years afterwards in terms of young men coming into the priesthood and young women to devote themselves to the Catholic Church and even the number of young Catholics who want to become Catholic teachers,” the cardinal said. Though saying he would not call the state of Catholicism in Australia a crisis, Cardinal Pell said the country faced “a serious erosion of practice and to some extent an erosion of faith also.” "World Youth Day is an attempt to do something about it,” he said. More than 500,000 people are expected to attend Pope Benedict’s Mass at World Youth Day, including 250,000 people ages 16 to 35. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Catholic Cardinal and Bishop Condemn Climate Change Extremism, Radical Environmentalism Jan 06, 2008 Pell says "it's almost as though people without religion…have got to be frightened of something". VATICAN, January 3, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Two high-ranking Catholic clergymen ushered in the New Year by separately denouncing the currently most fashionable doomsday theory-the theory of man-driven global-warming-and radical environmentalism, as both unscientific and disturbingly quasi-religious. Cardinal George Pell, the notoriously outspoken Australian clergy-man, and Bishop Crepaldi, the Vatican secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, published their comments in The Catholic World Report (CWR), and Fides news agency, respectively. Cardinal PellIn a lengthy interview with CWR, Pell, while admitting that there is clear evidence that man-made pollutants can have negative effects on the environment, cautioned against the dogmatic and extreme position on climate change that has become mainstream in the last several years. Instead, said Pell, the climate change phenomenon should be approached with the rational skepticism that is part and parcel of the scientific method. "It is no disrespect to science or scientists to take these latest claims with a grain of salt. Commitment to the scientific method actually requires it," said the Cardinal, pointing out that it was only a few decades ago when numerous scientists were predicting a potentially devastating phenomenon of global cooling. "I am certainly skeptical about extravagant claims of impending man-made climatic catastrophes. Scientific debate is not decided by any changing consensus, even if it is endorsed by political parties and public opinion. Climate change both up and down has been occurring, probably since earth first had a climate." "Significant evidence suggests that average temperatures rose by 0.6 degrees centigrade during the last century," he continued, "and there is no doubt that large-scale industrial activities can have an adverse impact in particular locations, as in the larger Chinese cities. But when averaged out across the globe, it is difficult to see this being the main culprit for any overall global warming, let alone bringing us to the verge of catastrophe. Again, we are dealing with a very imprecise science here, whatever the computer models might suggest. There are so many other variables." "Man-made carbon emissions-however large or undesirable-need to be set in context next to the immense power of the sun, the influence of the oceans, clouds and other forces of nature that have been impacting the earth for millions of years." Pell strongly criticized public figures in Australia for having embraced the climate change fad with a herd-like mentality that belies Australia's reputation for rugged independence and clear-headedness.  "Despite the fact that Australians like to see themselves as a ruggedly independent, rational, and democratic people, in some respects a herd-like mentality still prevails. Right now, the mass media, politicians, many church figures, and the public generally seem to have embraced even the wilder claims about man-made climate change as if they constituted a new religion." He continued, "These days, for any public figure to question the basis of what amounts to a green fundamentalist faith is tantamount to heresy." Pell traced the cause of the enthusiasm with which the West has embraced the newest doomsday theory to what he called the West's "pagan emptiness."   "Some of the more hysterical and extreme claims about global warming appear symptomatic of a pagan emptiness, of a Western fear when confronted by the immense and basically uncontrollable forces of nature," he said, continuing, "Years ago I was struck by the fears that middle-class kids without religion had about nuclear war. It was almost an obsession with a few of them. It's almost as though people without religion, who don't belong to any of the great religious traditions, have got to be frightened of something. Perhaps they're looking for a cause that is almost a substitute for religion." While Pell advocated a healthy concern for the environment, he concluded saying, "Jesus calls us to address the challenges in our own hearts, families, and communities before we moralize about distant worlds, where we are usually powerless." Bishop Crepaldi's remarks followed the same lines, cautioning men and women to distinguish between valid scientific theories and ideologically driven agendas that are veiled by a deceptive layer of science, reported Catholic World News.  "It is always necessary to distinguish between scientific work and ideological use of scientific work," said Crepaldi. Crepaldi further clarified his remarks, warning against ideologies that "subordinate the human person to a presumed centrality of nature." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Archbishop says religion unfairly blamed for war Dec 23, 2007 Religion has been unfairly blamed for conflicts around the world in recent years, but Christians  should remember the benefits of their devotion, Sydney Catholic Archbishop George Pell has said. (news.com.au, December 23, 2007) In his Christmas message, the archbishop reminds Christians that the birth of Jesus is a symbol of  helplessness and hope.  "Christians believe that the almighty God has visited us, not just through prophets, saints and  humanitarian heroes, but through sending his son to be born of a virgin in Bethlehem...," Cardinal  Pell has said.  "Babies are vulnerable, more helpless initially than any of the animals.  "So too was the son of God, but every birth inspires hope, even when it is only hope against hope." The archbishop has said God and his believers are not to blame for the world's wars or crimes and  Christians should remember the benefits of their devotion.  "...God has been attacked angrily here and there in the English-speaking world and believers have  been accused of causing most of the wars and crimes in history," Cardinal Pell has said.  "This is an exaggeration as the moral monsters of the twentieth century Lenin, Stalin, Mao and Pol  Pot were atheists and Hitler bitterly hated Jews and Christians.  "But all believers have to acknowledge the downside of their long story, while asking that their  positive contributions are also recorded." In July, more than 500,000 Christians will descend upon Sydney in celebration of World Youth Day  and a papal visit.  Cardinal Pell has said followers would travel much further than Mary and Joseph did for the birth of  their baby son Jesus in Bethlehem.  "I ask you all to welcome them into your hearts and perhaps, as at the Olympics, into your homes,"  he said.  "As we celebrate again the birth of the helpless newly-born Christ child, we should remember the  sick and the sad, the lonely and the angry and reach out to help them." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Dispels "Heresy" that Catholics Can Approve Contraception "in Good Conscience" Oct 12, 2007 Says Church Will Only Grow When full Teaching on Life taught; "Tactical silence", as practiced by many bishops, would stifle growth. (lifesite.net, October 11, 2007) SYDNEY - A new book called 'God and Caesar" by Cardinal George Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney is to be published this week.  The book deals with a widespread 'heresy' among Catholics which permits approval of contraception and even abortion by way of "primacy of conscience". Borrowing from Oxford Professor Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, Pell calls it the "Donald Duck heresy" referring to the Disney character who "knows it all", and "has an unshakeable conviction of self-righteousness."  The self-indulgent duck, explains Pell is well-meaning but "his activity is often disastrous for himself and others." So too with Catholics who practice and indeed promote a disordered vision of human sexuality, with contraception, abortion and even embryo-destructive research suggests Pell.  With claims to "primacy of conscience" they falsely believe themselves in the right, while they thus distort the image of God which the Creator intended to convey in the fruitful sexual union of husband and wife. "Too many 'Donald Ducks' produce a 'feel good' society, which works to remove personal guilt, anything that would make people feel uncomfortable, and complacent self-satisfaction becomes a virtue," writes Pell.  "Confession of sins is replaced with therapy, and self-reproach with self-discovery." The Cardinal notes that the false opinion on the primacy of conscience was a main target of Pope John Paul II's 1993 encyclical Veritatis Splendor.  "Only truth, or the Word of God has primacy, and is the ultimate rule of action. The individual conscience is a proximate norm-necessary, but not sufficient. Even a genuine searcher for truth can be mistaken, sometimes with disastrous consequences." The book is a compilation of essays the Cardinal has penned over the years.  One essay which was delivered as a talk to the Linicare Conference in the UK in 2000, under the title "The Role of the Bishop in Promoting the Gospel of Life".  In that talk, the Cardinal warned that the Catholic Church would not grow unless the full teaching of the Church on life matters was expounded.  "Tactical silence", as practiced by many bishops, would stifle growth he suggested. "Church growth will only follow the faithful living and effective presentation of the fullness of Catholic teaching on life, he said. "No growth will follow from dilution or deformation of the teaching on life, nor from tactful silence." "There is very little understanding in the public mind - even within the Catholic community - of the connection between 'the Pill' as the trigger of a contraceptive mentality, and the evil consequences for society of this contraceptive and irresponsible mentality," he said. "So a major task for the Church is to encourage people more and more to see the wisdom, human and divine, of this particular teaching." "People often do not like being told what is right or wrong and what to do by authority figures - clerical or otherwise. When Church leaders - clerical or lay - lapse into silence or are unable to argue convincingly for moral principles, even pro-life supporters - who are pro-family and opposed to abortion and "euthanasia"- can be tempted to see their position as an individual one, which they would not want to force onto others, especially by public legislation. This is no basis for action in support of the Gospel of Life." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell defends pope Pius XII. Oct 11, 2007 Sydney's Catholic Cardinal George Pell has mounted a spirited defence of World War II Pope Pius XII, saying the church had helped as many Jews as it could in a climate of fear. (The Age, October 10, 2007) Pius XII was Pope from 1939 until his death in 1958. During WWII and for decades later he was heavily criticised for not actively speaking out against the Nazi march across Europe and the Holocaust. But last year an Italian paper published extracts from the diary of an Italian nun which said Pius had ordered Rome's Catholics to hide Jews. Meanwhile, Cardinal Pell said he "would not plead guilty to the charge" that Pius had turned a blind eye to the Nazi slaughter. He pointed to the move by the Chief Rabbi in Rome who became a Catholic in the wake of WWII. "You don't make that sort of transition over to a body who's listed amongst your principal opponents," Cardinal Pell told the National Press Club. Fear, Cardinal Pell said, had been the main reason Pius had not spoken out publicly during the Holocaust. "We have free speech, we take it for granted, that wasn't the situation under the Nazis. "While the church might have done more, the church did a lot. "The Nazis hated the church precisely because they recognised it was one of their leading opponents. "Overwhelmingly the people who gave succour to the Jews were Christian people, not entirely but largely Christian people of the different denominations." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese State action a victory for religious freedom Sept 27, 2007 Cardinal George Pell of Sydney called it "a victory for religious freedom" when a legislative committee rejected a motion to declare him in contempt of the state Parliament for criticizing a bill authorizing research to promote therapeutic cloning. SYDNEY, Australia (CNS, 9/26/2007) – "To witness to a Christian point of view is not an offense against anyone," the cardinal told reporters in mid-September after the Upper House Privileges Committee of the Parliament of New South Wales rejected the contempt motion. When the state Parliament was considering the human cloning bill in June, Cardinal Pell described it as grotesque and said it would authorize the creation of human-animal hybrids. He also warned Catholic legislators that voting for the bill would have consequences on their standing in the church. Several legislators, including some Catholics, objected to Cardinal Pell entering the debate and introduced a motion seeking a declaration of contempt against him. Cardinal Pell spoke of the debate and the passage of the bill with reporters visiting Australia in preparation for the July 2008 celebration of World Youth Day. The cardinal said it was important to speak to young people about the Catholic position on social and moral issues, "but one must understand what comes first: the horse or the cart. ... It seems to me that conversion to Christ must come first. We call young people to follow Christ; then when they have been converted, some will enter the battle for social justice (and) others will fight for the family, for life." Occasionally, he said, young people will become involved first in social justice work, then embrace Christianity, "but this is not the norm." As Australia prepares to host hundreds of thousands of young people for the 2008 gathering with Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Pell said, the Australian church is focusing on forming youth leaders and strengthening the basic faith commitment of Australian Catholic youths. "For us, World Youth Day is not a celebration lasting a few days, but rather it is a process," he said. "We will prepare, celebrate and hope that afterward the conversion will continue. "This means that when there is conversion, we must offer an opportunity for formation to help them understand in their daily lives the consequences of following Christ: in their families and marriage, (or regarding) sex, cloning, justice for the poor, war and peace," he said. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Catholic Church drops school fidelity vows Aug 08, 2007 THE Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has withdrawn plans to have its 167 school principals, deputy principals and religious education co-ordinators commit publicly to a "vow of fidelity" by adhering to church teaching on homosexuality, birth control and women's ordination. Linda Morris Religious Affairs Writer (Sydney Morning Herald, August 9, 2007) THE Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has withdrawn plans to have its 167 school principals, deputy principals and religious education co-ordinators commit publicly to a "vow of fidelity" by adhering to church teaching on homosexuality, birth control and women's ordination. The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, had wanted to extend the oath of fidelity and profession of faith, a requirement of church law for bishops, priests and heads of seminaries, to all senior educational leaders. The leader of the Sydney church had insisted that the church had every right to demand of its education officials a public commitment to the moral teachings and identity of the church, and was not an attempt at control. But the controversial proposal, contained in a draft pastoral plan that was circulated for public comment, is to be withdrawn, the Sydney Catholic Education Office has confirmed. Instead the office is to draft a standard statement in which all its school leaders will be asked to dedicate themselves to the church and its teachings without submitting to an oath of office with formal church law jurisdiction. "People developing the pastoral plan withdrew the formal statement in canon law and it was decided that it wasn't the most appropriate way, so it will not be in the next draft," Brother Kelvin Canavan, executive director of the Catholic Education Office told the Herald. The backdown comes as the the church defended its new mission to revive Catholic identity in its schools among students and teachers, and maximise enrolment of Catholic students. Seventeen bishops from NSW and the ACT issued a statement this week warning that Catholic schools were at a crossroads, with their identity threatened by falling enrolments of Catholic students and growing numbers of students from different religious backgrounds. They foreshadowed strategies to increase the "religious literacy" of Catholic students, draw their parents into religious parish life, and even build preschool or "prior to school" centres for children under six to start their spiritual development before kindergarten. Some parents have complained that they are being pressured by priests and principals to have their children complete the sacraments and to attend Mass with their child. Elite Catholic high schools, they said, were accepting only children from Catholic primary schools and giving preference to those parents who were active in their parish. But the secretary of the Independent Teachers Union, Dick Shearman, said it was perfectly reasonable for Catholic bishops to insist that their schools reflect Catholic faith and values. "All parents are pressured to be involved in the activities of their school, be it a public or Christian school, to attend speech nights and fund-raisers, and for Catholic schools that will include a spiritual dimension," he said. "Why would anyone think otherwise?" Brother Canavan said it was customary but not compulsory that Catholic school students be prepared for Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation. Likewise there was a longstanding tradition in schools with enrolment pressures that preference be given to families taking an active part of the parish community. Mr Shearman welcomed the bishop's statement as recognising the realities of changing enrolment patterns. The greater challenge facing the church was how to keep fees low to make Catholic education more accessible for the underprivileged while properly resourcing and staffing its schools so they could compete with the government and non-Catholic school sectors. Increasingly, Catholic schools were serving middle Australia, and not poorer families. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Dear Pope Benedict, Cardinal Pell Is In Trouble. Please Send Archbishop Burke. Jul 10, 2007 By Eric Alcock, President, Vote Life, Canada! (www.votelifecanada.com). His Eminence, Cardinal Pell, deserves great credit for his willingness and his zeal to deal with the public aspects of the scandal taking place in recent weeks in Australia where Catholic politicians have voted for embryonic stem cell research (ESCR). The Cardinal has reiterated to an entire continent the unchanging position of the Church on the gravity of supporting the killing of embryos for research. This is, in itself, an essential part of the role of a Bishop. But unfortunately, that’s as far as it went. At this point, considering how the controversy has unfolded, and now appears to be flat-lining, I wish to state my case as to why I think Cardinal Pell’s actions might have actually done more harm than good for the Catholic Church in Australia. To summarize, I would say that at the very best, the Cardinal has helped to inform many Australians of the nature of the moral question of ESCR but has left unfinished business and a good deal of confusion in the wake of events. At the worst, he’s made loud, threatening noises and caught everybody’s attention, but shown himself to be an impotent, noisy gong and an embarrassment to the Church in at least two ways. He gave evidence of being ashamed of Church teaching and also of being evasive and disingenuous when his words were put to the test. The news that Cardinal Pell is to be interrogated by parliamentary committee for contempt of Parliament is of course absurd and absolutely unwarranted. I wish to make it clear that Cardinal Pell had every right to say what he did and to raise the issue with Catholic politicians in Australia particularly at this time when the vote on ESCR approached. It was his duty as a Bishop, and also as the top Church leader in Australia to raise the issue, and to make a grand noise about it if necessary. Insofar as he followed Church guidelines [I dispute that he did] and did this effectively he is to be commended. Many Catholic sources are giving the Cardinal a high grade for his performance. As I noted above, there was some good that came out of the Cardinal’s protest but in the end the Cardinal fumbled the ball badly, back peddled, failed even to state the “classic Catholic position” which he insisted was his duty as a Bishop, and showed up in a high powered interview with false teeth. True, the Cardinal came under a lot of unjust attacks but because of the way the affair ended I believe he suffered a loss, not a gain, in respect and support because he was perceived as very weak and equivocal. It’s so rare today to see a Bishop stand up at all for the Catholic faith and I understand why Catholics want to offer unqualified and non-critical support. However, it’s just never wise to close our eyes to the truth, on any level. If the Church is ever to ascend out of its chaos we must recognize that the truth is really all we do have. We must prize that above all else and be prepared to exercise discernment and to speak the truth. Pope Benedict XVI, while formerly heading up the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prepared a concise document entitled “Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion,” [http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/apr/050419a.html] which was issued to Bishops especially in the context of dealing with the unworthy reception of Holy Communion by Catholic politicians “who systematically campaign for abortion.” Nevertheless, the principles contained therein could apply equally well to any Catholic obstinately persisting in manifest grave sin. The significance of this well known document cannot be over-estimated. At the time of its publication it created a great stir, particularly in the US Catholic community, because the document was first received by Cardinal McCarrick of Washington. This is certainly the most precise prescription in recent history regarding the question of discipline for Catholic politicians who support abortion laws, and a prescription personally filled by the current Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. In any dispute or controversy dealing with Catholic politicians over this issue, one would be hard pressed to think that the clear guidelines contained in “Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion” would not prove invaluable to all Bishops dealing in their respective nations with the same rampant pro-abortion agendas of Catholic politicians. In Australia, for example, the controversy stirred up by Cardinal Pell was one dealing with PRECISELY this question of Catholic politicians voting in favour of embryonic stem cell research, an activity purposefully aimed, in every instance, at the destruction of embryonic human beings. This is abortion in its most insidious strain and Cardinal Pell did an excellent job in pointing this out to Australians. However, Cardinal Pell failed to take the necessary steps to stem the tide of this evil and after all was said and done, failed even to announce clear Catholic teaching on the matter of discipline for Catholic politicians who choose to obstinately defy their Church. There are two very weighty paragraphs, #5 and #6, in “Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion” which I wish to quote. From this point forward I shall refer to them simply as “THE PRINCIPLE.” 5. Regarding the grave sin of abortion or euthanasia, when a person’s formal cooperation becomes manifest (understood, in the case of a Catholic politician, as his consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws), his Pastor should meet with him, instructing him about the Church’s teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist. 6. When "these precautionary measures have not had their effect or in which they were not possible," and the person in question, with obstinate persistence, still presents himself to receive the Holy Eucharist, "the minister of Holy Communion must refuse to distribute it" (cf. Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts Declaration "Holy Communion and Divorced, Civilly Remarried Catholics" [2002], nos. 3-4). This decision, properly speaking, is not a sanction or a penalty. Nor is the minister of Holy Communion passing judgement on the person’s subjective guilt, but rather is reacting to the person’s public unworthiness to receive Holy Communion due to an objective situation of sin. Having finished my introduction, let’s look at the Cardinal’s latest interview, [http://www.abc.net.au/sundayprofile/stories/s1952834.htm] one which I rate as a washout with respect to the issue of disciplining Catholic politicians. This author’s comments appear at appropriate places in italics and within brackets. ********** Cardinal Pell’s Recent Interview June 17, 2007 with Sunday Profile Defending his right to speak: Cardinal George Pell http://www.abc.net.au/sundayprofile/stories/s1952834.htm Sunday, 17 June 2007 Hello and welcome to Sunday Profile. Tonight an exclusive interview with the besieged Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell. On Friday it was announced that his comments about a NSW bill on stem cell research would be investigated for contempt of parliament. The Cardinal had issued Catholic MP's a veiled threat -- that if they voted for the bill, they had to realize that it had consequences for their place in the life of the church. Cardinal Pell is scathing in his response to the decision by the NSW Parliament to investigate his comments. We recorded an interview with Archbishop Pell on Wednesday. Late yesterday, he told us the proposed enquiry is a clumsy attempt to curb religious freedom and freedom of speech. He told us, and I quote: “I'm a long term public supporter of parliamentary democracy and the doctrine of the separation of the church and the state. In a free society, anti-Christians like the Green, Lee Rhiannon, have every right to express their views. However, there is a whiff of Stalinism or perhaps only of Henry the 8th in her attempt to use this referral as a ‘warning’ to me. “I respect parliamentary procedures and would be privileged to appear before the committee if necessary, to resist this clumsy attempt to curb religious freedom and freedom of speech.” MONICA ATTARD: The Human Cloning Amendment Bill currently before the NSW Parliament passed, might I say quite convincingly through the Lower House. GEORGE PELL: Mmm. Too convincingly. MONICA ATTARD: Too convincingly. We'll get to that in a moment. A Roy Morgan research survey into Australian attitudes about stem cell research has found that more than 80 per cent of Australians are in favour of embryonic stem cell research. Have you ever countenanced the thought that you might be out of step with general Australian community attitudes on this one? GEORGE PELL: Well I think there's no doubt that that poll shows that I'm not in step with what is presently the majority opinion. MONICA ATTARD: It doesn't bother you? GEORGE PELL: Ah, well, it's of some concern because it shows how much we've got to do because there is a broad sympathy for human life in the Australian population. Many Australians really don't understand the issues involved. They've been told that they're likely to be cures and therefore the human life involved is so microscopic and destined to exist for so long that unfortunately they're not too much concerned by that. So, the situation has got to be explained to them. This is a marker event. We are creating human life to be destroyed and... MONICA ATTARD: But you, in essence, then - in order to pursue your argument - you're in essence challenging the scientific basis of the bill. GEORGE PELL: No. I'm not. I'm the only one that's talking the science. Now, the science is this. There have been no cures brought from experiments on embryos. MONICA ATTARD: As yet. GEORGE PELL: As yet. There have been many cures from adult stem cells. I think 1,422 trials, 72 claims actual for cures. I've set out these statistics before the federal legislation, before this legislation, they've never been refuted. MONICA ATTARD: But the possible benefits of embryonic stem cell research are very different to those that might flow from adult stem cell research. GEORGE PELL: Could you explain to me how that is the case? MONICA ATTARD: Well they're targeting different diseases. They're targeting different problems. GEORGE PELL: No. Well, you see, there are different, there are a variety of stem cells. Some, from some stem cells you can only produce a particular type of, say, a nose or an ear or a finger. Others are called pluripotent so that you can get a whole variety of developments from them. Others are totipotent. Now, you can take stem cells, for example, from the umbilical cord. Some of us, the research we're sponsoring is stem cells from the nose. Now, in different areas some of these cells, as I said, are pluripotent, they can develop into many things, some are totipotent, they can be developed in any direction. The experimentation with the creation and the destruction of human embryos is unnecessary and I think it sets a very bad precedent for the future because undoubtedly these people will be back again and again and again to try to broaden the permissions to play with human life. MONICA ATTARD: So you're problem is the thin edge of the wedge argument? You believe that it won't stop here. Because, at the end of the day, this bill is only for embryonic stem cell research for therapeutic purposes. It is not tampering with the issue of human life that most concerns you. GEORGE PELL: No, no. You see, with due respect, that's playing with words. If you are destroying a human embryo, and that necessarily follows from their use, it's playing with words to suggest that somehow that's therapeutic. It's destructive and the hope is that it will be used to develop therapies. [Good work, Cardinal Pell. You made the necessary distinction and clarified the issue.] MONICA ATTARD: But it merely reproduces stem cells is my understanding. GEORGE PELL: It destroys them in so doing. MONICA ATTARD: And that's what, ultimately, bothers you? GEORGE PELL: That's correct. MONICA ATTARD: And the fact that the legislators may well come back and ask for more, or the scientists may well come back and ask the legislators for more? GEORGE PELL: Almost inevitably. And there's such a level of misunderstanding and ignorance about this. There's so little cost benefit analysis being done on the work on the embryonic stem cells that we're... if you say that human life is almost irrelevant at this early stage, you're not well placed to draw the line anywhere. MONICA ATTARD: Why not? GEORGE PELL: Because you're not acting from firm principles. It's just simply pragmatism. [Yes, extremely important point Cardinal. We need firm principles on which to act. The Catholic Church provides them.] MONICA ATTARD: But it's well documented that there is a vast distinction between the position of the Catholic Church on when life begins and where the general community would think that life begins. GEORGE PELL: Well when, perhaps you can tell me when the general community thinks that life begins? MONICA ATTARD: I think that most people would consider that life begins when an embryo forms a central nervous system that would begin to constitute, you know, the general makings of a human being. GEORGE PELL: Yeah that is, that is one point of view. It's not the point of view that I share. I think that whatever the inconvenient consequences, I think our position is very logical, that human life begins from the moment of conception. It's not going to develop into anything else, not going to a magpie or an octopus, going to be human. I don't think it's appropriate to be creating human life to destroy it. [Well said, Cardinal. That makes the case against embryonic stem cell research extremely clear.] MONICA ATTARD: The human animal hybrids that are proposed in this bill, which is something I believe that you have a particular... GEORGE PELL: Distaste for. MONICA ATTARD: ...distaste for, and a lot of people probably would find that rather distasteful. GEORGE PELL: I'd be very surprised if majority opinion wasn't with me on that particular issue. MONICA ATTARD: I'd be very surprised too Cardinal, with all due respect, but I also think that that's not human life. Do you consider that human life? GEORGE PELL: I'm not quite sure what the category is, it'd be something that, technically I suppose, we'd describe as a monster but it's certainly something that we shouldn't be encouraging. MONICA ATTARD: But if it's not human life, what is the essence of your opposition to it? GEORGE PELL: Because it involves humanity and just as we're not in favour of bestiality, so the conjoining of the human and animal is something I think is morally repulsive. MONICA ATTARD: Even if it can, at the end of the day, help provide a cure for infertility? GEORGE PELL: Yes, we happen to believe that the end doesn't justify the means. Now, in quite different circumstances a lot of interesting scientific experiments were done in Nazi death camps. We don't condone those for a minute but long journeys start with small steps. MONICA ATTARD: The NSW Science Minister, Verity Firth, argued when she was arguing in favour of this bill, that the churches are entitled to their views as to what is moral and ethical in scientific research but so are the advocate groups and the sufferers of diseases, such as motor neurone's disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, spinal cord injury. No one group has a monopoly on morality. Is that a statement you agree with? GEORGE PELL: I think basically yes. What we have to do is to try to establish rational principles that will be recognized as such by people of little religion, no religion or plenty of religion. [Pardon me, but the Cardinal said he agrees basically with the notion that “No one group has a monopoly on morality.” Is the Cardinal Catholic? Doesn’t the Church believe it has been commissioned by Christ to bring God’s truth (morals reflect the truth in human behaviour!) to the world? Of course others can have viewpoints but the Church carries God’s authority and speaks for Christ. It is counter-productive to suggest the Church’s opinion is simply one of many possible opinions. The world may think such claims are extremely bigoted but they think what they want to anyway so why compromise the truth? The truth is always fashionable with God. The Cardinal missed another rare teaching moment. Was it because he was ashamed of Church teaching and thought the truth would be too much for his audience? If so, that makes him a people pleaser.] MONICA ATTARD: Can we talk a little bit at what you did last week in relation to the Catholic MPs who intended to vote for this bill. You essentially laid down what they interpreted as a threat: vote for this bill and you do not stand as a Catholic with a right to receive Holy Communion. [Perhaps this was a rough way for Monica to summarize the Cardinal’s statements over the last couple of weeks but go ahead and read the news reports. I’ve followed them quite closely and I think the interviewer’s question is a reasonably accurate way to put it.] GEORGE PELL: No, no. That's a clear misrepresentation. [The Cardinal is simply backing away from the truth here, in my opinion. Read the press reports, his interviews and his formal statements. If he wasn’t essentially saying that, why all the fuss? This is a disappointing response from the Cardinal.] MONICA ATTARD: Tell me what you think you did. GEORGE PELL: No. I'll tell you what I did, not what I think I did. I set out the classic Catholic position, which is that if you violate Catholic moral principles, it has consequences for your relationship with God and the church. Now the church, in many, or most, cases doesn't take any official action on this apart from saying that such an activity is wrong. [Again, the Cardinal’s statement doesn’t clear the air at all. It’s almost like pulling teeth to get a straight answer from him. He could have spared the journalist much grief by simply answering the question directly. The Cardinal makes it sound like the Church is all talk and rarely any action. “in most cases the Church takes no official action.” The moral principle in question is a politician’s support and advocacy for laws that will result in dead human beings. There’s no need to broaden the discussion at all. That’s precisely what the controversy is all about. So please, Cardinal Pell, why not simply state from THE PRINCIPLE as follows: "Regarding the grave sin of abortion or euthanasia, when a person’s formal cooperation becomes manifest (understood, in the case of a Catholic politician, as his consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws), his Pastor should meet with him, instructing him about the Church’s teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist."] But those consequences follow inevitably in the heart and the soul of the person who takes actions. That's what religion is about. [“That’s what religion is all about”? How does such a vague statement from the Cardinal help at this point? Surely we can expect a more helpful synopsis of faith from a Cardinal.] MONICA ATTARD: But one of those consequences would be, as you outlined, not being able to receive Holy Communion. [Monica appears to be more insightful here than the Cardinal. Yes, Monica, the Catholic Church does advocate denying Holy Communion to obstinate sinners. See THE PRINCIPLE.] GEORGE PELL: No, no, I never outlined that except as a hypothetical possibility. [Shame on the Cardinal! Now it appears the Cardinal has introduced a new Catholic principle—there are “possibilities” and then there are “hypothetical possibilities.” Why not dispense with the double talk and the bafflegab, Cardinal Pell, and tell her about THE PRINCIPLE.] What I did say was that human actions and public actions have public consequences and that we would cross those bridges if and when we come to them. I never threatened anybody with a public ex-communication [Now the Cardinal has suddenly shifted the subject into an altogether unnecessary and unhelpful direction. We can be certain the Cardinal knows the difference between withholding Communion and excommunication. Why does he now seem to equate the two? He still has not admitted to THE PRINCIPLE and has avoided stating it clearly in ANY manner. Now he brings up ex-communication, an entirely different matter, presumably in order to take the heat off himself and obfuscate the conversation.] and I've stated quite publicly that that's a very blunt instrument and it's hardly ever been used in here in Australia. MONICA ATTARD: But in relation to the receiving of Holy Communion, did you ever say that a Catholic MP who voted for this bill would not be worthy of receiving Holy Communion? [Let’s give this journalist her points. She’s like a dog with a bone and she won’t let go. It appears the Cardinal is making her work for every cent of her paycheck.] GEORGE PELL: No, I don't think I did use that. [Again, it’s not a direct quote from you Cardinal, but it surely approximates what everyone else assumed from your comments.] What I did quote was what Pope Benedict said recently in response to a situation in Mexico and he said that a person who destroys innocent life should not go to communion and I would totally endorse that and I suppose [“I suppose?” Cardinal Pell, why use such an uncertain expression? Australia urgently needs unequivocal statements] what I've also said was that those who voted for this legislation, which is not the same as performing an abortion [The Cardinal has made a similar statement in one of his earlier official statements about those who perform abortions but this is not helpful at all. Of course we know that an unrepentant abortionist should not receive communion. But what does this statement by the Cardinal establish? Certainly there are few reading his statements who are practicing abortionists. Does that give a free pass then to everyone else who is not an unrepentant abortionist? Absolutely not! No Catholic living in unrepented mortal sin, be it masturbation, contraception, adultery, fornication, sodomy, divorce, pornography, should receive Communion. The Cardinal’s statement only confuses the present situation, instead of adding clarity. Like a healthy man trying to avoiding a leper, he still has not stated THE PRINCIPLE.] and being unrepentant about it, have to weigh up in their own minds just how closely their situation approximates to what the Pope was describing. [This is simply more bafflegab and double talk. It only frustrates and clouds the truth. And besides, doesn’t the Cardinal believe in objective moral wrong, or “the objective situation of sin?” I thought he was Catholic. And didn’t he write an excellent piece on Conscience? Now is he saying that if these politicians weighed up the situation “carefully” it was ok if their conscience said to go ahead and receive Holy Communion?] MONICA ATTARD: And I take it in your view, the approximation is pretty close? GEORGE PELL: I think that the destruction of any human life, even [Re the word “even.” Very bad use of a word here, in my opinion. “Even,” used in this context implies embryonic life is something other than or less than ordinary human life. But ok. So the Cardinal slipped up and used the wrong word. That’s the problem when you’re dancing too much around a subject and won’t make a clear statement.] incipient human life is regrettable and is wrong. [Regrettable? Like the time when I ran over that squirrel when it crossed my path? That was regrettable too. But what about a grave moral wrong? When will the Cardinal start talking like a Catholic?] MONICA ATTARD: Can I ask you then Cardinal, if Morris Iemma had come before you last Sunday to receive Holy Communion, would you have given it to him? [Ok, now Monica is pulling out all the stops. I can’t blame her. She just wants a clear answer, which the Cardinal has done everything to frustrate.] GEORGE PELL: I think almost certainly I would have because I wouldn't have known what particular mode of reasoning he followed nor would I have been aware that if he had admitted that he was in error, whether he would have repented in the interim. [So what exactly is all this fuss about then? The Cardinal makes it sound as though it’s really an impossible situation which he faces. But a much more important point comes up here: Cardinal Pell, did I hear you just say that almost certainly you would have given the Body and Blood of Christ to a Catholic whom you knew to be in a state of objective grave sin and whom you suspected of being an obstinate sinner? I believe that’s what you just admitted to. Yet you had plenty of time to meet with the Premier, talk with him, and to verify his spiritual state. Did you take due diligence to verify that the Premier was properly disposed to receive the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist? If not, you further endangered his soul because if he had received the sacrament unworthily he would have most surely been in a state of mortal sin.] We don't, when people come to us to communion we don't say, you know, you in the state of grace, you doing the right thing, we presume that people have worked this out in their own conscience and so we give them communion. [But as you said many times in your writings, Cardinal, conscience must be properly informed. In this particular weighty matter of Catholic politicians supporting the killing of embryonic human beings, is it wise to “presume” as you suggest, particularly if there are other steps not even taken? Cardinal Pell, are you doing everything reasonably possible (due diligence) to see that Catholics do not damn themselves through sacrilegious communion? Is this what happens to Bishops when they get so used to handing over Jesus in the Sacrament of the Eucharist to Catholics who are living in mortal sin, such as the mortal sin of contraception or fornication? What steps do they take to protect such sinners from themselves when those sinners regularly partake of the Body and Blood? Are the Bishops attentive to the spiritual state of those receiving? Do they make inquiries of these Catholics and do they meet with them to discuss their “objective” state of sin? Do they insist that priests in the confessionals watch carefully to help Catholics overcome such deadly sins? Do they warn (in confession and in homilies) these Catholics of the danger of living in such sin and the risks they run of receiving the Eucharist sacrilegiously? Perhaps the answer to these questions goes a long way to explain why such politicians as Premier Iemma object to such scrutiny if the ordinary Catholic gets off scott free.] MONICA ATTARD: But assuming that the Premier had stuck to the position that he had publicly stated was his position, that he was in favour of this legislation, that he intended to vote for it, had he come before you for Holy Communion, would you have, under those circumstances? [What would anyone assume that Monica is asking here? It sounds to me that she is clearly asking the Cardinal whether, in the case of obstinate persistent defiance, the Premier should be denied Communion. Excellent! Given such a narrow and precise set of circumstances, it’s a perfect opportunity for the Cardinal to affirm the Church’s teaching! Just look at THE PRINCIPLE: When "these precautionary measures have not had their effect or in which they were not possible," and the person in question, with obstinate persistence, still presents himself to receive the Holy Eucharist, "the minister of Holy Communion must refuse to distribute it"] GEORGE PELL: We cross that bridge when we come to it. [HELP! The Cardinal just lost the battle. What is one to think? He’s ashamed to say what the Church teaches. After probing and prodding the Cardinal a dozen different ways, we still don’t know what the Church teaches. Congratulations Cardinal! You have managed to keep this very sensitive information secret!] MONICA ATTARD: Can I safely assume that you would have felt uncomfortable giving him Holy Communion? GEORGE PELL: Um, I think what would have happened is that if he wanted to come to me to communion he would have suggested [This is preposterous! So now we are to believe that the priest or Bishop is to wait for the sinner to suggest a “chat” before communion. I can just see PM Paul Martin doing exactly that. I didn’t see that anywhere in THE PRINCIPLE. In other words the Cardinal is saying everything EXCEPT what the Church teaches.] we have a chat beforehand and I would have chatted privately with him and then we would have just seen which way we go. [It all sounds so nice and polite and friendly doesn’t it? But it’s simply bafflegab again because we STILL DON”T KNOW what the teaching of the Church is.] MONICA ATTARD: And if he hadn't, in your words, repented his position as publicly stated before the people of Australia, and he hadn't come to a position where he believed that his support for that bill was morally wrong... [Monica is begging the Cardinal for clarification, and considering the Popes have always said the Church has no secrets, she is entitled to a straight, truthful answer.] GEORGE PELL: Hmm mmm. [Please Cardinal, just answer the question. Quote Cardinal Ratzinger and THE PRINCIPLE.] MONICA ATTARD: ...would you have felt comfortable? GEORGE PELL: I would've said to him that he'd need to work that out with his God. [Coming from Cardinal Pell, this surely is an outrageous response. If I had heard the average dissident Bishop say this I would have immediately written it off as a statement from someone who believed in the non-Catholic doctrine of “primacy of conscience.” But this is very curious language indeed from a man who said [http://www.sydney.catholic.org.au/Archbishop/Addresses/200433_853.shtml] the following: “…for some years I have spoken and written against the so-called “doctrine of the primacy of conscience”, arguing that this is incompatible with traditional Catholic teaching. ….snip “Individual conscience cannot confer the right to reject or distort New Testament morality as affirmed or developed by the Church. To use the language of Veritatis Splendor, conscience is 'the proximate norm of personal morality' whose authority in its voice and judgment 'derives from the truth about moral good and evil.'"] MONICA ATTARD: And given him communion? GEORGE PELL: We'd cross that bridge when we come to it. [I repeat here what I said before: HELP! The Cardinal just lost the battle. What is one to think? He’s ashamed to say what the Church teaches. After probing and prodding the Cardinal a dozen different ways, we still don’t know what the Church teaches. Congratulations Cardinal! You have managed to keep this very sensitive information secret!] MONICA ATTARD: This opposition to this bill has caused so much consternation it's been quite an incredible reaction and a lot of people have been raising their eyebrows. There have been calls that you be investigated for contempt of Parliament. Did you anticipate this reaction? GEORGE PELL: I mean, a lot of the consternation is manufactured, certainly within the Parliament. I mean, the Australian life is conducted in a very robust style, as the Leader of the Opposition stated. A number of little notice politicians and even minister used this as an opportunity to gain a little publicity. That's a part of the rough and tumble of public life. MONICA ATTARD: I'm wondering whether, in relation to this issue of Holy Communion, whether you'd tested the views of, for example, local parish priests? GEORGE PELL: No, no, no. You, I didn't do that. We don't decide morality by a poll amongst bishops or clergy but from what follows logically from Catholic teaching and my task is to announce that Catholic teaching even if some people find it a bit uncomfortable. MONICA ATTARD: But presumably, logical Catholic teaching comes about from logical, rational discussion with a variety of people, not just one source. I mean, I'm wondering whether, you know, in the course of your thought on this issue, this particular issue, whether you canvassed the views of some of the priests within the church? And what are their views, and if they held views that were different to yours, what would be your relationship to them? GEORGE PELL: Well I, in substantial matters of morality, if they held views that were different to the official position of the church I would regret it. [And exactly what are you saying her Cardinal Pell? Better to say little if the answer is vague.] MONICA ATTARD: Would you do any more than that? GEORGE PELL: Once in a while I might. But generally we live in a fairly broad church. [And exactly what are you saying her Cardinal Pell? Better to say little if the answer is vague.] MONICA ATTARD: Were you disappointed with the parish priest who gave Holy Communion to various Catholic MPs who voted for this bill? GEORGE PELL: One learns not to be too easily disappointed. MONICA ATTARD: Is it your view that politicians who voted ultimately for this bill simply are not good Catholics? GEORGE PELL: No, no, I would never say that. [Surely the Cardinal missed another opportunity, this time to clear up the term “good.” The issue is obedience. Is it asking too much for the Cardinal to keep the central issue in focus?] I'd say they're mistake, they're mistake, clearly mistaken on this issue. MONICA ATTARD: Now, the Federal Constitution Section 116, actually frees our politicians from any particular religious commitment. GEORGE PELL: Yeah, well there's no state religion. MONICA ATTARD: No. Do you think that you've paid appropriate respect to the rights of the office and to the Constitution in adopting the position that you have? GEORGE PELL: Yeah, absolutely. Certainly. MONICA ATTARD: You have no... GEORGE PELL: We, in this country, one of the great blessings is we have religious freedom. Now there are voices who would suggest that in public discussion there's no room for the expression of opinions that derive from religious positions or are compatible with religious tradition. Australians don't believe that for a minute. Nobody, or very few, are suggesting that the only view that can be expressed publicly have to be irreligious or anti-religious and I'm quite sure that all the religious leaders in Australia will continue to, on different issues and different occasions express their points of view quite vigorously. MONICA ATTARD: I'm sure that's the case and I'm sure most people would agree that religious leaders have a right to do that, but I'm wondering though, in relation to Section 116 of the Constitution, whether you see that, you know, our politicians are Catholic politicians, are Australian first, or Catholic first? What comes first? What should the order of priority be? GEORGE PELL: Well it all depends what area you're talking. In terms of national sovereignty, political life, they, like myself, are first of all Australians. If they choose to become and remain Catholics, they take upon themselves certain duties and if they choose to disregard those or to speak disparagingly of them, they can't expect a sympathetic nod from myself and they won't get it. MONICA ATTARD: So what is your role, then, as Archbishop, in a pluralist, political democracy? What is your role? [Isn’t this a question that every Bishop his whole life long waits to answer? Shouldn’t we expect an answer of some weight and clarity?] GEORGE PELL: Is to state what is the Catholic position [Why not do it plainly then? This is quite an unbelievable thing for the Cardinal to say, considering the interviewer has tried unsuccessfully to pry out of the Cardinal the truth of what the Catholic position is. Even at this later point in the interview we still don’t know. THE PRINCIPLE still remains a secret.] and to explain the rational basis for that position so that people of no religion, or a lot of religion, or a little religion can at least understand what I'm saying and potentially agree with me. MONICA ATTARD: So it's to act as an advocate for your particular position? GEORGE PELL: Yes. I think Pope John Paul II used to say that the Catholic position proposes we're no longer in a position to impose requirements on the state. MONICA ATTARD: And if your position is to advocate a particular position, should it stop short of pushing the moral buttons of a particular person, and in this case a Catholic MP? GEORGE PELL: No, I would hope that we would press his moral buttons and I would hope in the population generally that the rational appeals we make for our positions, the arguments we make for a particular version of morality that will be found to be appealing by people. [I’m not so sure about this answer at all. I wonder if that’s truly Catholic teaching. Didn’t Jesus warn often that people will reject the Gospel and the truth? Will Christ’s morality be found appealing? "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution."] MONICA ATTARD: And you think that's legitimate? GEORGE PELL: Oh, not only legitimate, it's absolutely required. You see, it's very interesting when I say, as I did, on the industrial relations legislation, that the removal of the no-disadvantage test was a big mistake, nobody said that this was an infringement of church-state relations. MONICA ATTARD: But the Prime Minister, as I recall, wasn't very happy with the comment. GEORGE PELL: Oh of course he wasn't happy. Politicians are never happy with you if you, when you disagree with them but... MONICA ATTARD: Yet he supported... GEORGE PELL: ...but the Prime Minister wasn't running around saying I didn't have a right to have a view. MONICA ATTARD: So is it the fact that then that your views on some issues are welcomed and your views on other issues are not. GEORGE PELL: Absolutely. MONICA ATTARD: It's not... GEORGE PELL: And by different people, by different people. MONICA ATTARD: It's selective. GEORGE PELL: Yes. MONICA ATTARD: Politically selective. GEORGE PELL: Yes. Yes. And then we have the strange variation, variant within the Catholic Church. We have, sometimes even clergy, who, on questions of public morality, you know, strut around like peacocks and would certainly never dream of mentioning that those who differ from them on issues of public morality have any right to a primacy of conscience, and then when they come to matters of personal morality, on sexuality, marriage, family, life, abortion, euthanasia, stem cells, immediately appeal to this chimerical primacy of conscience. If you're a Christian, you accept basic Christian answers. Now, nobody is going to be drummed out because they don't accept the entire package. [A shocking answer! Cardinal Pell, please be careful! This is not Catholic teaching. You must make these things clear when given such opportunities. A person can indeed be “drummed out” for any number of formal heresies.] I perfectly understand that and people pick and choose. [Another shocking answer! Don’t you need to say here Cardinal that people may pick and choose, but not in the Catholic Church, and certainly not in the context of this interview? Clearly the Cardinal is sending imprecise, even wrong, signals here.] That's... my task as a bishop is to remind [Only to remind them? Again this is incomplete and misleading, especially in the current context of this interview.] them of the obligation to follow the substantial issues... [Please Cardinal! Only the substantial issues? Which ones are they? Is the particular issue at hand one of those “substantial” issues? Is this terminology even found in the Catechism?] MONICA ATTARD: And if they don't... GEORGE PELL: ...and also, and also to point out that in matters of faith and morals, if they deny enough substantial [Cardinal, again, this is such vague and arbitrary terminology! How will it help the listeners to see the truth?] teachings in faith and morals, the question must eventually arise as to well, what's the benefit of calling myself Catholic if, for example, I don't believe Christ is divine, [Really! How relevant is this example Cardinal Pell? As if the Church is presently having any problems whatever with Catholic politicians who do not believe Christ is divine!] I don't accept the claims of the church for this or that and if, on the whole range of moral issues, such as abortion, euthanasia, I don't accept those, well what remains? Except the Catholic tag. [But Cardinal, after coming this far please finish your statement. What happens if you deny “enough substantial teachings?” May we hear about THE [secret] PRINCIPLE now?] MONICA ATTARD: Is that not the position that you've put those NSW MPs in last week? GEORGE PELL: No not at all. [But I must protest Cardinal! Here we go again. As was pointed out before, of course it was the position he rightly put the MPs in.] This is one particular moral issue. [Yes, but one of grave matter and importance—enough to lose your soul over. Please Cardinal, spell it out clearly.] Nobody ever suggested that it would undo their right to the label Catholic but... [Talking in terms of the “label Catholic” is simply more bafflegab which explains and clarifies nothing.] MONICA ATTARD: But it might undo their right to receive Holy Communion. GEORGE PELL: Yeah well that's traditional Catholic teaching. [And is that what you agree with Cardinal? Can’t you just say you do…that you’re all there for traditional Catholic teaching…you know, the Pope’s kind of teaching, especially THE PRINCIPLE.] If you in a, you know, you're well educated as a girl, you're in a state of unrepented, what we used to call mortal sin, shouldn't go to communion. [Is this a Cardinal of the Catholic Church speaking? What’s wrong? Is he afraid to speak the words? Well, at least he gave some indication that those in unrepented, mortal sin (on which he didn’t elaborate) shouldn’t go to Communion. However, there’s still no clarification on how this applies, if at all, to the present circumstances.] MONICA ATTARD: Given the fallout, Cardinal Pell, do you think that the condemnation of you in some quarters and the extent of it, do you think that that may have something to do with the force of your personality? Because you are a very forceful personality. GEORGE PELL: I suspect it, yes, there'd undoubtedly be some connection between what I say, the way I say it and my record of saying such things. I do think, and even one or two people who've disagreed with me expressed a gratitude to me for spelling out the situation in terms which they acknowledged as real, that the real hoo-ha here is not about a non-existent threat to ex-communicate, the real hoo-ha here is we have, again, gone over a line where we've said quite explicitly in legislation, it is okay to produce human life for it to be destroyed with the hope of cures. What I do find particularly questionable is people trumpeting that they're Catholics and then publicly also trumpeting that they're disregarding the Catholic teaching. It's a little bit like trying to have your cake and eat it. MONICA ATTARD: So you... GEORGE PELL: A little bit of the reticence in one direction or the other would have been, I think, more appropriate in some of these latter-catch group. MONICA ATTARD: Okay. So if, for example, Morris Iemma, had said, you know, I'm a Catholic and I do have trouble with this legislation, however, I believe that for therapeutic purposes it's necessary, would that have been acceptable to you? GEORGE PELL: Not acceptable but I understand that and I think that's very close to his position. I don't agree with it but I think, given the mistake, I find that easier to understand than many other positions. [A statement very much open to misunderstanding. Cardinals should not speak like politicians, but like successors of the apostles.] MONICA ATTARD: Have you sought to meet with him about this? [A painful question to ask the Cardinal!] GEORGE PELL: Um, no. I've spoken directly and indirectly to him about it but I haven't sought a meeting on this particular issue. [“On this particular (little) issue.” Truly unbelievable! All this fuss and the Cardinal couldn’t find time to meet with the Premier. It would be laughable if not so tragic. Is the Cardinal concerned for the Premier’s soul or not? The optics alone are terrible here—more especially the spiritual reality.] MONICA ATTARD: Since the comments of last week have you spoken to him? GEORGE PELL: No, I don't think so, no. [“I don't think so, no.” If I were the Cardinal, I’d be ashamed too to answer this question straightforwardly.] MONICA ATTARD: Do you think that there's a chance that in the way you've opposed this bill you've possibly stacked the odds in favour of it becoming law? GEORGE PELL: No I don't think the position is deteriorated as a result of what I've said. How much it's improved is another question. MONICA ATTARD: Do you think you have improved it or not? GEORGE PELL: I think I have improved it to this extent because I do think there is an increased public awareness of what the issues are and there's still a lot of work to be done on this but we are making some headway in informing the public of the issues that are at stake, and also informing the public that, to lapse into the vernacular, they're being sold a pup. That tens of millions of dollars are being put into embryonic stem cell research and there has not been one established cure so far. When are the economic rationalists, the hard heads, going to do a little bit of cost benefit analysis on this? MONICA ATTARD: And that was Cardinal George Pell speaking exclusively to Sunday Profile. Thanks to our Sunday Profile Producer, Lorna Knowles, and to Local Radio Producer, Dan Driscoll. End of interview. ********* The real difficulty in Australia was with the Cardinal’s own people, politicians with the Catholic tag, and not the general public. After all, it wasn’t the general public that was voting on the bill in the Australian parliament anyway. It was the politicians. If all Catholic politicians had voted on the side of Church teaching and against the ESCR legislation, Australia would have been protected from that evil and that would have been the end of the matter. The general public really didn’t have to get involved in that sense. This was a Catholic scandal and the Cardinal chose to make it an Australian scandal. By going public as he did, he was inviting all Australians into the fray…and many entered and had their say. And in the end what was accomplished? Were renegade politicians disciplined? None that we know of. Some even flaunted [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/pell-ignored-as-mps-take-communion/2007/06/10/1181414141864.html] the fact that they received Holy Communion after defying the Cardinal and their Church! Do the politicians even understand any better now what the general principles are for disciplining Catholic politicians who go against Catholic teaching? I’d say no on the basis of the Cardinal’s last interview which we have just assessed. He carefully avoided the Pope’s explicit and clear Church teaching, never once spelling it out, despite having multitudes of opportunities. The Cardinal would have been far better off to concentrate his efforts on his own priests, some of whom, according to reports, sided with the politicians against Church teaching. If priests are well taught and disciplined in regard to Church doctrine, the people will likely be as well, and that includes Catholic politicians. But that’s really getting closer to the heart of the problem and I’m not so sure the Cardinal really wants to pay the price to go that route. So maybe he was hoping for a quick solution to the problem by going public like he did. But there are no shortcuts to spiritual growth and conversion to Christ and one cannot pick and choose doctrines nor sacraments. The weak link in the chain here is the lack of the watchful eye of an orthodox Roman Catholic priest over those of his flock, some of whom are ordinary people practicing a contraceptive lifestyle, some of whom are doctors who perform abortions, some of whom are politicians voting for ESCR, and many of whom are living in other kinds of mortal sin. There is no substitute for a faithful pastor and priest who can help them find strength from Christ to overcome their sin and Cardinal Pell must know this. But does he believe it enough to ensure every parish has such a priest? That would be the goal of an authentic Catholic Bishop. Apparently the Cardinal has no problem denying Holy Communion [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/05/19/1021801638594.html] to those who wear rainbow sashes [and rightly so] but when it comes to influential and well respected politicians who vote to kill innocent unborn children he seems to have insurmountable problems. Is it respect of persons or is it simply easier and less unpopular to control parishioners who openly confess to sodomy? Cardinal Pell’s approach stands in stark contrast to that of Archbishop Burke of St. Louis. According to “Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion,” [http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/apr/050419a.html] a pastor is to first meet with his parishioner when such questions arise, “instructing him about the Church’s teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist.” From an article [http://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=691] on Church Canon Law #915, we read about the approach of Archbishop Burke under similar circumstances, an approach in total conformity with Church instruction. As Bishop of the over 200,000 Catholics in the diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin for the past nine years, Raymond L. Burke, D.D., J.C.D., a doctor of canon law, first conducted private communications to three 'Catholic' legislators, imploring them, "to make their consciences correct with Magisterial teachings." After all three politicians refused to meet with him, saying they instead reject the Church's infallible teachings, Archbishop Burke, as 'Priest, Prophet and King,' then took the necessary steps to issue the four paragraph 'canonical notification' to address the scandal they were causing in his diocese by their conduct 'which is seriously, clearly and steadfastly contrary to the moral norm' (EE n.37). The notification declares: "...Catholic legislators who are members of the faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse and who continue to support procured abortion or euthanasia may not present themselves to receive Holy Communion. They are not to be admitted to Holy Communion, should they present themselves, until such time as they publicly renounce their support of these most unjust practices" (canon 915). Archbishop Burke exhorted, "No good bishops could stand by and let this happen. These public legislators are in grave sin." In fact, on February 2, 2004, Archbishop Burke, with apostolic daring, challenged Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley, stating that if leading Democratic presidential candidate, pro-abortion ‘Catholic’ John Kerry, a Massachusetts senator, came up to [Burke] for the Eucharist, he [Burke] would deny him Communion. Archbishop O'Malley still held to his false policy that Kerry would not be denied Communion in the Boston diocese. Archbishop Burke saw the problem as an internal Catholic one, a problem between a shepherd and his stray sheep, and one that demanded resolution not only to address scandal but also to save a soul from damnation. Archbishop Burke has made the Catholic position clear every step along the way. We have yet to hear such clarification from Cardinal Pell. If the Cardinal is ashamed to even state the Church’s position, who wants to bet that he will ever actually discipline renegade Catholic politicians? According to his own words, he has not yet called or met with politicians. And according to articles like these here, [http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/jun/07061803.html] here [http://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=79ae982e-9c87-4fad-85eb-130509b5229a] and here, [http://votelifecanada.blogspot.com/2007/06/vote-life-canada-summons-catholic.html] failure to discipline Catholic politicians (and ALL renegade Catholics) is the chief contributing factor to the moral corruption of society. As long as vocal Catholic laity are quick to give Bishops a pass when they don’t deserve it, we’ll never be able to fulfil our part in helping the Church recover its place and role in the world as Christ wills. We must set our sights a lot higher for our Bishops. They simply MUST act like Catholic Bishops or we must raise the roof so to speak. There’s just too much at stake not to take up this challenge. I don’t mean this should be done in rash judgment but at the same time let’s not be timid, afraid, or unsure of speaking the truth. Everyone in Australia, particularly Catholics, ought to be very concerned about the implications of Cardinal Pell’s failure. By all means, continue to pray for Cardinal Pell. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Church plans to lure back lost sheep Jul 09, 2007 The Catholic Church is drawing up a campaign to entice 4.2 million lapsed believers back to the fold before World Youth Day, the biggest religious gathering in Australian history. (smh.com.au, July 9, 2007) While the church has ruled out door-knocking homes, for the first time Australian bishops have set up a national office to develop strategies to revive evangelisation, revitalise the Mass-going faithful and bring back lapsed Catholics. By December 2009 each parish in the Sydney archdiocese will be required to develop a strategy for contacting and welcoming people, especially families, not actively involved in the church, and for "reintegrating" divorced and civilly married couples and their children into parish life. Under these homegrown outreach programs, to run at least once a year, parishes will seek out their lost sheep through community noticeboards in cafes, on streets and in shopping centres. A video and a dedicated website are also being considered. Interested people would be invited to a series of meetings where they could talk about their past experiences with the church. Later they would be refamiliarised with church rituals. It was the parlous state of Australian Catholicism's spiritual health that drove Sydney's Archbishop, Cardinal George Pell, to bid for next year's World Youth Day. He told the Vatican the event would increase church attendance among young people, bring more men to the priesthood and precipitate a new evangelism in Australia and Oceania. The cardinal intends to set up the archdiocese's first dedicated youth website, organise regional Sunday night Masses, and train youth ministers for the international religious festival. Newspaper advertisements placed by the Catholic Inquiry Centre offering an explanation of the principles of Catholic faith have tapped into a rising spiritual curiosity in Catholicism, drawing 700 inquiries in three weeks. Follow-up ads will be placed in bridal magazines. World Youth Day, the six-day international youth festival to be staged next July and to feature the first Australian visit of Pope Benedict XVI, is a big impetus for the drive. According to a paper presented to the Australian Bishops Conference, the returning Catholics campaign could reach half the 4.2 million Catholics no longer active in the life of the church. The paper points to "growing concern at many levels within the Catholic Church about the decline in the practice of the faith". Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Church plans to lure back lost sheep Jul 09, 2007 The Catholic Church is drawing up a campaign to entice 4.2 million lapsed believers back to the fold before World Youth Day, the biggest religious gathering in Australian history. (smh.com.au, July 9, 2007) While the church has ruled out door-knocking homes, for the first time Australian bishops have set up a national office to develop strategies to revive evangelisation, revitalise the Mass-going faithful and bring back lapsed Catholics. By December 2009 each parish in the Sydney archdiocese will be required to develop a strategy for contacting and welcoming people, especially families, not actively involved in the church, and for "reintegrating" divorced and civilly married couples and their children into parish life. Under these homegrown outreach programs, to run at least once a year, parishes will seek out their lost sheep through community noticeboards in cafes, on streets and in shopping centres. A video and a dedicated website are also being considered. Interested people would be invited to a series of meetings where they could talk about their past experiences with the church. Later they would be refamiliarised with church rituals. It was the parlous state of Australian Catholicism's spiritual health that drove Sydney's Archbishop, Cardinal George Pell, to bid for next year's World Youth Day. He told the Vatican the event would increase church attendance among young people, bring more men to the priesthood and precipitate a new evangelism in Australia and Oceania. The cardinal intends to set up the archdiocese's first dedicated youth website, organise regional Sunday night Masses, and train youth ministers for the international religious festival. Newspaper advertisements placed by the Catholic Inquiry Centre offering an explanation of the principles of Catholic faith have tapped into a rising spiritual curiosity in Catholicism, drawing 700 inquiries in three weeks. Follow-up ads will be placed in bridal magazines. World Youth Day, the six-day international youth festival to be staged next July and to feature the first Australian visit of Pope Benedict XVI, is a big impetus for the drive. According to a paper presented to the Australian Bishops Conference, the returning Catholics campaign could reach half the 4.2 million Catholics no longer active in the life of the church. The paper points to "growing concern at many levels within the Catholic Church about the decline in the practice of the faith". Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese NSW Parliament Threatens Cardinal Pell, Places Him Under Investigation for "Meddling" in Politics Jun 20, 2007 New South Wales' Parliament has ratcheted up the heat on Sydney Archbishop George Pell, placing him under parliamentary investigation for "meddling" in the lower house's vote on embryonic stem-cell research. SYDNEY, June 18, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Greens MP Lee Rhiannon requested that the Cardinal's "outburst of muscular Catholicism" be referred to the privileges committee for allegedly intimidating Catholic parliamentarians by saying there would be "consequences" for their spiritual lives. "The archbishop has refused to cease his special brand of meddling," said Ms. Rhiannon, urging the committee to move since Pell was attempting "to exert influence over the democratic process in NSW." "Hopefully this referral will act as a warning to Cardinal Pell that he should refrain from launching a fresh assault on upper house MPs who are yet to cast a vote on this important bill." Pell now joins Archbishop Hickey of Perth in facing a parliamentary investigation for admonishing Catholics voting for the cloning/embryonic stem-cell bill to re-examine their consciences before lining up for Communion. Although Rhiannon and other politicians are trying to silence the Cardinal in this week when the upper house debates lifting the ban on embryonic stem-cell research, human cloning, and human-animal hybrids, Pell remains unbowed in his vigourous defence of human life and Catholic teachings and stated he would be happy to appear in person before a committee. Pell has continued to fight doggedly for his right and the rights of church leaders to participate in "a free society," pointing out the double-standard when "anti-Christians like the Green, Lee Rhiannon, have every right to express their views." In an exclusive June 17 interview, Pell told Australia's Sunday Profile, "there is a whiff of Stalinism or perhaps only of Henry the 8th in her attempt to use this referral as a 'warning' to me." Pell stated that his role in Australia's pluralist society "is to state what is the Catholic position and to explain the rational basis for that position so that people of no religion, or a lot of religion, or a little religion can at least understand what I'm saying and potentially agree with me." "I set out the classic Catholic position, which is that if you violate Catholic moral principles, it has consequences for your relationship with God and the church," stated Pell, who pointed out that his statements made no definite threats to Catholic parliamentarians about denying Communion except that it remains a "hypothetical possibility." What he did do was remind them to "think twice" before receiving Communion and make sure they were right with God. "If [Catholics] deny enough substantial teachings in faith and morals, the question must eventually arise as to well, what's the benefit of calling myself Catholic if, for example, I don't believe Christ is divine, I don't accept the claims of the church for this or that and if, on the whole range of moral issues, such as abortion, euthanasia, I don't accept those, well what remains?" asked Pell. "The Catholic tag." The furor over Communion however, Pell believes, has actually drawn Australians' attention to the fraud involved with investing in embryonic stem-cell research and human cloning, which have yielded no cures. "Tens of millions of dollars are being put into embryonic stem cell research and there has not been one established cure so far," pointed out the Cardinal. "When are the economic rationalists, the hard heads, going to do a little bit of cost benefit analysis on this?" Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell repeats warning to Catholic politicians Jun 12, 2007 Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia, has repeated his insistence that Catholic politicians who support embryonic stem-cell research should "think twice before next receiving Communion." Sydney, Jun. 12, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Pell has been severely criticized by some Australian politicians and editorial writers for saying that Catholics should not support a bill that would allow for "therapeutic cloning." Archbishop Barry Hickey of Perth has found himself the focus of a government investigation for making similar comments, which one lawmaker saw as threatening. In his Sunday Telegraph newspaper column, Cardinal Pell made it clear that he will not back down from the dispute. He wrote: "All Catholics who continue to reject important Catholic teachings, even in areas such as sexuality, family, marriage, abortion, euthanasia, cloning where 'liberals' claim the primacy of conscience rules, should expect to be confronted, gently and consistently, rather than comforted and encouraged in their wrongdoing." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Flare-Ups Down Under Jun 10, 2007 Beneath the Southern Cross, where winter is summer and today is tomorrow, abortion-and-communion has become stem cells-and-communion. (June 05, 2007, whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com) As the New South Wales parliament takes up a measure to undo a ban on embryonic stem-cell research in the Australian state, Cardinal George Pell of Sydney launched an incandescent assault on the legislation. He was joined by his Anglican counterpart, Archbishop Peter Jensen, who compared the research to the unethical advances in science wrought by the Nazis. "If this bill is passed, the enemies of human life will soon be back with further proposals, disguised with sweet words and promises of cures, to roll back the few remaining barriers to the regular destruction of early human life," Pell said in a statement. "But allowing scientists open slather on human embryos for unethical research is not the best way forward. "No Catholic politician – indeed, no Christian or person with respect for human life – who has properly informed his conscience about the facts and ethics in this area should vote in favour of this immoral legislation," the cardinal said. In its own letter to parliamentarians, the Anglican hierarchy warned that the bill "will enshrine in law the corrupt view that... the embryos used are not morally significant or important." Though the proposal would maintain the ban on human reproductive cloning, it does permit the duplication of stem cells for "therapeutic" purposes -- a term Pell also took issue with. MPs will not be held to their party whips for the vote, and in a media availability today, Australia's top churchman said that "Catholic politicians who vote for this legislation must realize that their voting has consequences for their place in the life of the church." The message was interpreted as extending to the premier of Australia's most-populous state, Morris Iemma, himself a Catholic. Sydney and New South Wales expect to host Pope Benedict next summer for World Youth Day 2008, and the state and national governments have already made substantial contributions to the event's success. Supporters of the bill say that, according to polls, 80% of Australians support the controversial research. The NSW measure comes after a national ban on it was overturned last December. No stranger to the Klieg lights, Pell's charge against the stem-cell bill is but the latest high-profile story to come out of the Sydney archdiocese in recent weeks. At the weekend, it emerged that a draft pastoral plan in the archdiocese will make a profession of faith mandatory for all senior education administrators. As commentators sought to portray the move as some sort of anachronistic oath of fealty containing "shades of Opus Dei," Sydney auxiliary Julian Porteous said that the move "is not about control. "Anybody who speaks in a Catholic education institution is meant to be presenting the Catholic faith in its integrity. There can be a place for theologians to make explorations of criticism, but in teaching positions the role is to very much be faithful to the teaching of the church," Porteous told the Sydney Morning Herald. And last month, World Youth Day organizers faced a new media onslaught as conservative activists demanded the ouster of the designated voice behind the event's theme song for previous statements he made in support of same-sex marriage. Within days of the announcement that "Receive the Power," the song submitted by "Australian Idol" winner Guy Sebastian, would be the tune of the Holy Spirit-themed gathering, a 2006 interview was dredged up in which the singer replied to a question about gay unions by saying that "If you're a gay couple why not?" "I don't really have a stance because I don't know what it's like to be told you're not allowed to marry somebody," Sebastian -- a Christian -- told a national newspaper. "That doesn't seem fair to me." He called faith-based activism against gays "the sad side of Christianity" and its proponents' mindset "the old fundamentalist way of thinking that's unfortunately spread through all these generations. "They miss the whole point of Christianity which is love," Sebastian observed. As furious posts on grassroots message boards demanded action, senior organizers held a series of crisis meetings, finally deciding to shirk the protests and keep Sebastian. So, as things stand, the Idol will take the mic before the Pope and a global audience at a Sydneyside racecourse in the Australian midwinter. To understand why isn't so much a case of Down Under Upside-down, but George Pell 101. SVILUPPO: The battle has been joined; Iemma and other Catholic MPs say they'll proceed with their support of the stem-cell bill.    Two of the state's highest-profile practising Catholics, the Premier, Morris Iemma, and his deputy, John Watkins, will defy the church's warnings that they face "consequences" in their religious lives to support a bill to expand stem cell research in NSW....    Mr Iemma and Mr Watkins yesterday confirmed they would back the bill, while the Nationals MP Adrian Piccoli, another practising Catholic, said he would support the bill, adding "I would like to see them try and stop me [taking Holy Communion]."    Mr Piccoli said: "The cardinal's comments are unacceptable. We don't accept that Muslims should influence politics, so I don't see why Catholics should."    A spokesman for Mr Iemma said the Premier would continue to take Holy Communion despite Dr Pell's warning. Dr Pell said he was not threatening Catholic MPs with excommunication but he did not rule out that their "yes" vote could "loosen" their bonds with the church, which strongly opposes therapeutic cloning....    The Minister for Science and Medical Research, Verity Firth, said the Catholic Church was entitled to its views, as were advocacy groups representing people who could benefit from expanding stem cell research. "I don't want anyone feeling they have a monopoly on morality," she told the Herald. "This is about relieving human suffering and having hope when there is none."    Another Catholic, the Liberal MP Greg Smith, said he would not support the bill but believed it was matter for each individual's conscience, while the Opposition Leader, Barry O'Farrell, also a Catholic, said he would consider Dr Pell's comments before deciding whether to vote for the bill.    The federal Environment Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, who was one of a handful of Catholics who voted for the federal stem cell legislation, declined to comment on Archbishop Pell's statements.    The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research Australia said there would be electoral consequences for politicians who did not vote in support of research that could offer potential therapy for spinal cord injury, motor neurone disease, Parkinson's disease and juvenile diabetes.    "There are patients and their families who are also constituency members and will not vote for them when the next election comes along," said the group's convenor, Joanna Knott. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Likened to "Boofhead," Pell Takes a Pelting Jun 10, 2007 Three days after Cardinal George Pell of Sydney warned Catholic members of the New South Wales parliament of ecclesial "consequences" if they voted in favor of a bill permitting embryonic stem-cell research in Australia's largest state, the legislation passed its lower house by a larger-than-expected margin of 65 to 26. (June 07, 2007, whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com) In the debate leading up to today's highly-charged vote, the cardinal's Monday intervention -- which encited a firestorm in the Australian press and political circles -- was panned by several Catholic MPs, including the state premier Morris Iemma and Nathan Rees, a cabinet minister who accused Pell of "emotional blackmail" in light of his implication that the measure's Catholic supporters should not present themselves for Communion. Rees compared the Sydneyside prelate to Sheik Taj el-din Al Hilaly, the Australian imam who garnered global headlines last year for likening women who shirk the Muslim hijab (head scarf) to "uncovered meat." In the same speech, the sheik also blamed women for "90 per cent" of the responsibility for adultery and declared that Christians and Jews will end up "in hell." In comparing the clerics, Rees termed Sheik Al Hilaly a "serial boofhead." As Federal Premier John Howard defended Oz's top Catholic, saying that the propriety of Pell's intervention "is entirely a matter for him and a matter for the Catholic church," Howard's health minister, Tony Abbott, sought in turns to both distance himself from the hierarchy's issue advocacy, and then support it. In a speech last week at Sydney's Notre Dame university -- a new institution brought to the archdiocese by Pell -- Abbott (nicknamed "Captain Catholic" in the press) said that while "there is an absolutely crystal clear moral position against abortion on demand, a Catholic politician's duty is to try to make a bad situation better, not necessarily to try to create a perfect situation, given the realities of the world in which we live." "[A]t no stage have I ever said that we should try to re-criminalise abortion," Abbott said, "because I just think that to try to do that in our society, would be incredibly difficult and I think it might very well end up making a bad situation worse, not better." However, after Pell's comments on the stem-cell bill, Abbott said that "what [Pell] appeared to be saying to me was that this was a serious matter and people need to carefully consider the traditional teaching, they should not lightly dismiss it." The health minister voted against overturning a national ban on the contentious research last year, but the vote's result favored stem-cell supporters. Abbott's Notre Dame remarks were broadcast on national radio's The Religion Report, which invited Pell to appear. The program received no reply from the cardinal. Aside from the predictable diatribes of progressives within the church, the cardinal took hits even from parliamentarians who sided with him on the stem-cell measure. "If the cardinal's approach is to start excommunicating Catholic MPs," minister Kristina Keneally said, "I think he might want to know of my support for the ordination of women." Word from Parliament House says that, while the result -- on which MPs were permitted by party leaders to vote their conscience -- appeared close even to the final hours before the debate, Pell's high-stakes entrance into the fray compelled undecided members to break decisively in favor of the bill as an assertion of independence. Days after the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone SDB left the door open for individual bishops to excommunicate Catholic politicians whose actions facilitate access to abortion, Pell was backed up by Western Australia's senior prelate, Archbishop Barry Hickey of Perth, who told a local newspaper that pro-stem-cell Catholic politicians should refrain from receiving the Eucharist, and that excommunication remained within his realm of options. Shortly after Hickey's comments, the state parliament announced that -- amid perceptions of his comments as a threat to the body's autonomy -- the archbishop's statements would be investigated by its privileges committee. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Pell seeks hi fidelity vows from teachers Jun 03, 2007 Sydney Auxiliary Bishop Julian Porteous has defended Cardinal George Pell's controversial draft pastoral plan for Sydney archdiocese which requires Catholic school principals to make a public "vow of fidelity" to Church teachings, saying "it's not about control". (cathnews, 4 Jun 2007) The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the Sydney archdiocese wants its 167 school principals, its deputy principals and religious education coordinators to take the vow in what would be a first for the Australian church. The oath demands "religious submission of intellect and will" on questions of faith and morals - even if these are inferred but not defined by the pope and his bishops - and an acceptance that everything solemnly taught by church tradition is divinely inspired. It suggests they would be bound not only to impart these teachings but to live by them, the paper says. The controversial requirement is contained in a draft pastoral plan circulated to all parishes of the Sydney archdiocese for comment. The plan, at least two years in the drafting, gives a series of priorities, goals and strategies for the archdiocese from 2008 to 2011. Among its other new measures are marriage preparation classes for senior secondary school students, twice-yearly reviews of its educational bodies, and forums so Catholic politicians can be updated on church teachings. There will also be renewed efforts to teach youth about "sexuality and life issues" through formal courses and seminars, and measures to bring in to the fold young people inspired by next year's World Youth Day. The oath has symbolic value as a public commitment to the moral teachings and identity of the church and is not an attempt at control, the archdiocese says. But a recent Vatican push to institute an oath for theologians in the US was greeted as an attack on academic independence and an attempt to impose tighter doctrinal controls over education institutions connected to the church. But Bishop Porteous said the oath would act as a reminder to educational leaders of their role in promoting church teachings. "It's not about control," he said. "The oath gives greater clarity to the importance of the role of principals in schools, that their first responsibility is that the Catholic faith is taught and lived authentically within the school. "Anybody who speaks in a Catholic education institution is meant to be presenting the Catholic faith in its integrity. "There can be a place for theologians to make explorations of criticism, but in teaching positions the role is to very much be faithful to the teaching of the church," Bishop Porteous concluded. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Strength to denounce the charlatans Apr 08, 2007 In an age of spin doctors and political correctness, Cardinal George Pell, Sydney's Roman Catholic Archbishop, is as refreshingly direct in his Easter message as the motto of the Catholic See of Sydney "Be Not Afraid". (The Sunday Telegraph, April 08, 2007) The motto comes from the account of Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee that appears in the gospels of Mathew, Mark and John. Those familiar with the Bible will recall the miracle of Jesus feeding the masses with five loaves and two small fish and later collecting a dozen baskets of scraps in an earlier version of Clean Up Australia. After that display of good neighbourliness, He temporarily fled his overly-enthusiastic followers, only to be seen walking over the waves by a boatload of disciples as they hit stormy weather on the crossing to Capernaum. "Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid," He called. Peter, answered and said: "Lord, it if be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." When Peter left the ship however and began walking to Jesus, he saw the boisterous seas and was afraid. He began to go under and called to be saved. Jesus immediately caught him by the hand, saying: "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" It was a sink-or-walk proposition. Unlike the numerous goats which lead many of the Christian flocks across Australia today, Cardinal Pell is not an equivocator, he doesn't strive to make his homilies as inoffensive and as meaningless as possible in the hope of ameliorating the masses. He believes in right and wrong, and not in the faddish moral equivalency that appeals to the churches of appeasement that litter the land. He is not afraid of saying that his God, the One he believes Christians proclaim at Easter, is "radically different from the gods and goddesses of Eastern religions and different too from the God described in the Quran". Radically different. Not the same, but dressed up in saffron robes, or the same but just without Mohammed, or L. Ron Hubbard, or whoever the latest cult leader may be. Same-same but different, as Asian hucksters are wont to say, doesn't wash with the cardinal. This is a smack in the face for all the pursuers of multi-faith worship who are determined to blur the significant differences between the Christian God and the rest, in the vain hope that the kumbaya crowd will have their eyes closed so firmly shut when they are swaying arm in arm with whoever happens to be alongside that they won't notice that their neighbour's views are actually diametrically opposed to their own. This is an assault on those who demur about standing up for Christianity because, for many, to do so would be to offend the new commandment, thou must not be judgemental. In fact they have already surrendered their critical faculties to others who will make the easy and the tough decisions for them. Cardinal Pell said God often struggles for press coverage in Australia, but had been doing better lately "perhaps because the violence of a small number of Islamic terrorists has prompted us to rethink our religious beliefs, or absence of belief". He also observed that we are uneasy about the climate, and the threat of global warming. Wryly, he said it is to be hoped the "one true God will accept all those carbon credits" but he also noted that God is not an insurance broker and his Son had more than his share of trouble. "Neither did Jesus say anything on global warming, although he said much on the struggle between good and evil, meaning and fear, love and hate," the Cardinal observed. Christianity, like all religions, is based on an assumption of faith. Faith, as we are reminded at Easter, that Jesus rose from the dead. By their very nature, faiths cannot be tested by scientists. Which is why those who have embraced the cult of human-induced global warming are backing their faith, not science, and must ignore the realities of the geological record, the atmospheric record, the solar record and the polar records if they wish to cling to their belief. There is no evidence that Jesus was against science but there is plenty of evidence that he was opposed to false beliefs and distortion of His religion, Judaism. That so many turn from the facts and find grim solace in fearful embrace of new faiths in the so-called secular age is not without irony. Nor was Cardinal Pell lacking in irony with his supposition that the actions of terrorists may prompt some people to rethink or discover their religious beliefs. Peter questioned Jesus because he was afraid, and he started to sink. When he accepted Jesus, he was saved. Today, too many people don't question what is passed off as religion because they are afraid. Cardinal Pell called upon Christians to address the challenges in their own hearts and families and communities before moralising about distant worlds, which we are usually powerless to change. But the message "Be not afraid", which Jesus offered to Peter, is worth remembering when the new pseudo-religionists start pushing their dogma. Be not afraid, and challenge the charlatans who would control through fear. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese World conflicts spur Christian revival Apr 07, 2007 Christianity is gaining attention in Australia, despite the heavy influence of secularism, Cardinal George Pell of Sydney told a television audience on April 6. Sydney, Apr. 6, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Pell suggested that a return to religious belief might be prompted at least in part by the threat of ideological violence. He remarked that "the violence of a small number of Islamic terrorists has prompted us to rethink our religious beliefs-- or absence of belief." In a world dominated by material concerns, Holy Week can easily pass unnoticed, the cardinal said. "Not everybody around understands the religious significance of Easter," he noted. Still he reported that a remarkable number of Catholics are attending the services of the Easter Triduum. While he commented on the global issues that might prod some people toward religious belief, Cardinal Pell cautioned that Christians should not think of their religion in terms of major political issues, but recognize a call to personal conversion. "Jesus calls us to address the challenges in our own hearts, families, and communites," he said, "before we moralize about distant worlds, where we are usually powerless." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Australian cardinal launches countdown to World Youth Day 2008 Mar 06, 2007 Cardinal George Pell of Sydney launched the 500-day countdown to World Youth Day 2008 and encouraged pilgrim groups to register online early for the event. SYDNEY, Australia (CNS, March 6 2007) -- "It's a long way to Australia from other parts of the world, you can't just get on a bus in Warsaw and drive here," Cardinal Pell said at the launch March 2 in front of St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney. A giant digital clock in front of the cathedral will count down the days until Sydney hosts World Youth Day in July 2008. "Our wish is to avoid a situation as occurred when Rome hosted World Youth Day (2000) and three quarters of a million pilgrims decided to come in the last three weeks," Cardinal Pell said. Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney, the chief organizer of World Youth Day 2008, said most come to the approximately five-day events as members of diocesan pilgrim groups, religious movements and youth groups. He said online registration of groups had been opened up four months earlier "to capture information" on expected numbers, language groups and special needs. "This will enable us to plan early and match groups to accommodation and catechesis sites throughout greater Sydney," he said. Group registrations are now available at www.wyd2008.org in English, Italian, French and Spanish. Bishop Fisher said a paper registration process will be available for group leaders who do not have Internet access, and registration for individuals will open midyear. World Youth Day will be the largest event in Sydney since the 2000 Olympics and will be Pope Benedict XVI's first papal visit to Australia. The numbers at the closing outdoor Mass could be as high as 500,000 worshippers. Mark Vaile, Australian deputy prime minister and a Catholic, extended his government's welcome to Pope Benedict at the launch. Vaile said local participation in World Youth Day would "show the respect we have as a nation to" the pope. Vaile confirmed that the Australian government would waive the visa application charge for World Youth Day pilgrims and issue three-month visas to all registered visitors. World Youth Day organizers also released a new DVD "Sydney: Witness the Spirit," which is available online for international distribution. The DVD features testimonials from young Australians and imagery of the Australian landscape. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Australian archdiocese limits funeral eulogies Feb 23, 2007 Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia, has imposed strict deadlines on eulogies delivered at Catholic funerals. Feb. 23, 2007 (CWNews.com) - In a move to protect the sacred character of the liturgy, the cardinal has ruled that any speaker at a funeral must confine himself to at most a 5-minute talk. Only one talk is allowed, and the tone of the eulogy should be in keeping with the spirit of prayer for the deceased, avoiding jokes about his weaknesses, the guidelines add. Cardinal Pell explained that the guidelines were necessary to prevent abuses in the funeral liturgy. In some cases, he said, a series of eulogists spoke at length, resulting in overly long services; in other cases a highly emotional speaker added to the grief of the families. In most extreme cases, laughing references to the drinking or sexual conduct of the deceased profaned the ceremony. The cardinal noted that in some countries-- including the US-- Catholic funeral guidelines do not allow for any eulogy (as distinct from the priest’s homily at the funeral Mass). In the Sydney archdiocese, he said, the new rules “uphold the principle that the funeral Mass is an act of worship and prayer that should not admit elements foreign to its intrinsic nature." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell questions global-warming fears Feb 20, 2007 Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia, has questioned what he describes as a “semi-religious” focus on the issue of global warming. Sydney, Feb. 19, 2007 (CWNews.com) - In a column for the Australian Sunday Telegraph, Cardinal Pell charges that the intense concern about the dangers of climate changes are the result of an effective public campaign in which “zealots have been presenting extreme scenarios to frighten us.” The result, the cardinal said, is “an induced dose of mild hysteria,” which he said has grown “dangerously close to superstition.” Announcing that he is “deeply skeptical” about the argument that global warming threatens the future, the cardinal pointed to the mixed scientific evidence on the question. “The science is certainly more complicated than the propaganda,” he said, urging readers to reject “scare-mongering” and resist hasty conclusions. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Weep for the more than 1 million victims not Saddam Jan 20, 2007 Sympathy should not be directed to former deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein for his hanging, but rather to the more than one million victims who died because of him, said a Catholic cardinal in Australia. SYDNEY, Australia (Catholic Online, 1/16/2007) – In a Jan. 14 commentary piece, “Weep for victims, not the dictator,” that appeared in the Sydney Sunday Telegraph, Cardinal George Pell, archbishop of Sydney, wrote that the pre-sunrise Dec. 30 Baghdad execution of Saddam Hussein while “already receding in to history … in death, as in life, he has provoked division.” Labeling him “in the front rank of evil doers” and “an unpleasant piece of work,” the cardinal said that “I should pray for Saddam’s soul, but cannot weep for him.” “I weep,” he added, “rather for his many victims.” The cardinal’s column appeared one day before the Iraqi government’s attempt to close the chapter on Saddam Hussein’s quarter-century of repressive rule – by hanging two of his associates – brought Sunnis to the streets when the former leader’s half brother, Barzan Ibrahim, was decapitated. Saddam, Ibrahim and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, head of Saddam's Revolutionary court, were sentence to hang after they were found guilty of crimes against humanity for the killings of 148 Shiites after a failed 1982 assassination attempt against the former leader in the city of Dujail. Saddam, executed four days after the appeals court upheld the verdicts, subjected to taunts just before the death sentence was carried out. Cardinal Pell said that the Vatican “followed Catholic policy” in its explicit opposition to use of capital punishment in all cases, including that of the former Iraqi leader. But he noted that the Catechism of the Catholic Church had stated that “governments have the right and duty to punish criminals with proportionate penalties ‘not excluding, in cases of extreme gravity, the death penalty,’” adding that Pope John Paul II had “removed this exception” since its 1994 publishing. “Saddam’s case,” the cardinal said, “certainly falls into the category of ‘extreme gravity.’” “I do not believe he was the worst tyrant of the second half of the 20th century, with competitors like Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot, but he is in the front rank of evil-doers,” he said. He pointed to specific allegations against him, including: “one million people died in his war with Iran; he invaded Kuwait; systematically oppressed and killed the Kurds; murdered many of his own Iraqis and even enticed his sons-in-law home with false promises and had them executed within three days.” The deposed Iraqi leader received legal representation, was afforded the ability to defend himself, even had the chance to appeal the verdict and has a marked grave in his home city, unlike many of his victims, Cardinal Pell noted. “In an imperfect world, there is little ground for complaint here,” he said, though acknowleding that “his public execution to the taunts of opponents was symptomatic of the chaos in his country.” “It was not entirely right and proper, but our sympathy should be directed first to his many victims,” he said. The issue of punishment of criminals is a troubling one, Cardinal Pell noted, urging readers to “avoid two extremes” of vengeance – "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth'' – of viewing “imprisonment primarily as an attempt to rehabilitate the criminal.” “The traditional Christian teaching is a bit more complicated. Those who believe in God the creator accept that serious evil disturbs and distorts nature's proper order,” he said. “Punishment is designed to redress this disorder,” he said, but adding that “the offender” must voluntarily accept the punishment to enhance “the return to equilibrium.” In a Dec. 28 interview with the Rome daily La Repubblica, Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, condemned the Dec. 26 rejection of the appeal of the death sentence of Saddam Hussein by Iraq’s highest court and said that the execution would be the punishment of one crime with another crime. The Vatican’s top official for peace and justice issues said that the death penalty is contrary to Catholic Church teachings. On Dec. 30, the Vatican restated its opposition to the death penalty. "The execution of a capital sentence is always tragic news, a cause of sadness, even when the person is guilty of terrible crimes,” said Holy See Press Office Director Father Federico Lombardi in a midday declaration hours after the death of the former Iraqi leader. "The position of the Catholic Church against the death penalty has often been reiterated,” he said. "The killing of the guilty is not the way to rebuild justice and reconcile society, rather there is a risk of nourishing the spirit of revenge and inciting fresh violence.” While acknowledging that there was “no doubt” that Saddam was responsible for crimes against humanity, Cardinal Martino said that did not change the church’s opposition to capital punishment. The Vatican’s top justice and peace official's most recent remarks followed up on comments he made to an Italian news agency on the day the guilty judgment was rendered, when he decried the planned execution as a punishment that indicated “we are still at the stage of ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’” In the Dec. 28 interview, he reiterated the church’s teachings demanded that “human life must be protected from conception until a natural death.” “The death penalty is not a natural death,” Cardinal Martino said. “And no one can give death, not even the state.” Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell sees justification for Saddam's execution Jan 16, 2007 Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia, has indicated sympathy for those who defend the execution of Iraq’s Saddam Hussein. Sydney, Jan. 15, 2007 (CWNews.com) - In his weekly column for the Sydney Sunday Telegraph, Caridnal Pell acknowledged that Vatican officials had spoken out against the execution, in line with “Catholic policy, which has now developed into an explicit opposition to all capital punishment.” However, in his January 14 column, the Australian cardinal said that the case of Saddam Hussein “certainly falls into the category of ‘extreme gravity,’” in which Church teaching has traditionally acknowledged the state’s right to impose capital punishment. “In an imperfect world there is little ground for complaint here,” Cardinal Pell said, after a quick review of Saddam’s crimes. Recognizing legitimate complaints against the Iraqi court trial and the rush to execution, the cardinal said: “It was not entirely right and proper, but our sympathy should be directed first to his many victims.” Cardinal Pell’s column recognizes the sharp public disagreements about the death penalty, and notes that Pope John Paul II (bio - news) rejected the use of capital punishment even in cases of “extreme gravity.” He closes his column by acknowledging an obligation to pray for the soul of the Iraqi dictator, but saying, “I weep rather for his many victims.” Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Untimely Death Nov 21, 2006 By + Cardinal George Pell Archbishop of Sydney 19/11/2006 When a beautiful young woman in the public eye dies at the age of 32, we lament an unexpected loss.  We feel for her after 8 years of struggle; her life cut short before her time and feel especially for her husband. Cancer can and does strike indiscriminately.  It seems unfair.  Why does God allow such a tragedy and even worse tragedies? What Christians do when people suffer is more important than what we say, although Christian teaching does (or can) bring light and strength. First of all Christians are not fatalists, who believe that suffering or sickness should be allowed to run its course.  We do all we can, we battle against disease with the best science and medicine have to offer.  Christian parishioners regularly support one another in times of tragedy.  Indeed Christianity spread because of the way Christians cared for their sick. Even today people can be tempted to think mistakenly that God is punishing them when a disaster occurs.  In the past some Jews believed that misfortune struck a person because he or his ancestors had sinned.  But Jesus himself explained that this was not the case, as good people suffer unexpectedly too. Life is mysterious and sometimes brutal, like the death of any young person in an accident, from cancer, from cot death.  Those who are sick not only have to battle the physical pain, but often depression and loneliness too.  Loving support makes a world of difference in these situations. One of Christ’s strangest teachings is the beatitude: “Blessed are those who mourn, they shall be comforted”, because it is difficult to see sadness as a blessing!  It often seems more like a curse. Part of the answer lies in Christ’s promise that heaven exists, where our mourning will be turned to gladness, and where those who suffered more than their share in this life will be recompensed. As a child I was tempted to think of God as a stern judge, like a strict remote headmaster, who might even punish me unfairly.  But this was a mistake. God is a judge, but He is completely fair and more compassionate and understanding than we can imagine.  Christ’s parable of the prodigal son’s father shows us what God is like.  God heals victims, forgives sinners and balances out the scales of justice in eternity. Christians also have another strange belief, which I have found regularly helps people in times of sadness, whether they have deep faith or almost no faith.  We believe that God’s only Son suffered, especially when he was crucified, killed on a cross.  Jesus was a fellow sufferer, but he later rose from the dead. In the worst suffering, in the darkest night, hope can be found because God is good, just and will not let death, evil and suffering have the last word. If there is no good God, there is no such hope. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell Slams Aussie Parliament Ruling on Embryo Cloning Nov 20, 2006 A decision by the Australian Federal Parliament to allow the cloning of human embryos has been labelled as a "mistake" by the country’s top cleric. (The Universe, November 21, 2006) The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, said the move would push Australia “further and faster down a slippery slope”. Cardinal Pell was commenting on the Australian Senate’s decision to allow scientists to clone human embryos for research. The senate did however ban the mixture of human eggs with animal eggs in a last minute compromise to appease critics who complained that therapeutic cloning would create human-animal hybrids. The senate had been considering a private member’s bill put forward by former health minister Kay Patterson. It will now go to the House of Representatives, where it is widely expected it will win approval and become law. Cardinal Pell said the debate was not between science and superstition, nor between religion and scepticism, but a debate about “the value to be given human life”. “The bill before Parliament proposes that we reject the fundamental principle of medical research ethics – primum non nocere, first, do no harm – and that we condone the manufacture of laboratory human beings for destructive experiments,” he said. “Few Australians would know that it is proposed to legalise the manufacture of cloned human embryos with only one genetic parent; hybrid embryos with multiple genetic parents; embryos whose genetic mother is an aborted girl foetus, and human-animal crosses. “Few Australians realise that these will be destroyed after experimentation and dismemberment for parts such as stem cells.” He added: “Any substantial progress so far has come from other stem cells. The uncertain prospect of financial gain should not blind us to this lack of progress.” Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cloning an affront to human dignity Nov 01, 2006 THE nation's most senior Catholic has attacked therapeutic cloning as an affront to human dignity and called on his flock to lobby senators to thwart a push to legalise the research. (The Australian, November 02, 2006) Cardinal George Pell yesterday told The Australian that cloning was philosophically unsustainable and put scientific or commercial curiosity ahead of human life. "We pray that parliament will make a decision based on universal ethics, not on populist rhetoric," said Cardinal Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney. The churchman's entry into the debate came after a survey of senators conducted by The Australian suggested a private member's bill that would lift a ban on cloning was likely to be passed when it is debated in the Senate next week. It also came as doctors opposing cloning completed plans for a $100,000 advertising campaign beginning in today's newspapers. Therapeutic cloning occurs when a scientist injects adult genetic material into a human or animal egg that has been stripped of its nucleus. Researchers would allow the resulting embryo to grow for up to 14 days and harvest its stem cells for research. While supporters believe the technique could lead to major developments in the war against disease, Cardinal Pell said all Christians, not just Catholics, held the protection of innocent life as a basic human value and an issue of justice. "No theology is necessary to hold this view," Cardinal Pell said. "This view is certainly compatible with Catholic faith but is based on natural law -- broad ethical principles accessible to everyone -- which place the protection of human life above the casual or commercial curiosity of scientists." Cardinal Pell said the protection of human life in medical research was enforced every day, citing complex consent mechanisms required for proposed human drug trials. But he said pro-cloners seemed to believe such principles should be suspended because of the possible research benefits stemming from cloning. He also said pro-cloners put the desires of the living ahead of the protection of the unborn. And they asserted that that purpose for which a human embryo was created -- either for reproduction or research -- somehow altered its human dignity. Advertisements placed in major newspapers today argue that research using adult stem cells holds more potential than research using cloned embryonic material. David van Gend, of the lobby group Do No Harm -- Australians for Ethical Stem Cell Research, authorised the advertisements, which were partly funded by the 200-member Doctors Against Cloning group. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Pell Concerned Over Pick & Mix Attitude to Religion Oct 05, 2006 The Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell has expressed fears that the Catholic youth of Australia is being let down by increasing secularism in the education system. (The Universe, September 29, 2006) Speaking in his keynote address to a National Catholic Education Conference the cardinal praised the huge contribution made to Australian public life of Catholics in over 200 year’s of Australian history. But he warned that modernity is now threatening Catholic life, pointing out that a recent study of the youths of ‘Generation Y’ indicated that only ten percent of Catholics believe "only one religion is true" and that a staggering 75 percent believed it was acceptable to "pick and choose beliefs." Also, worryingly for the cardinal was the fact that young women were no more religious than today’s young men. "This has enormous consequences for the future," he said. "Generations of children across most ethnic groups in Australia had the faith passed on to them and nurtured by the devotion of their mothers.  It remains to be seen how many Gen Y women revert to this role once they have children of their own. "Too many young Catholics have been led by the pressures of contemporary propaganda, whatever might be said about the inadequacies of family life and Catholic religious education, so that their religious confusion is worse than that of all other young Australian Christians.” He added: "They are also poorly equipped for any return to the fold when they have little instinct for or understanding that there are truths of faith and morals, which are to be sought after and judged according to rational criteria." Despite making up almost a quarter of the population of Australia, Cardinal Pell pointed out that with the percentage of Catholics attending Mass regularly, currently standing at just 16 percent, the Catholic education system needed to 'clarify our goals, try to learn from our mistakes," in order to better instil the inherent teachings and values of Catholicism to the youth of today despite opposition from secular society. "Secularists strive to remove religion from the public domain and restrict it to private life, where individual religious choices reflect personal preferences unrelated to truth and general principles," he said. "They see religion as another area for consumer choice. Catholicism calls to faith and reason as well as love and hope. "This is now profoundly countercultural," he added. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Pope protests 'show violence' in Islam Sept 21, 2006 Sydney's Catholic Archbishop has hit out at Muslims protesting over comments by the Pope, saying their reaction shows the link in Islam between religion and violence. (AAP, September 18, 2006) Cardinal George Pell has also labelled the response of some Australian Muslim leaders to the issue as "unhelpful". A wave of protest has erupted among Muslims across the globe after comments by Pope Benedict XVI, in which he quoted an obscure medieval text that criticised some teachings of the Prophet Mohammed as "evil and inhuman". The Pope has since said he is "deeply sorry" for the outrage sparked by his remarks and stressed they do not reflect his personal opinion. But Cardinal Pell today backed Pope Benedict, saying the violent reaction to his comments on Islam and violence illustrated his fears. "The violent reactions in many parts of the Islamic world justified one of Pope Benedict's main fears," Cardinal Pell said in a statement. "They showed the link for many Islamists between religion and violence, their refusal to respond to criticism with rational arguments, but only with demonstrations, threats and actual violence. "Our major priority must be to maintain peace and harmony within the Australian community, but no lasting achievements can be grounded in fantasies and evasions." Dr Pell said it was a "sign of hope" that no organised violence had flared in Australia following Pope Benedict's comments. But he said the responses of Australia's mufti, Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali, and of Dr Ameer Ali, of the prime minister's Muslim reference group, were "unfortunately typical and unhelpful". "It is always someone else's fault and issues touching on the nature of Islam are ignored. "Sheik Alhilali often responds to criticism by questioning the intelligence and competence of the questioner or critic," Dr Pell said. Later, on ABC radio, he added of Sheik Alhilali: "I'm tempted to say almost never does he address the criticism of Islam but diverts the question away from it and I think resorts to evasions." Dr Ali said yesterday Muslims in Australia were disappointed by the Pope's comments. "We expect the Pope to follow (in) the footsteps of his predecessor who had been a great builder among communities for the last so many years and not a pope of the crusades," Dr Ali said. Dr Pell said Dr Ali had called on Pope Benedict to be more like Pope John Paul II than Pope Urban II, who called the First Crusade. "In fact the Pope's long speech was more about the weaknesses of the Western world, its irreligion and disdain for religion and he explicitly rejected linking religion and violence," Dr Pell said. "He won't be calling any crusade." Dr Pell sought to draw a distinction between Westerners and Muslims. "Today Westerners often link genuine religious expression with peace and tolerance. "Today most Muslims identify genuine religion with submission (Islam) to the commands of the Koran. "They are proud of the spectacular military expansion across continents, especially in the decades after the Prophet's death. This is seen as a sign of God's blessing." Dr Pell said while he was grateful for the contributions of moderate Muslims, "evil acts done falsely in the name of Islam around the world need to be addressed, not swept under the carpet". Dr Pell has repeatedly said Islam is more warlike than Christianity. In June this year he told the National Catholic Reporter in the US: "It's difficult to find periods of tolerance in Islam." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Pornography worst fruit of free-market-capitalism tree Sept 16, 2006 Pornography is the worst fruit of tree of free-market capitalism, targeting children, destroying marriages and families and luring sexual addicts deeper into dependence, said an Australian cardinal. SYDNEY, Australia (Catholic Online, 7/11/2006) – Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, in a July 9, 2006, pastoral letter, called for greater public awareness of sexual addiction as a “major social problem and public health issue” and offered support of a multi-million dollar Australian government initiative to fight pornography. The letter, entitled “Sexual Sickness,” appeared on the Web site of the Archdiocese of Sydney. “Sexual addiction is real,” said Cardinal Pell, who was a member of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and currently is chairman of the Australian bishops' Committee for Doctrine and Morals. “Only recently has public attention begun to focus on compulsive and disordered sexuality. It is still among the least understood of all the addictions.” “The Internet has now become the fastest growing source and forum for sexual addicts, because it is available at any time of day or night, is isolated and secret, rich in fantasy and endless variety,” the cardinal said, adding that sexual addiction can take the form of multiple affairs, exhibitionism, voyeurism, compulsive masturbation, rape and sexual abuse of children. While sexual addicts are only a minority of the population, he said, “the spread of pornography is feeding these addictions” and reaching out to the public at large. He pointed out that some Australian cities, including Sydney, are “among the highest users in the world of pornographic material.” Cardinal Pell noted that 40 percent of the adult male population (9 million) in the United Kingdom logged onto sex Web sites in 2005, four times the number in 2000, and that 1.4 million women downloaded Internet pornography last year, an increase of 30 percent. “It is not surprising that 40 percent of couples with marital difficulties say Internet pornography is at least partly to blame,” he said. As well, the cardinal said, children are a target. “Pornography is marketed aggressively to those who are searching for it,” Cardinal Pell said, quoting a 2003 Australia Institute report that revealed more than 80 percent of boys and 60 percent of girls using the Internet experienced unwanted exposure to sexual material. He supported the recent announcement by Australian Communications Minister Helen Coonan that $116 million (AUS; about $87 million USD) will be spent to combat pornography, especially among children, offering free Internet filtering software to every Australian family and requiring the blocking of public library terminals to X-rated Web sites. “Public awareness must continue to grow as pornography is the worst fruit of free market capitalism,” the cardinal said. Sydney is the site for World Youth Day 2008. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Proponents of therapeutic cloning should cool it: Pell Sept 12, 2006 Several bishops have weighed in on the heated stem cell debate with Cardinal George Pell of Sydney suggesting that proponents of therapeutic cloning "have a glass of water" and "pause for a minute." (cathnews.com, 25 Aug 2006) According to The Daily Telegraph, Cardinal Pell (pictured) said that his comments were directed at those people "very emotionally involved in pushing for change." "Let's go slowly and clearly," he said. Dr Pell said he thought religion would play no part in the outcome of the conscience vote in Parliament and that it will be decided according to scientific knowledge and ethics reasoning. Other bishops have also weighed in on the debate with the eventual conscience vote in Parliament expected to replicate February's emotional free vote on the abortion drug RU486. In an article for next month's Parramatta diocesan paper Catholic Outlook featured today on CathNews, Bishop Kevin Manning says that he expects proponents of embryonic stem research will try to dismiss the Catholic view rather than offer answers to tough ethical questions. "I don't doubt that the media and proponents of the embryonic stem cell argument will try to ridicule the Catholic input as outdated moral platitudes versus genuine human need; archaic religion versus progressive science; Christian ethicists against suffering celebrities; religious fundamentalists versus science and enlightenment," he predicts. Next door to Parramatta, Sydney diocese's Bishop Anthony Fisher, who is Episcopal Vicar for Life and Health, told the Catholic Weekly that the creation of human beings by IVF and cloning for the purpose of destructive research are practices which are "abhorrent morally and of no proven value scientifically". "Nothing has changed either ethically or scientifically to justify human cloning or the creation by other means of human beings destined for destruction." Referring to the Report of the Lockhart Committee, Bishop Fisher said that "this committee excluded specifically ethical concerns from its consideration and recommended lifting most ethical or legislative constraints in this area. "This report recommended the legalisation of the production (in certain circumstances) of cloned human beings, animal-human crosses, human embryos with multiple human parents or only one and IVF embryos created for the specific purpose of destructive experimentation. "All these practices would be abhorrent to most Australians who understood them," he added. Meanwhile, Salesian ethicist Fr Norman Ford writing in Eureka Street again emphasised that "there are ethical alternatives to embryo destructive research." "There are many possibilities of finding or developing stem cells of wide potentiality without involving embryo destruction." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Translating the Missal, Continued Jul 31, 2006 Cardinal George Pell of Sydney was in Rome this past week for a series of meetings for the committee he heads, Vox Clara, which advises the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments on English translations. ROME, JULY 27, 2006 (Zenit.org).- The group of senior cardinals and bishops from the English-speaking world met at the Vatican's congregation to discuss how the translation of the Roman Missal into English is proceeding and to give their advice to the translation group, the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL). "Just recently," the 65-year-old cardinal told me, "the American bishops and all the major English-speaking countries have overwhelmingly approved the translation for the order of the Mass. That was a very significant step." Although the president of Vox Clara knows that the translation work won't please everyone completely, he is convinced they will appreciate its quality. "The new Roman Missal is theologically richer than the old and this is reflected in the quality of the translations that we're getting," he said. "The translations are immeasurably superior.… They will be in clear, strong and powerful English and they will very accurately transmit the richness and the challenge of the Latin originals." To underline this point, Cardinal Pell provided some examples of the changes that are being discussed: "Some of the more controversial changes include the reply to 'The Lord be with you,' [the new line] being 'And with your spirit.' Apparently it's only the English and the Portuguese-speaking Brazil who presently say 'And also with you.'" Another change can be found at the Sanctus, the time we say "Holy, holy, holy." "Previously the term that we used prior to this prayer meant that the identity of the other phases was obscured," says Cardinal Pell. "Now it will be clear that what we are talking about is that we are joining the angels in that praise. There is a very considerable theological richness in the Latin originals that is now being conveyed accurately." But, speaking of Latin, some are criticizing the work of the Vox Clara committee as being an imposition by Rome. To this Cardinal Pell responds: "We belong to a single Church, we belong to the Latin rite and there is one missal, the Roman Missal." Although there has been some degree of protest over the new translation, Cardinal Pell insists that it helps in promoting unity in faith which is the higher good, especially for the good of evangelization. "I think it is a very noble ideal to be working for one English translation right throughout the English-speaking world," he said. "Yet now there's a secondary level of importance because in many parts of Africa and Asia they no longer know Latin well, so English will become the base translation which they will use for their translations into their vernacular. So it's really important that we have accurately translated what is in the Latin." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Questions for Muslims Jul 24, 2006 Amid this summer of angst over terrorist plots, arrests and debate over the role of Islam in these matters, it is gratifying to hear the loud and now growing voices of Muslims who decry the resort to violence by their co-religionists. We hear, time and again, that Islam is a religion of peace, not violence. (www.catholicregister.org, 7/13/2006) These are, of course, welcome words. They are especially so for members of other faith communities who – precisely because of their religion – highly value peace. The statements prove, it is said, that the problem of terrorism is not rooted in religion, but is religion exploited for evil intentions. Then along comes Cardinal George Pell to muddy the waters, or maybe clear the air, depending on your point of view. In any event, the archbishop of Sydney, Australia, will not win any brownie points within interfaith dialogue circles for his foray into the debate over Islam and violence. The cardinal, in "Islam and Us" published in the June-July issue of First Things, dares to raise the fundamental question: "Can Islam and the Western democracies live together peacefully?" He then turns to his own perusal of the Quran, Islam's holy scriptures, to seek answers to this question. What he finds gives little encouragement to those who wish to believe that Islam is fundamentally benign. Cardinal Pell begins by trying to count the references to violence in the Quran, but gives up after 50 or 60 pages, "as there are so many of them." Granted, this is not proof that Islam is more violent than the other two great Abrahamic religions: the Old Testament of the Bible and Jewish scriptures are also rife with violent imagery. The difference lies in what is meant by them. Here Cardinal Pell turns to history to show that Islam had its own bloody evolution. Mohammed eventually had a real army behind him to help spread Islam through conquest. Jesus Christ never resorted to violence. Scholars sometimes turn to periods of enlightened toleration of other religions by Muslim regimes in Spain and Portugal, the Middle East and the Turkish empire to argue Islam's openness. Such tolerance, however, was strictly limited and the complementary notion of "dhimmitude" or second-class status for non-Muslims, raises other disturbing questions. All of this, of course, can be described as pointing out the stick in our brother's eye without removing the plank from our own. Christianity has its own sordid historic periods to atone for. The difference is that Christians have been doing just that for some time. Indeed, Pope John Paul II spent a good deal of his own authority apologizing for the sins of Catholics perpetrated on behalf of the church. No one has to buy Cardinal Pell's arguments completely to realize he has posed some legitimate and deeply worrisome questions. Serious engagement with these points cannot be avoided by Muslim leaders if Islam is going to truly be a religion of peace in a pluralistic world. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell commends Australian government for anti-porn efforts Jul 24, 2006 Cardinal George Pell of Sydney has commended the Australian government for earmarking $116 million to offer free Internet filtering software to families aiming to combat pornography. Sydney (CNA, July 13,2006) -- Communications Minister Helen Coonan announced that every Australian family would be offered free Internet filtering software to block X-rated sites and offensive words. She expects that 2.5 million families will take advantage of the offer. Public library terminals will also be blocked. Cardinal Pell of Sydney commended the government for its anti-pornography program. In a regular column in the Sunday Telegraph, he said public awareness about the problem of pornography must continue to grow, as it is “the worst fruit of free-market capitalism. Particular concern has been expressed about the accessibility of pornography to children. A 2003 report by the Australia Institute indicates that more than four out of five boys and three out of five girls using the Internet had experienced unwanted exposure to sexual material. In his column, Cardinal Pell addressed the growing social problem of sexual addiction, which can take its form in promiscuity, multiple affairs, exhibitionism, voyeurism, compulsive masturbation, as well as rape and sexual abuse of children. Pornography, particularly that which is available on the Internet, he said, feeds this addiction. Citing American psychologist Patrick Carnes, he said about 8 percent of men and 3 percent of women become sexually addicted at some stage in their lives. According to research cited by the cardinal, 40 percent of the adult male population in the U.K. (9 million) logged onto sex websites last year, four times as many as in 2000; 1.4 million women downloaded Internet porn in that time, representing an increase of 30 percent. At least 40 percent of couples with marital difficulties say Internet pornography is partly to blame. As well, Sydney lists among cities with the highest users in the world of pornographic material. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Pornography worst fruit of free-market-capitalism tree, Australian Jul 12, 2006 Pornography is the worst fruit of tree of free-market capitalism, targeting children, destroying marriages and families and luring sexual addicts deeper into dependence, said an Australian cardinal. SYDNEY, Australia (Catholic Online, 7/11/2006) – Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, in a July 9, 2006, pastoral letter, called for greater public awareness of sexual addiction as a “major social problem and public health issue” and offered support of a multi-million dollar Australian government initiative to fight pornography. The letter, entitled “Sexual Sickness,” appeared on the Web site of the Archdiocese of Sydney. “Sexual addiction is real,” said Cardinal Pell, who was a member of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and currently is chairman of the Australian bishops' Committee for Doctrine and Morals. “Only recently has public attention begun to focus on compulsive and disordered sexuality. It is still among the least understood of all the addictions.” “The Internet has now become the fastest growing source and forum for sexual addicts, because it is available at any time of day or night, is isolated and secret, rich in fantasy and endless variety,” the cardinal said, adding that sexual addiction can take the form of multiple affairs, exhibitionism, voyeurism, compulsive masturbation, rape and sexual abuse of children. While sexual addicts are only a minority of the population, he said, “the spread of pornography is feeding these addictions” and reaching out to the public at large. He pointed out that some Australian cities, including Sydney, are “among the highest users in the world of pornographic material.” Cardinal Pell noted that 40 percent of the adult male population (9 million) in the United Kingdom logged onto sex Web sites in 2005, four times the number in 2000, and that 1.4 million women downloaded Internet pornography last year, an increase of 30 percent. “It is not surprising that 40 percent of couples with marital difficulties say Internet pornography is at least partly to blame,” he said. As well, the cardinal said, children are a target. “Pornography is marketed aggressively to those who are searching for it,” Cardinal Pell said, quoting a 2003 Australia Institute report that revealed more than 80 percent of boys and 60 percent of girls using the Internet experienced unwanted exposure to sexual material. He supported the recent announcement by Australian Communications Minister Helen Coonan that $116 million (AUS; about $87 million USD) will be spent to combat pornography, especially among children, offering free Internet filtering software to every Australian family and requiring the blocking of public library terminals to X-rated Web sites. “Public awareness must continue to grow as pornography is the worst fruit of free market capitalism,” the cardinal said. Sydney is the site for World Youth Day 2008. Translation (automatic) English “Si descartamos la relación heterosexual como condición indispensable para el matrimonio abrimos las puertas a cualquier tipo de relación” Jul 12, 2006 El Arzobispo de Sydney, el cardenal George Pell, ha afirmado que “si descartamos la relación heterosexual como condición indispensable para el matrimonio abrimos las puertas a cualquier tipo de relación fuera de la moral cristiana como por ejemplo la poligamia”. Monseñor Pell ha destacado esta idea durante un panel sobre la transmisión de la fe en la familia enmarcado en el programa del Congreso Internacional Teológico- Pastoral que concluye hoy en Valencia. (VERITAS, 07/07/2006) Valencia - Por su parte, el cardenal Ruini, Vicario del Papa, ha destacado en su intervención la importancia de que “la Iglesia desarrolle una catequesis para toda la familia como una comunidad y no tanto como se ha hecho hasta el momento, ya que se ha transmitido la fe a hijos y padres por separado”. Además, ha subrayado la importancia de que las familias se reúnan para rezar y ha recalcado que en Roma “son principalmente las familias pertenecientes a los movimientos cristianos los que la realizan, en especial las del Camino Neocatecumenal” recalcó el cardenal. Por su parte, el cardenal Creszencio Sepe ha asegurado que, “aún hasta en los países más cristianos, siguen habiendo personas que no han recibido un anuncio de la fe cristiana, ante esta situación la familia cristiana tiene que ser evangelizadora". Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell offends Muslims, again Jun 24, 2006 Cardinal George Pell has declared yet again Islam is more warlike than Christianity, this time to a US Catholic newspaper. (AAP, Jun 6, 2006) The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney told the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) Australia hadn't been affected much by Islamic threat following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US, but this could change depending "on how many terrorist attacks" Muslim fundamentalists could "bring off successfully", Fairfax newspapers report. In the interview conducted in Rome with well-known NCR reporter John L Allen, Dr Pell said "the million-dollar question" was whether intolerance was a modern distortion of Islam or arose out of internal logic. "It's difficult to find periods of tolerance in Islam," Australia's top Catholic was quoted as saying. advertisement "I'm not saying that they're not there, but a good deal of what is asserted is mythical." It is the second time in a month that Dr Pell has made controversial remarks about Islam. In early April, the religious leader commented that the Koran contained "invocations to violence" and that Islam was an intolerant faith. The newspapers quoted Islamic Friendship Association spokesman Keysar Trad as saying Dr Pell had displayed his misunderstanding of Islam. Dr Pell was in Rome last week for meetings of the Vox Clara Commission, a body of English-speaking bishops advising the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on liturgical translation issues. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Work Choices 'could force down wages' Jun 21, 2006 Labor and the unions have a new ally in their battle to overturn the Government's industrial laws - Sydney's Cardinal George Pell. (The Daily Telegraph, June 19, 2006) The Catholic leader has come out against the Work Choices laws, saying he is afraid they could be used to force down minimum wages. Cardinal Pell's comments are likely to be used by Labor when parliament resumes today ahead of a six-week winter break. Not satisfied with parliament as the only arena for debate, Opposition Leader Kim Beazley wants to take on Prime Minister John Howard in the car park of the Spotlight store in the NSW north coast town of Coffs Harbour. The store's offer of a workplace agreement trading off some conditions for a pay rise of two cents an hour, has become a focal point for Labor's attack on the Government. Mr Howard says parliament is the proper forum for debate. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Thomas More Jun 15, 2006 Parliament House Sydney. By + Cardinal George Pell. Archbishop of Sydney. 8/6/2006. This year we are celebrating 150 years of responsible government in New South Wales, one of the oldest democracies anywhere in the world.  This is a reason for pride and quiet celebration. It is my privilege today as Archbishop of Sydney to present to the New South Wales parliament, on behalf of the Catholic community, a beautiful bronze statue of Sir Thomas More, who was born in England in either 1477 or 1478 and was beheaded on Tower Hill in London on July 6, 1535 on the orders of King Henry VIII. This gift is a recognition of how much all of us owe to our Australian democratic practices and traditions to the Westminster system of government which we have inherited and to our politicians. I congratulate the sculptor Louis Laumen on capturing More’s spirit and I believe that this beautiful piece will always be a silent but powerful reminder in this place of the need for high principles, service to the truth and, above all, moral courage. More has been canonized as a saint and martyr and is the patron saint of statesmen and politicians.  Robert Bolt’s play and film called him “A Man for All Seasons” and More contributed significantly in many different areas. He was a writer and religious controversialist, a lawyer, lecturer and envoy abroad, and with the coronation of Henry VIII he began a brilliant public career.  At the age of 26 he entered parliament and held a succession of offices, becoming Privy Councillor, Knight, Speaker of the House of Commons, high steward both of Oxford University, his alma mater, and Cambridge University and eventually succeeding Cardinal Wolsey as Lord Chancellor in 1529.  But we don’t commemorate and honour him today for those considerable achievements. Catholics in particular and many others remember Henry VIII as a tyrant who executed many of those closest to him, including some of his wives, and split the Christian Church in England from the Catholic Church, but when he ascended the throne he was seen very differently.  He was young, vigorous, genuinely religious, a good linguist and musician and a friend of the “new learning”.  In fact the English rise to power began with the Tudors, especially under his daughter Elizabeth.  Perhaps the best modern parallel to understand the enthusiasm he generated was the election of J.F. Kennedy as president of United States in 1960. The first half of the sixteenth century in Europe was an exciting time.  Columbus had not long discovered the Americans and in Italy the Renaissance had produced Da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, and many others as well as the Renaissance popes, often worldlings or worse but great patrons of the arts and of the return of the classics. More helped bring the Renaissance to England.  He was the friend of scholars such as Grocyn, Colet and especially Erasmus.  “You must be Thomas More or nobody”, Erasmus began at their first meeting, with More replying “And you must be Erasmus or the devil”.  He worked hard to have the study of Greek introduced into Oxford. It was More who invited Holbein to England, warning him that he might struggle for commissions and it is through Holbein’s magnificent portraits and sketches that we understand Henry’s England so much better.  This sculpture is based on Holbein’s portrait of More now in the Frick Gallery in New York, where it hangs not far from the flat, evil face of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, also painted by Holbein who consolidated Henry’s power through the suppression of the monasteries, and was also executed by this same king for his pains. More was brought undone by “the King’s great matter”.  Henry’s wife Catherine of Aragon was unable to produce a son and Henry wanted to marry Anne Boleyn.  For various reasons Pope Clement VII refused to allow the matter to be decided in England and refused to nullify Henry’s first marriage. More was a cautious lawyer, who mistrusted his own ability to stand by his principles and took refuge in silence, although refusing to attend Anne and Henry’s marriage.  Henry was probably inclined to compromise, at least at the beginning, but Anne was relentless and the stakes were raised to assert Henry’s religious supremacy in England as head of the Church.  On this Thomas would not budge. Ironically More had originally believed that the popes were a human development and had warned the young Henry against too close an alliance with the papacy.  Ten years of study brought him to the conclusion that the position of the pope as the successor of Peter was divinely ordained.  But once again that particular Catholic conviction is not the reason we honour Sir Thomas More in this place. We are paying tribute to More’s courage to his adherence to principle, to his opposition to tyranny.  He did this with few companions and little support.  Only one bishop, John Fisher of Rochester shared his view about the importance of the pope, while most Catholics thought he had exaggerated things badly.  His favourite daughter, Meg Roper, together with all his family believed his sacrifices were unnecessary.  Even more poignantly during his entire lifetime there were only a couple of popes who aspired to religious respectability and the papacy became ruthlessly secularized.  It was these excesses which provoked Luther and the Protestant Reformation. More was a man of his times and the title of saint does not imply life long perfection.  He regarded heretics as small “l” liberals today regard racists, while going further so that during his time as chancellor six Protestants were executed.  We thank God that we have moved past such excesses. More was a serious follower of Christ throughout his life, a clear example of an outstanding citizen nourished and inspired by religious principle.  His Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation, written during his 15 months in the Tower is a beautiful expression of faith and a support and comfort for all who are suffering. More was a loyal friend, and had many friends.  He was a good family man with an unusual sense of humour.  He had style to go with his substance. In his own final words at the scaffold “I die the King’s good servant, but God’s first”.  And he had lived as he died. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese A Political Anniversary Jun 14, 2006 On last Monday an important political anniversary was celebrated at the top end of town, with minimal press coverage.  This was a pity, because we were celebrating 150 years of government by the people for the people. By + Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, 28/5/2006. The opening of the second session of the fifty-third parliament of New South Wales celebrated 150 years of “responsible” government in the state.  This was no extraordinary claim that governments had always avoided acting irresponsibly, but that we had been ruled, not by a governor, but by an elected government which needed majority support in the parliament.  In other words we were celebrating a century and a half of democracy, which makes New South Wales one of the oldest democracies in the world. The first premier Stuart Donaldson was in fact known as Prime Minister and Colonial Secretary, as there was no federated Australia until 1901.  There have been 40 premiers. Our situation was very different in the early nineteenth century as a British penal colony ruled by military governors, whose masters were 20,000 kms and six months away by ship.  Lachlan Macquarie, a fine man who laid the foundation stone of St. Mary’s Cathedral in 1821, was the last such governor.  Afterwards there was a Legislative Council to advise the governor and from 1843 this was partly elected. 150,000 convicts were transported to Eastern Australia including 25,000 women and the last convict ship arrived in N.S.W. in 1840 although transportation did not finish in Western Australia until 1868.  150 years ago the entire continental population was less than 900,000. The significant percentage of emancipated convicts and their children and the large number of Irish born in this small population, as well as the excesses of the French Revolution in 1789 (where king and queen were executed) and then the Napoleonic wars, meant that the “powers-that-be” in N.S.W. and in England were suspicious of democracy, as something dangerous and un-British. However the discovery of gold in 1851, the huge immigration this induced and the immense wealth which followed, more in Victoria than here, meant that the slow movement to democracy quickened and was unstoppable. In many ways the Australian colonies led the way in the development of democracy, although many of the features we now take for granted came after the first sitting of parliament in 1856. It was a coupe of years later in 1858 that all men were allowed to vote and the secret ballot was introduced.  Women could not vote in N.S.W. until 1902, nor become members of the Legislative Assembly until 1918. Aboriginal people were never prohibited officially but found it difficult to vote until the 1960s. Australian parliaments were notorious as being rowdy and irreverent and governments generally only lasted 18 months until the party system was introduced in the 1890s.  Now governments average six years in office. Our democratic governments and parliamentarians are imperfect, but far better than any alternative. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Ecumenical Service Jun 14, 2006 St. Stephen’s Uniting Church, Sydney. Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in New South Wales. Romans 12:2; Psalm 67. By + Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, 22/5/2006. We are gathered here in St. Stephen’s to thank God for 150 years of self-government in NSW and for the progress this has brought, to ask God’s continued blessing on our state and nation and to acknowledge the indispensable contribution the Christian Churches have made to the common good. We recommit ourselves, as approximately seventy percent of the population, to strengthening our contribution to what St. Paul describes as “the good, acceptable and perfect” in our society and maintaining the Christian voices in public discussion. Recently a retired senior figure publicly criticised the proposition that marriage between a man and a woman should be legally privileged.  He objected that this was a Christian notion and therefore could safely be rejected in our pluralist society. The criticism was misconceived for a number of reasons.  Men and women of every religion and of no religion marry one another, so that there is nothing uniquely Christian, or indeed Judaeo-Christian about marriage. More importantly Christian contributions to public debate espouse particular solutions, not because they are Christian, but because of the social benefits they confer or because they conform to the natural law, to the proper ordering of society.  The marriage of a man to a woman brings immense benefits to society through the love and protection of parents for their children.  In other words there is an intergenerational dividend not equalled by any alternatives and it is for this reason that marriage should be legally privileged.  And there is much evidence that public opinion massively supports this and recognises these benefits. Christianity is one important source of public inspiration and the different Christian Churches might be described as mighty rivers watering our huge, dry continent. Governments and oppositions are the fruit of the society which elects them.  They generally share more of the strengths and at least some of the weaknesses of their communities.  We are in trouble when the percentages of good and evil are reversed! Societies where Judaeo-Christian truths and values are accepted and practised are different.  I suspect they are generally better, and this is not inevitable, but they are certainly different.  One does not need to think only of communist states to realise this, but to look at our neighbours. The recognition of God to whom we shall answer for our conduct, the central position of love, the explicit rejection of hatred, the judicial curbing of the thirst for revenge, patience in suffering rather than eliminating the sufferer, compassion for those who weep and are persecuted, the exaltation of peace rather than war are marks of Christian Australia. Not all these values are shared equally by explicitly secular societies, or societies based on other religious or ethical codes.  We are tempted to regard most of the values I listed as immemorial, plain commonsense and therefore beyond dispute.  But the decency and fairness in our society are not inevitable or permanent, but need to be nurtured, explained and defended to each new generation. Christian Churches today are major sources of harmony, even when they espouse views different from those of the secularist minority or even from the majority of Australians.  A strong democracy accepts the rights of minorities and is tolerant of differences. Tolerance does not mean indifference to differences, but that genuine and important differences are discussed and debated within the bonds of civility.  Democracy does not require moral relativism and is enriched by orderly public argument about contending truth claims.  The Judaeo-Christian tradition has a vital public role in explaining and defending these perspectives. In the past the different Christian churches often followed different national boundaries and were sources of sectarian conflict. We thank God this era has passed and renew our commitment to preserving and developing a rich and varied polity. With the psalm we pray “the earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us”.  And so we conclude by asking that this continue.  “May God be gracious and bless us and make his face shine on us” and we make this prayer through Christ Our Lord.  Amen Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Parliamentary saint unveiled Jun 14, 2006 Debates in the New South Wales Parliament are notoriously brutal but MPs can take some comfort from the fact that unlike their patron saint, they won't be beheaded for their principles. (The Daily Telegraph, June 08, 2006) Sydney Catholic Archbishop Cardinal George Pell today unveiled a statue of St Thomas More, the patron saint of lawyers, statesmen and politicians, in the Speaker's Garden at Parliament House in Sydney. The bronze statue was a gift to the Parliament from the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. St Thomas, who was born in 1477 or 1478, was executed in 1535 for high treason after refusing to publicly accept King Henry VIII was head of the Church of England. He served as Speaker of the House of Commons and Lord Chancellor. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese "Obviously Connected with Problem of Homosexuality" May 29, 2006 Homosexuality: "We've got to see that this is not tolerated amongst clergy and religious orders" FRONT ROYAL, VA, May 18, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Australia's Cardinal George Pell, was in Front Royal, Virginia over the weekend celebrating Mass and giving the Commencement address at Christendom College.  LifeSiteNews.com interviewed the Australian Church leader at the college last Friday.  LifeSiteNews.com will publish in three parts, the content of that interview beginning with today's instalment. LifeSiteNews: Recently the church has seen corruption enter into its own walls in the form of the sex abuse scandals. What do you think the root of that problem has been, and how does it relate to the culture at large? Do you think that the culture at large has played a big factor in that, or is it just a separate problem in and of itself? Cardinal Pell: "Human nature is always weak, but I do believe that the problem has been worsened considerably because of the moral confusion in society: the weakening of the faith, the absence of clear moral lines. "As you know most of the abuse, at least in the English speaking world, that is most of the clerical abuse, is not in the strictest terms pedophilia, but what's called ephebophilia, and that is with young fellows as adolescents after puberty. And what is significantly different, which you would also probably be aware, is that 80% of the abuse is with young boys. So I mean it's obviously connected with the problem of homosexuality. "I also think it's connected remotely with false views of conscience, where people come to think that all truth is relative, and that you can choose for yourself, especially when the pressure is on. It's not too difficult to deceive yourself morally. That's especially true in matters of sexuality. Of course now there's a very organized push to entice people into the world of active homosexuality. "All these factors have impinged on the Church life, and made it more difficult. I think we've made very, very considerable strides in addressing the problem of pedophilia. But we've also got to be aware that we don't allow problems to develop with homosexuality just between adults within the church. We've got to see that this is not tolerated amongst clergy and religious orders." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell to Pro-Abortion Politicians: "How come you feel that you're able to go to Communion?" May 29, 2006 Australia's Cardinal George Pell, was in Front Royal, Virginia over the weekend celebrating Mass and giving the Commencement address at Christendom College.  LifeSiteNews.com interviewed the Australian Church leader at the college last Friday.  This is the second part of that three-part interview. FRONT ROYAL, VA, May 19, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Cardinal Pell: " . . . I mean, we believe that Christ is the Son of God and I believe that if we follow what he says, either popular or unpopular, you're much more likely to be blessed than if you set out to tailor His message-cut bits out of it or improve other bits. The Good Lord has made his instructions." LifeSiteNews.com: Speaking of cutting out teachings from Catholic teachings. There has been a recent problem of Catholic politicians and world leaders, or at least so-called Catholic politicians, who publicly claim that they are faithful Catholics, clearly directly contradicting the faith. What would you say to those politicians, and what can we as lay people do about these? Cardinal Pell: "Well, I think as lay people…my job as Archbishop is significantly different, and you've got to be a little careful there, not to appear to be just simply politically partisan. But if they're very significant issues, I think the lay people should tell the politicians that they're disappointed, and do it regularly, consistently and reasonably, not with hostility or a lack of charity." LifeSiteNews.com: What would you say to the politicians themselves who are doing or saying these things? Cardinal Pell: "Well, I'd say if they do it on a number of really significant issues, you'd have to bring into question just to what extent they are straight up and down the line Catholics, and to what extent they remain Catholic. I mean, if they call themselves Catholics and on every significant public issue they don't line up with us, well at the very minimum I think they should go quiet on the Catholic labelling. "I mean there are other questions about whether or not they should be refused Communion, and they are difficult questions. I think if a person is regularly supporting pro-abortion legislation in a way that is very, very difficult to divorce that voting from an explicitly pro-abortion attitude I think you should ask them, how come you feel that you're able to go to Communion?" The first part of the interview can be viewed here: Cardinal Pell on Sexual Abuse Scandal: "Obviously Connected with Problem of Homosexuality" Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Christian country towns backbone of US strength May 29, 2006 Prime Minister John Howard was in Washington last week and Australian flags decorated Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House. By Cardinal George Pell. (Sunday Telegraph, May 21, 2006) Washington is like Canberra, a specially built capital city, not a huge metropolis, dominated by monuments, including a new one to the dead of World War II. It is meant to impress and succeeds as an elegant centerpiece for the greatest super power in history, whose economic, military and cultural influence is world-wide, even if they cannot capture Bin Laden. By coincidence, I was an hour away to the west in a Virginian town called Front Royal, for the graduation ceremony of a small Catholic tertiary institution, called Christendom College. The countryside is lush and very green by Australian standards, with huge deciduous trees and small, bright-red birds called cardinals. It is cold in winter and sweaty in summer. Deer run wild, and hunting is still allowed. There are many big families of children, and often, family homes seemed to remain unlocked. Political Washington, ruled by the Cheneys and Rumsfelds, is a distant world, and while the billionaires, film stars and ghettos dominate headlines, the secret of America's strength lies in the suburbs and these towns. I went for a haircut to Buddy the Catholic barber, a convert in an old shop with a picture of John Wayne on the wall. He explained that "we" (the Southerners) lost the Civil War and that Southerners were treated nearly as badly as Roman Catholics by the northern secular press. Two of the factors which nourish America's greatness are in evidence in Front Royal; their religious fervour and their commitment to education. Christendom College was started 29 years ago by five lay Catholic academics, who felt young Catholics were being short-changed, and founded this small liberal-arts college, now with 450 students. Everyone studies in seven areas, ranging from maths to philosophy, is introduced to the classics of Western culture and taught to think and write clearly. Many of the students go on to vocational studies. All the Catholic students practise their faith and the graduation Mass was deeply prayerful, while many students are active in the pro- life movement. All the American ethnic communities, except perhaps the Hispanics, are deeply committed to education, and they don't wait for governments to provide it. There are hundreds of privately run tertiary institutions sponsored by Christian churches and other groups. They are financed by fees, often paid with great difficulty and by a much stronger tradition of giving from individuals and ex- students than we have as yet in Australia. Christian faith produces hope, energy (and children in Front Royal) while education enables them to make a difference. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Celibacy focuses a priest's heart on service May 29, 2006 The traditional Christian teaching that sexual intercourse is only legitimate in marriage is now counter-cultural. (Sunday Telegraph, May 14, 2006) Christians do not believe that everyone has a right to sexual activity so that a celibate person is one who is both unmarried and sexually inactive. Celibacy is not unnatural, because humans, unlike animals, can control their sexual instincts, while Christians believe that sexual activity is good, when it is linked to love and open to the possibility of children. When sex becomes a commodity, sexual partners become objects, something to be used for pleasure. Priestly celibacy has to be seen within the context of Christian faith, because while there is a clear dimension of sacrifice and self-control, celibacy is also seen as sacred, a very personal offering to Christ, not simply a renunciation to be borne stoically. Celibacy clearly states that not only sex but even family love are not all-important. It spells out part of the meaning of Christ's teaching that the first and greatest commandment is to love God, while the second is that we love one another. The immense Catholic network of services in Australia was built primarily through the work of unmarried priests, sisters and brothers, because celibacy releases immense energy and time for the service of people. Marriage and family life are the basis of all civilisation, but they can fluctuate between heaven and hell and always take hard work, time and energy. Christ is the most important model for all Christians and, for a Catholic priest, who is defined as "another Christ", it is important that Christ was unmarried, as were Paul, the great missionary, and John, the youngest of the apostles. On the other hand, Peter, the head of the apostles, was certainly married, asJesus cured his mother-in-law from sickness! Like Christ, a priest is called to a spiritual paternity to nurture Christians through the sacraments and prayer and generate new children through baptism. Through celibacy, his heart should be undivided, less distracted and more focused for service. The sacrifice of celibacy is still the best sign to people generally that a man is not a priest out of self-interest, while it also remains a potent witness to the reality of life after death where Christ has explained there will be no sexual intercourse. Catholic priests generally are very effective servants of their people, called on by day and by night, and they are respected and loved by their people for this. A missionary priest said he had travelled widely and never been among strangers, only brothers and sisters. A celibate priest's life should be full of friendships, supported by brother priests. But it is not for everyone. Psychological testing now supplements the long years of preparation for those who aspire to be celibate priests. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Pell affirms commitment to dialogue with Muslims May 17, 2006 Sydney's Cardinal George Pell has defended himself against accusations from Muslim leaders that he is "ill-informed" following the publication on his website of a speech on Islam delivered to US Catholic business leaders. (cathnews.com, 8 May 2006) In a media statement, he said that isolated suggestions that he is uninformed on Islam "are clichés, smokescreens to distract, to divert attention rather than address basic issues which need to be discussed". Keysar Trad, founder of the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia, says this is not the first time Cardinal Pell has made "ill-informed comments". The comments, he said, "seem to be totally subjective, an off-the-cuff dismissal of the teachings of one of the world's great religions." "I think there will be many Catholics out there who'll be cringing when they hear these comments, and they'll be saying 'what happened to the legacy of Pope John Paul II?" he said. Cardinal Pell says that Islamic terrorism is not a "figment of anyone's imagination" and the history of Christian-Muslim relations "is full of conflict". "I continue to be completely committed to dialogue with Muslims, to supporting moderate forces on all sides," he said. "We need a lot of continuing dialogue, based on truth, history and the current situation." In the speech entitled "Islam and Western Democracies" delivered on 4 February to the Legatus Summit, Florida, Cardinal Pell said that he is concerned about the Koran's frequent calls to violence. He also said: "Islam is not a tolerant religion and its capacity for far-reaching renovation is severely limited". Translation (automatic) English French Kardinal Pell kritisiert Islam May 09, 2006 Der Erzbischof von Sydney Kardinal George Pell hat den Islam kritisiert. Der Koran rufe zu Gewalt auf und der innerhalb des Islam kämpften moderate Kräfte gegen extremistische Tendenzen. (Radio Vatikan, 05/05/2006) Dies sagte er in einer Ansprache an amerikanische Unternehmer, die im Februar an einer Tagung zum Thema Islam und westliche Demokratien teilnahmen. Erst jetzt war die Rede vom Erzbistum Sydney veröffentlicht worden. Der Präsident des Freundeskreis Islam in Australien, Keysar Trad, kritisierte die Äußerungen des Kardinals. Sie seien absolut subjektiv und ignorierten, was der Islam lehre. In seiner Ansprache hatte der Kardinal auch die ökologische Bewegung kritisiert. Die Aufregung um die Erderwärmung sei hysterisch und extrem und ein Symptom für die spirituelle Leere des Neuheidentums. Auch diese Äußerung war auf Kritik gestoßen. Die Grünen-Politikerin Christine Milne sagte, die Äußerungen des Kardinals seien beleidigend und schädlich und erinnerte an die Bemühungen des verstorbenen Papstes Johannes Pauls II., der wiederholt auf die Notwendigkeit einer ökologischen Bekehrung hingewiesen habe. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Muslims hit back after Pell attack May 07, 2006 Members of the Muslim community have hit back at Cardinal George Pell for his comments about Islam. (The Sydney Morning Herald, May 7, 2006) In a speech to US Catholic leaders last week, Cardinal Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney, said the Koran was riddled with "invocations to violence" and "the challenge of Islam will be with us for the remainder of our lives, at least". Defending the comments on Friday, Cardinal Pell said in a statement: "Islamic terrorists are not a figment of anyone's imagination, and the history of relations with Islam is full of conflict." But he said he was committed to dialogue with Muslims. Yesterday Islamic Friendship Association of Australia spokesman Keysar Trad said: "Whether it is the failure to address [Dan] Brown's Da Vinci Code or answer [AWB] Commissioner [Terence] Cole, Islam bashing provides a great distraction." Mr Trad quoted verses in the Koran that told believers to protect non-believers who are not hostile to Muslims. Islamic Council of NSW spokesman Ali Roude said Cardinal Pell should "avoid making statements that he cannot support with evidence". Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Muslims hit back after Pell attack May 07, 2006 Members of the Muslim community have hit back at Cardinal George Pell for his comments about Islam. (The Sydney Morning Herald, May 7, 2006) In a speech to US Catholic leaders last week, Cardinal Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney, said the Koran was riddled with "invocations to violence" and "the challenge of Islam will be with us for the remainder of our lives, at least". Defending the comments on Friday, Cardinal Pell said in a statement: "Islamic terrorists are not a figment of anyone's imagination, and the history of relations with Islam is full of conflict." But he said he was committed to dialogue with Muslims. Yesterday Islamic Friendship Association of Australia spokesman Keysar Trad said: "Whether it is the failure to address [Dan] Brown's Da Vinci Code or answer [AWB] Commissioner [Terence] Cole, Islam bashing provides a great distraction." Mr Trad quoted verses in the Koran that told believers to protect non-believers who are not hostile to Muslims. Islamic Council of NSW spokesman Ali Roude said Cardinal Pell should "avoid making statements that he cannot support with evidence". Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Message for the Opening of Campion College Apr 02, 2006 By + Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney (24/3/2006) The opening of Campion College today marks an important early stage in one of  the bravest and most important initiatives of Catholic education in Australian history. In the United States Catholic liberal arts colleges have made a vital contribution to the renewal of university education.  These colleges today serve as power-houses of the faith, like Benedictine monasteries in the Dark Ages, providing young people with the knowledge and resources to articulate their beliefs confidently, to engage with the secular world around them, and to shine the light of the Gospel on public debate.  They have had an influence quite disproportionate to their size and to the number of their graduates, an influence that has been overwhelmingly for the good. This too is my hope for Campion College: that it will be both a nursery and even an armoury of the faith in Australia.  I rejoice that recent years have seen a number of important new developments in Catholic higher education, particularly in Sydney.  Campion College is the object of great hopes among those who love Catholicism without apology, and they are hopes I share. The achievement of liberal arts colleges in the United States has been hard-won, and Campion College will not find it any easier here in Australia. Its success will depend on the generosity of its supporters and the hard work of all those who have achieved so much in such a short time to bring the College to this point. I am delighted to lend my continuing support to these efforts, and my only regret is that I cannot be with you today for this great occasion.  It took an invitation from Pope Benedict to be present in Rome for the creation of new cardinals today to keep me away. It is important to acknowledge publicly those who have made this day possible.  In particular I wish to pay tribute to the courage, vision, and generosity of the Power family, especially that of James Power Senior, without whom the College would not exist.  I would also like to congratulate Bishop Kevin Manning for his foresight and munificence, which has not only secured a site for the College but provided his diocese and western Sydney with its first Catholic University campus. On this happy day my prayers and thoughts are with all those who wish Campion well: its founders, its supporters, its staff, and especially its students and their families.  The opening of Campion College is a sign of the times, a strong sign of hope, and its success will work powerfully to change and renew Sydney and Australian society. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Australian cardinal protest target over Catholic conscience teaching Mar 26, 2006 Twenty-four Australian Catholic liberals, including five priests, known as fierce critics of Sydney's Cardinal George Pell, have charged the conservative prelate with being "outside the Catholic mainstream" for his views on conscience, and have asked the Vatican to rein him in. SYDNEY, Australia (National Catholic Reporter, 2/21/2006) – Though the chance of Vatican action on the complaint is virtually nil, the contretemps offers a reminder of what a polarizing force the tall, hard-charging Cardinal Pell, 64, represents in the normally laid-back Australian church. In essence, Cardinal Pell has argued in a series of widely circulated lectures and essays that a moral obligation to follow one's conscience, sometimes called in Catholic tradition the "primacy of conscience," cannot be invoked to justify dissent from church teaching; his critics say his position is inconsistent with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The group went public with its protest on Feb. 21, saying a letter sent on Nov. 13, 2005, to American Archbishop William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican's doctrinal agency, had received no response. See the copy of the (letter to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith). The group includes Paul Collins, a writer and former commentator with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation who left the priesthood in 2001 after a Vatican investigation he attributes to Cardinal Pell's influence; and Loreto Sister Veronica Brady, a strong progressive in the Australian press on issues such as women in the church. Academics, parents, a civil judge and a trade-union official, along with five priests, are among the other signatories. Australian sources said that aside from Collins and Sister Brady most of the others are not especially prominent. In recent lectures and essays, Cardinal Pell has said that it's a mistake for the church to talk about "primacy of conscience," since truth, not conscience, is actually primary. Too much talk about "conscience," he has warned, risks legitimizing moral relativism. "I believe that the mischievous doctrine of the primacy of conscience has been used to… justify many un-Catholic teachings, ranging from denying the divinity of Christ to legitimizing abortion and euthanasia," Cardinal Pell said in a May 30, 2003, lecture. In the May 2005 issue of First Things, an influential American Catholic journal, Cardinal Pell blames emphasis on the primacy of the individual conscience following the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) for generating "suspicion of religion and distaste for moral norms, the refusal to accept any doctrine that is personally inconvenient, religious indifference and sexual indiscipline." The group of 24 critics argue that such assertions are inconsistent with Catholic teaching. "His approach to this issue is, at best, not true to the Catholic tradition, although it is being disseminated as an accurate statement of Catholic belief," they write. "We believe the authentic Catholic tradition is that conscience holds primacy in the process of moral decision-making," the group says. "Certainly we accept that Catholics are bound to take biblical and church teaching as a central and integral element in moral discernment, but that in the end conscience is the ultimate norm of each person's moral action." The group asked Archbishop Levada to insist that Cardinal Pell restrict himself to the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that even though the conscience can make mistakes, "a human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience." Australian sources told National Catholic Register Feb. 19 that Cardinal Pell's arguments on conscience have generated wide discussion, with many Catholics of a more center-left temperament taking exception. In a Feb. 16 panel discussion at Sydney's Notre Dame University, for example, Jesuit Father Frank Brennan, a well-known Australian author, challenged Cardinal Pell, suggesting that Catholics "in good conscience" could have voted either way on a recent bill regarding RU486, the so-called "abortion pill," before the country's parliament. Looking directly at Cardinal Pell, who was in the audience, Father Brennan said: "I know Cardinal Pell would disagree with me on this." Father Brennan is a widely respected author and speaker who has been named a "living treasure" by Australia's National Trust for his work on social justice and human rights. In that light, Australian church sources said it was striking that there weren't any prominent center-left figures, such as Father Brennan among the signatories to the letter released Feb. 21. Cardinal Pell told the Sydney Morning Herald that he found the complaint to the Vatican a "real hoot." "There never has been a traditional Catholic teaching of the primacy of conscience," Cardinal Pell said. "The word of God remains supreme no matter how uncomfortable this is for the loyal opposition, for Catholic dissenters." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Australian cardinal protest target over Catholic conscience teaching Mar 24, 2006 Twenty-four Australian Catholic liberals, including five priests, known as fierce critics of Sydney's Cardinal George Pell, have charged the conservative prelate with being "outside the Catholic mainstream" for his views on conscience, and have asked the Vatican to rein him in. SYDNEY, Australia (National Catholic Reporter, 2/21/2006) – Though the chance of Vatican action on the complaint is virtually nil, the contretemps offers a reminder of what a polarizing force the tall, hard-charging Cardinal Pell, 64, represents in the normally laid-back Australian church. In essence, Cardinal Pell has argued in a series of widely circulated lectures and essays that a moral obligation to follow one's conscience, sometimes called in Catholic tradition the "primacy of conscience," cannot be invoked to justify dissent from church teaching; his critics say his position is inconsistent with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The group went public with its protest on Feb. 21, saying a letter sent on Nov. 13, 2005, to American Archbishop William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican's doctrinal agency, had received no response. See the copy of the (letter to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith). The group includes Paul Collins, a writer and former commentator with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation who left the priesthood in 2001 after a Vatican investigation he attributes to Cardinal Pell's influence; and Loreto Sister Veronica Brady, a strong progressive in the Australian press on issues such as women in the church. Academics, parents, a civil judge and a trade-union official, along with five priests, are among the other signatories. Australian sources said that aside from Collins and Sister Brady most of the others are not especially prominent. In recent lectures and essays, Cardinal Pell has said that it's a mistake for the church to talk about "primacy of conscience," since truth, not conscience, is actually primary. Too much talk about "conscience," he has warned, risks legitimizing moral relativism. "I believe that the mischievous doctrine of the primacy of conscience has been used to… justify many un-Catholic teachings, ranging from denying the divinity of Christ to legitimizing abortion and euthanasia," Cardinal Pell said in a May 30, 2003, lecture. In the May 2005 issue of First Things, an influential American Catholic journal, Cardinal Pell blames emphasis on the primacy of the individual conscience following the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) for generating "suspicion of religion and distaste for moral norms, the refusal to accept any doctrine that is personally inconvenient, religious indifference and sexual indiscipline." The group of 24 critics argue that such assertions are inconsistent with Catholic teaching. "His approach to this issue is, at best, not true to the Catholic tradition, although it is being disseminated as an accurate statement of Catholic belief," they write. "We believe the authentic Catholic tradition is that conscience holds primacy in the process of moral decision-making," the group says. "Certainly we accept that Catholics are bound to take biblical and church teaching as a central and integral element in moral discernment, but that in the end conscience is the ultimate norm of each person's moral action." The group asked Archbishop Levada to insist that Cardinal Pell restrict himself to the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that even though the conscience can make mistakes, "a human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience." Australian sources told National Catholic Register Feb. 19 that Cardinal Pell's arguments on conscience have generated wide discussion, with many Catholics of a more center-left temperament taking exception. In a Feb. 16 panel discussion at Sydney's Notre Dame University, for example, Jesuit Father Frank Brennan, a well-known Australian author, challenged Cardinal Pell, suggesting that Catholics "in good conscience" could have voted either way on a recent bill regarding RU486, the so-called "abortion pill," before the country's parliament. Looking directly at Cardinal Pell, who was in the audience, Father Brennan said: "I know Cardinal Pell would disagree with me on this." Father Brennan is a widely respected author and speaker who has been named a "living treasure" by Australia's National Trust for his work on social justice and human rights. In that light, Australian church sources said it was striking that there weren't any prominent center-left figures, such as Father Brennan among the signatories to the letter released Feb. 21. Cardinal Pell told the Sydney Morning Herald that he found the complaint to the Vatican a "real hoot." "There never has been a traditional Catholic teaching of the primacy of conscience," Cardinal Pell said. "The word of God remains supreme no matter how uncomfortable this is for the loyal opposition, for Catholic dissenters." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese "Ad Gentes," at 40; Turin's Other Games Mar 22, 2006 A mix of enthusiasm, experience and realism led the Rome conference which marked 40 years since the Second Vatican Council promulgated its decree on missionary activity, "Ad Gentes." ROME, MARCH 16, 2006 (Zenit.org).- The event at the Urbanian University was presented by the Pontifical Congregation for Evangelization of the Peoples. Its apostolic visitor for Oceania, Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, told me how important the anniversary of the document is. "It's possibly more significant today than it was 40 years ago," the Australian prelate told me, "because some people, especially in our modern Western world, wonder just how important it is to tell other people about Christ and hand on the message. It's central to Catholic life -- we've got something beautiful and true and it's part of the Catholic tradition to want to spread that. This, of course, is central to this document on the missions." At the convention, some positive convictions along with concerns for missionary work became clear. First, the universality of missionary activity has a new twist. Once upon a time it was the Europeans who went out to Africa, the Americas and Oceania. Now, those lands are returning the favor. "About one century ago, practically all the men and women ministering in Africa came from other continents," said Archbishop Antoine Ntalou of Garoua, Cameroon. Today, the situation is quite different. "New missionaries from abroad," he said, "are fewer and fewer and, in fact, more and more foreign missionaries who've been in Africa for a long time are returning back to their dioceses or institutes for different reasons." "The hour of truth has indeed come for the Church in Africa," said Archbishop Ntalou, 65. "It's now in a position to provide for its local needs and to take part in assisting in the evangelization of other continents." Australia is facing the opposite situation. Once, it was Australians who went on mission to the islands and countries in the Pacific. Now, priests from these other places are increasingly going on mission to the island continent. "Today an increasing number of those also come from Asia," Cardinal Pell reported. "For example, from Asia, Sri Lanka, India -- quite a number of them have relatives in Australia. Increasingly we have very strong groups of Catholics from the Philippines and at the moment we have three Australian Koreans studying for the priesthood in Sydney." Vigorous growth in the once primary-mission lands comes at a price. Prelates from places such as Africa voiced concerns about a lack of solid formation for candidates to the priesthood. "Of course, thorough training is vital, especially since the present generation is demanding holier priests," said Archbishop Ntalou, who along with his fellow bishops in Cameroon, is also making his five-yearly visit to Rome. "We are still a young Church in Africa," he explained. "There is a lot of enthusiasm but we feel that we still lack some roots in our faith. So the need to deepen the faith with good catechesis is very urgent." One way to remedy this, is to construct formation centers locally, or, according to Cardinal Pell, to send priests and religious away for higher study. "For example, there are three Papua New Guineans who are currently studying here at the Urban," he said. Growing Churches in places such as Africa or Asia also face the problem of poverty. Many of the Churches aren't self-sufficient and many of their resources go toward the basic education and health needs of the people. Yet, the conferees signaled that they have much hope in young people and their missionary endeavors -- even to one another. Cardinal Joachim Meisner of Cologne, for instance, pointed out how last year's World Youth Day inspired the youth of Germany. And the "faith of the diverse group" that gathered in Cologne "continues to challenge and reinforce every pilgrim," he said. Cardinal Pell hopes this "unity and overall transmission of Christ's love" will continue having that effect at World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney. "I've been visiting a few European youth groups and inviting them over for the event," he told me. "We've also got a big contingent coming to Rome from Sydney for the handing over of the WYD cross on Palm Sunday." The cross will then begin its missionary journey through Africa, then Asia, helping to set ignite the missionary spirit called for by "Ad Gentes." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Ecclesia in Oceania Mar 22, 2006 In the context of Pope John Paul II's teachings as a whole, Ecclesia in Oceania is of limited importance, but it does provide a survey of the state of the Church in a large region of the world far removed from the major centres, and the outline of a response to the challenges facing the Church in Oceania at the beginning of the third Christian millennium. (evangelizatio.org, 2006-03-10) Oceania comprises most of the 10.000 islands scattered across the Pacific Ocean between Asia and America. One estimate puts the total number of these islands around 10.000, with a total land mass of 8.821.000 square kilometres. Australia accounts for almost 91 per cent of this total land mass. The region is home to about 30 million people, and it is not a particularly crowded place with a population density of 3.5 people per square kilometre. In addition to Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, Oceania encompasses fourteen main island groups. These are broken up into numerous states and principalities, some of which are French or American dependencies. Traditionally the region has been divided into four parts, Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, scientists believe that until 33.000 years ago the region (with the exception of Australia) was uninhabited. By contrast, modern humans first appeared in Europe 40.000 years ago, and in Africa 100.000 years ago. Within Australia there has been intermittent discussion over the last fifteen years or so, sometimes acrimonious, about whether the country forms part of Asia. Australia has considerable trading ties with the countries of south and north east Asia. Historically, the defence of the country has been oriented towards possibilities that may or may not emerge from the powerful or populous nations of Asia. More recently, there has been Australian involvement in East Timor and in the relief effort for the great tsunami which struck south east Asia in 2004 the day after Christmas. All of these factors have played a part in gradually bringing Australians to recognise the country's place on the edge of Asia, but nevertheless playing an important role within it. Arguments could be made for Australia being a member of the Asian bishops’ conference, but they would likely be resisted on both sides for reasons which would be different but all related to Australia’s position on the physical margins of Asia. Whatever of this, Australia's emerging awareness of its place in or on the edge of Asia could have significant consequences for the concept of "Oceania", given that Australia represents its largest population centre and land mass. The relatively small population of Oceania is unevenly distributed across its large geographical area (one third of the earth's surface), and comprises significant numbers of indigenous and migrant peoples. English is the language spoken by most of the inhabitants, although there are important French-speaking populations and a large number of indigenous languages (700 in Papua New Guinea alone). It is estimated that there are almost 1400 languages spoken by Oceania's different peoples, and it is this indicator that is perhaps most suggestive of the immense diversity of the region. There are enormous sociological differences between countries like Australia and New Zealand on the one hand, and Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands on the other. Australia and New Zealand are modern, urbanised, secular Western countries in which "the sense of God and his loving providence has diminished" (EO §6). The countries encompassed in Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia are small, more traditional and less prosperous. Traditional values and ways of life survive, but the impact of the contemporary world is sometimes considerable, creating particular challenges and tensions for the peoples of these places in their attempts to preserve their unique identity. Oceania accounts for 0.8 per cent of the world's 1.1 billion (Mexico City accounts for over 20 million of these, and Sao Paolo in Brazil around 30 million), and 1.2 per cent of the world's priests. In 1999, 1 percent of the world's seminarians were Oceanian. So the Church in Oceania represents only a small part of the universal Church. Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) estimates that while the total population of the region increased by 45 per cent in the period 1975-2000, the Catholic population of the region grew by 57 per cento Nevertheless, in almost half of the countries of Oceania, Catholics account for less than 25 per cent of the population. Only in 7 countries do Catholics make up 50 per cent or more of the population. 9 out of 10 Catholics in the region live in one of the three largest countries. Underscoring this minority status in the nations of Oceania, CARA estimates that between 1975 and 2000, the annual average number of baptisms fell by 6 per cent, and the number of Catholic marriages fell by 31 per cent. The number of seminaries fell by 44 per cent and ordinations to the priesthood declined 7 per cent. Part of the explanation may lie in the decline in missionary activity. In 1975 there were 1.546 missions in Oceania. 25 years later, there were 839, a fall of 44 per cent. The number of parishes grew during t 'is time, but only by 161 (to 2,384), an increase of 7 per cento The decline in mission work is to be particularly regretted, given the characteristics of the region, and the splendid history of missionary work there. Missionaries first carne to Oceania in the 1500s with the 5paniards who were very successful as missionaries. Guam and the Mariana Islands served as the first outpost of the Church in the region, with missionary work commencing in the south Pacific from other places in the late eighteenth century. The task confronting missionaries in Oceania is perhaps one of the hardest that has ever faced missionaries anywhere. Communications over such a huge area are still a problem in some parts even today, and missionaries have been martyred in Oceania into modern times. Among Oceania’s saints are St. Peter Chanel, Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, Blessed Pedro Calungsod, Blessed Giovanni Mazzuconi, Blessed Peter To Rot and Blessed Mary Mackillop (the only one in this list who was not a martyr). The Oceania Synod Fathers in 1998 were acutely aware of the way contemporary understandings throw shadows over parts of the Church's history in Oceania. Wrongs done to indigenous peoples in the course of European settlement were of particular concern, with the Synod calling for South-African style "truth commissions" to resolve historical injustices and bring about reconciliation. One of the unusual features of Ecclesia in Oceania, and one focussed on with great interest by the media - generally to the exclusion of other parts of the document's message - was the Holy Father's apology to the indigenous people of Oceania for any part the Church played- in "the shameful injustices" they have suffered; especially in the forcible removal of children from indigenous families in Australia (EO §28). A related feature of interest was the apology to victims of clerical sexual abuse (EO §49). These two apologies are important and necessary, and will help the Church in Oceania to better discern the way forward. Ecclesia in Oceania outlines the positive impact modernization has had in the region: the growth of democracy; "the rejection of terrorism, torture and violence as means of political change"; respect for human rights; cooperation in overcoming structures of poverty; and the gradual improvement in both the quality of, and access to, education, housing and health care. But the Exhortation also warns against "an increasing secularization," especially in places like Australia and New Zealand, against attempts to push Christianity to the periphery of public life and leaving the Church and other religious bodies with "a diminished voice in public affairs." Of particular concern is what Pope John Paul described as "a gradual lessening of the natural religious sense which has led to a disorientation in people's moral life and conscience." In some cases this has meant that Catholics have practically accepted a completely secular outlook as the norm of judgement for behaviour for themselves and others, and more or less uncritically accepted the "alternative magisterium" offered by science, technology, government, the market and the media as the guide to questions of value in social and political life. New and effective ways of responding to the challenges of modern life are essential for the Church in Oceania if it is to avoid having its voice silenced (EO §7). One of the key sections of the document is section 18. Reporting the feelings of the bishops at the Synod, the Pope remarked here that "the Church in Oceania as a whole is at a crossroads" and faces important decisions for the future. "Practical indifference to religious truths and values clouds the face of divine love" in Oceania, and among some of the Catholic faithful "a completely secular outlook [serves] as the norm of judgement and behaviour." On matters such as public morality, the status of marriage and the family, the right to life (and related issues such as embryo experimentation), the Church's teaching is regularly attacked and its right to contribute to debate often questioned. "The Church's teaching is at times questioned even by Catholic people." In these circumstances, as the Pope observed, "it is hardly surprising that the voice of the Church is less influential in public life.” The situation has moved on in some parts since Ecclesia in Oceania was written. A couple of years ago Archbishop Barnes of Port Moresby made a major public intervention in Papua New Guinea against government corruption which was instrumental in bringing about a change of government. His weekly radio broadcasts are widely listened to, and give the Church in Papua New Guinea an important voice in public affairs. The 2004 United States presidential election highlighted the growing importance of Catholic voters, especially those who worship regularly, in influencing policies on family and life, and there are signs in Australia that a similar development may be underway, in tandem with the emerging political organisation of the Evangelical Churches. In Australia there has also been a resurgence in the debate about abortion, wit new possibilities for the Church to make up some ground in this area. Church interventions in Australia on the question of refugees and asylum seekers have played a crucial part in gradually bringing about improvements in how they are treated and processed. Australia is also one of the few countries in the West which has successfully enacted legislation to rule out civil marriage being extended to homosexual couples, although the trend has been moving in the opposite direction in New Zealand. But secularist hostility to religion among some opinion leaders in Australia continues to run deep. A small token of this is provided by an editorial published in Sydney's leading newspaper in 2001 denying that Christians had a right to evangelize. In strident terms the Sydney Morning Herald (21 August, 2001) claimed that "in the multicultural, multi-god nation that modern Australia is, proselytising can only needlessly provoke community tensions. In Australia, one's religion is largely a private matter. It should remain that way". Ecclesia in Oceania's insistence that "the Gospel must be heard in Oceania", that people "have a right to hear the Gospel," and that Christians "have a solemn duty to share it with them," runs directly counter to this spirit and re-affirms the responsibility of all the baptised to play a part in evangelization and to challenge the bogus claims to a secularist consensus by regular service and effective public witness, while always respecting the rights of others. These observations in Ecclesia in Oceania about secularization apply mainly to Australia and New Zealand, where the situation is different from the rest of the region. Between Australia and New Zealand, the sociological differences parallel approximately the sociological differences between the United States and Canada – primarily in the greater virulence of secularism and the more attenuated resistance to it that is apparent in New Zealand as opposed to Australia. Nevertheless, the Catholic communities in both places continue to enjoy formidable strengths: extensive networks of schools, hospitals and welfare agencies; a laity which is generous in its financial support of local pastors and church agencies; a range of well-produced Catholic newspapers and journals, one or two of them of some importance; a considerable array of lay associations and groups, especially in the areas of life issues and social justice; growing interest in and support of the new ecclesial movements; and a small but enthusiastic and talented cohort of rising youth leaders In Australia at least, Catholics are now the largest religious d nomination, representing about 2 per cent of the population. But despite all these advantages, the church Australia and New Zealand is in slow decline. This is particularly the case in New Zealand, both in terms of those regularly practising the faith and in terms of vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Different patterns are emerging in Australia which are not much remarked, much less studied. For example, there has been significant rise in the number of seminarians in the seminaries in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Wagga Wagga, which is no matched in anyway in o her parts of the country. Georgetown's CARA reports that throughout Oceania total seminarian numbers were down 9 per cent in 2000 from 1975. This is despite that fact that diocesan seminarian numbers increased 5 per cent in the period. The main reason for this decline is the catastrophic fall in vocations to the religious orders, which fell 28 per cento The num r of religious women fell 35 per cent (or just under 5,000), and the number of religious others dropped 39 per cent (or just under 1,200). This is an enormous loss the Church in the region. The ratio of Catholics per woman religious was 1:308 in 1975. In 2000 it was 1:739, an increase of 140 per cent. With the number of priests, both religious and diocesan, down 8 per cent over this period, the ratio of faithful to priests also increased during this time, from 1:967 to 1: 1,658. The pressures this places on local Churches should not be underestimated. But these bald statistics should not be allowed to mislead us into thinking that problems facing the Church in Oceania are beyond our resources. Outside Australia and New Zealand, the problems in local churches are largely problems of grow h. There is an increasing number of Catholics and often a rise in vocations to the diocesan priesthood. but there is a critical shortage of good format on for seminarians and trainee brothers and nuns. This has been exacerbated ed by the declining number of missionaries from traditional sources in eastern Europe, the United States and Australia. Despite the fall in the number of missions cited earlier, this decline in the number of missionaries from traditional sources has been partly off-set by missionaries from the Philippines, India and Poland. John Paul II singled out for particular mention the work of lay missionaries and catechists throughout Oceania, and there is no doubt that lay missionaries perform a valuable work of service and provide indispensable help to local priests. Churches which were established by missionaries are now in their turn sending out missionaries, and this positive development is welcomed in Ecclesia in Oceania. But lay missionaries can only play at best a limited role in seminary training, and theologians are also needed to ensure that the formation lay missionaries themselves receive is maintained and improved (EO §5I). Predictably some commentators have argued that the solution to these challenges in Oceania requires a realisation of Church teaching and discipline along the usual lines: married clergy, more "meaningful" roles for women, independence of local bishops and churches from Rome, etc. etc. A senior religious affairs commentator in Australia has even proposed that the Church can afford to experiment with these ideas in the "backwater" of Oceania because if it all goes wrong it is unlikely to affect the more important branches of the universal church. This is not going to happen, not least because the Pope and the senior Church authorities do not regard the faith and well-being of the Catholic communities of Oceania as something to be treated so carelessly. In any case, it is not rigid conformity that is the source of the problems facing the region. In outlining the need for the Church in Oceania "to come to a deeper understanding of local and universal communio," John Paul II quoted Paul Vl's observation that "the first communion, the first unity, is that of faith. Unity in faith is necessary and fundamental." He went on to remark that while "the peoples of Oceania have an instinctively strong sense of community," it is "unity in faith [that] is required if reconciliation and love are to replace conflict and hatred" (EO §13). John Paul II acknowledged very explicitly "the ancient and profound sense of the sacred" which the first European missionaries found among the mosaic of different cultures throughout Oceania (EO §7). G.K. Chesterton dubbed tradition as "the democracy of the dead" and without exception the cultures of Oceania are rich in respect for tradition and authority. These strengths will be needed as local Churches grapple with the changes wrought by the positive and negative forces of modernization. Whenever the faith takes root in the hearts of peoples, inculturation occurs (EO §16). Catholicism is an incarnational religion, theologically and sacramentally, rich also in para-liturgical celebrations, which vary enormously even throughout Oceania as migration within the region and from outside continues. One example is the Catholics from the Pacific islands, deeply attached to their local traditions of devotion and music, who are a significant presence in New Zealand as they join with Europeans and Maoris. In Australia their numbers are increasing also. The opening and closing Masses of the Synod in St. Peter’s Basilica gave glimpses of how these indigenous traditions are being used to help the work of the Church. The concept of inculturation has brought notable gains, the most significant of which is the movement of the liturgy from Latin into the vernacular. This has brought important pastoral advantages especially with the traditional peoples of Oceania and more generally with young people, and while it might not be universally popular it has the overwhelming majority support of Catholics, whether they practise regularly or infrequently. However such gains have been bought at some cost. The concept of inculturation has been used in ways, often unwittingly, to allow the surrounding society, sometimes secular, sometimes superstitious, and sometimes merely reflecting some less desirable aspects of local or mass culture, to enter into the liturgy and the preaching of the Gospel truths. In Oceania, where Catholics are generally in the minority in the countries of the region, inculturation can come to mean conforming the teachings of the Church to the practices of the world. The German theologian Romano Guardini once explained beautifully what is at the heart of appropriate Christian inculturation: “What can convince modern people is not a historical or a psychological or a continually ever-modernising Christianity, but only the unrestricted and uninterrupted message of revelation". In the long run it will probably be the early generations of locally born priests and religious (like the migrant communities in Sydney), who, guided by Guardini's insight and building on the pioneering cultural work of some missionaries, will do most to preserve the best local traditions and customs for the future, and incorporate them into their theological writings. They will be able to challenge their local communities to reach out and embrace the highest Christian ideals of faith, family and community and help them combat the neo-pagan vices propagated by modernity, which will work to revive the ancient weaknesses associated with alcoholism and polygamy. Inculturation is also a long-term challenge in Australia, where the prevailing agnosticism and incipient anti-Christianity of many among the elite are disproportionately powerful in the media. A related issue is interreligious dialogue, which occurs at different levels throughout the region (EO §25), but which in some places is a community necessity. This necessity has taken on a w ole new dimension globally, of course, since the attacks on Washington and New York on 11 September 2001, and regionally since the Bali bombing of 12 October 2002. Sydney has a large Muslim community and Christian-Muslim dialogue has commenced in a variety of ways, which has limited, low-key goals and are centred on social questions and above all, the need to maintain and deepen local peace and harmony. This builds on the existing regular social contact between Muslim and Christian leade1s and groups. Parallel opportunities for dialogue with the Hindus exist in Fiji, where significant racial tensions continue between local Fijians and the Indian communities who have been there for generations. In 2004 the Indonesian government hosted a major conference of religious leaders in Yogjakarta. 123 religious leaders from 13 countries and every major faith attended this joint initiative of the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia and Australia. Next week there will be a second such meeting in Cebu, which I will attend. There was no attempt to deny the differences between the religions in placing an emphasis on what they have in common. In a remarkable speech, the Australian Foreign Minister pointed out that people of faith all believe that mankind is divinely ordered, and should have an enriched understanding of what it is to be human and a developed sense of the sanctity of life. They should be moved to act when human rights are violated, be peacemakers and sway others to mercy and compassion. As a small token of where this common understanding can lead, the Cardinal Archbishop of Jakarta told of how many Muslim youths joined Catholic young people and the police to form a human chain around his Cathedral to protect it successfully from elements trying to put it to the torch. These are important and encouraging developments. Two of the most significant changes in Australian religious life during the last 30 or 40 years have been the rise in the number of people who say they do not belong to any religious group (most of whom are not ex-Catholics), from around 1 or 2 per cent in the 1960s to 17 per cent in 1996; and the decline in regular worship by Catholics, from 50-60 per cent in 1960 to 18 per cent in 1996. But on the basis of the 2001 census figures, it would appear that this trend has halted, with a decline registered in the numbers of those professing no religion. Between 1991 and 1996, there was a significant rise in the number of people indicating they had no religion. In 1991 just under 13 per cent of the population fell into this category. In 1996 this percentage had risen by 772,000 people to 16.6 per cento Another rise was expected for the 2001 Census, with some commentators expecting the no-religion category to form the second largest grouping after Catholics. But to everyone's surprise this did not happen. The numbers of people indicating they had no religion fell to 15.5 per cent of the population. Nevertheless, the claims made in 1998 The Statement of Conclusions about the impact on the Church in Australia of the world-wide crisis of faith, stronger in the Western World than in many other places, remain valid. Australians can no longer presume that most people, especially the young and middle aged, will find that belief in the one true God comes easily. Even in Catholic secondary schools teachers regularly have to give reasons and make a case for the existence of God and the divinity of Christ. While Australians are less religious than Americans (their level of regular worship is almost double ours), Australian society is much less antireligious than the U.S.A., and this remains despite the small indications remarked above of a rise of intolerance among serious secularists in the elites. Most Australians are not atheists. Many more are agnostics, and the Australian temptation is not to crucify Christ but to trivialize Him. Most people do not object to a person having faith, believing in God. Instead God is seen as an optional extra because religion is seen as a matter of taste, a personal preference which answers individual needs. Only rarely is God's existence seen to be an extremely important issue of truth or falsehood. Even rarer is the conviction that our quality of life here and now and our existence after death might be heavily influenced by how we respond to the this question. Apart from the truths about the existence of God, nothing is as fundamental as the teachings about the nature and person of Jesus Christ, Son of Mary and Son of God, who redeemed and saved us. The statement of conclusions acknowledged that there is "something of a crisis" throughout the world in Christology and that we have not entirely escaped this in Australia. In the early nineties the late Cardinal O'Connor of New York told me that he was sending a young priest for doctoral studies in Christology, because this was fated to become a crucial issue. In this, as in so many other things, Cardinal O'Connor's judgement was right. There is also a crisis about the whole concept of conscience, and its proper relationship to important teachings on faith and morals. False views of conscience, particularly the view that the individual's conscience has "primacy" over the teachings of the Church, not only cause havoc in the moral life. They have also have an enormous impact on the practice of the faith. Oceania is not alone in the world in seeing a dramatic decline in recourse to the sacrament of penance. If people believe in a conscience against Church teaching, then their consciousness of sin will almost certainly decrease. Awareness of sin exists so that we can be aware of the possibility of forgiveness. The collapse in conscience has not helped to increase in Catholic believers the sense of peace and pardon. With the decline in Confession we have also seen a decline in the understanding and discipline of the sacrament of the Eucharist. For some people the only requirement for approaching Holy Communion is being present at Mass. In Australia, many Catholics would be surprised by the suggestion, let alone the requirement, that they should be a regular Churchgoer before receiving Communion at, for example, Christmas or a family funeral. As the Sacrament of Penance becomes less visible, there is danger of people misunderstanding the connection between repentance and the sacrament of Holy Communion. For some, the unrepentant sinner is as welcome at the altar as the repentant sinner. The primacy of conscience doctrine has also had some even deeper effects on Catholic identity. Any religion develops a sense of belonging among its , adherents. Believers know where they are situated within time and space; their lives have meaning because of their beliefs about their origin and their destiny. This is particularly so for Christians. Christianity is historical both in terms of longevity and because we believe God himself entered into history in the Incarnation. Christianity is also perhaps the only truly public religion: it embraces every part of the earth and is compatible with every true culture. Furthermore its philosophy and theology of the beginning, end, and ethics of human life is universally acknowledged as an astonishing achievement. Elevating conscience to moral primacy, however, shatters this sense of belonging. If people believe they should live by their own impulses and tastes declared "true" by conscience, the sense of being part of a sacred society that is world-wide, ancient, and guaranteed by Christ to teach the truth, is greatly weakened. It is in this context, the context of a widespread crisis of faith in Western society touching even young, vigorous churches, that we must consider the situation of the Church in Oceania. Religious trends are moving in different directions in Oceania, although Catholic communities are now firmly planted everywhere. Isolation still provides some protection against the acid rains of modernity in many traditional societies, but the Church in Australia and New Zealand enjoys no such protection. Pope John Paul II recast the papacy for the twenty-first century as an evangelical office, the office of a prophet to the Church and the world. In doing this he invited all Catholics to join with the pope in carrying Christ to every corner of the earth. It might be said that the new evangelisation is a matter of life and death for the Church and for the world itself. With God's grace, strong faith and youthful enthusiasm, the Catholic communities of Oceania should be able to travel through the crossroads, enrich one another and build on present strengths to play their own part in this life-saving and life-giving work. George Cardinal Pell ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY Card. George Cardinal Pell, Archbishop of Sydney Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell Optimistic About Church in Australia Mar 22, 2006 Cardinal George Pell is optimistic about the future of the Church in Australia, in part because of the country's increase of vocations to the priesthood. ROME, MARCH 14, 2006 (Zenit.org).- The archbishop of Sydney gave a picture of Catholicism in Australia when he addressed a convention in Rome on the 40th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council decree "Ad Gentes." The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples organized the March 9-11 convention. According to the report by the Vatican congregation's Fides agency, Cardinal Pell said: "Today the situation of Catholics in Australia is stable and I am optimistic for the mission of the Church." "We see a growth in vocations to the priesthood and new enthusiasm in the faith, especially among young Catholics," he said. "According to recent surveys, the percentage of declared believers in Australia is increasing," the cardinal said. "This is encouraging and the Church must be ready and able to meet this spiritual and religious reawakening. "Our task is to stop the erosion of the faith in the Catholic community, strengthen Christian identity, encourage coherence of faith and life, formation, strive to show ourselves as authentic followers and credible witnesses of Christ." Duty to preach Cardinal Pell continued: "The 'Ad Gentes' decree is perhaps more important today than 40 years ago because it reminds Christians on every continent of the duty to preach the Gospel and re-evangelize humanity of today. "In some parts of Oceania some pastoral workers may be more inclined to give more importance to social development, but the message of 'Ad Gentes' brings us back to the central need to share with others belief in Jesus Christ and God’s love." The 64-year-old archbishop of Sydney said the Church in Australia was "very grateful to the European missionaries who brought the Word of God to the Pacific but wishes to avoid mistakes of Western Europe gripped by atheism and secularization." "This is why we strive help Christians grow and mature in the faith," he stressed. "We need faith which is strong and convinced, ready to be communicated and witnessed. There are many approaches for evangelization: The important thing is that they are all Christ-centered." In Oceania the media and especially the Internet are important channels for mission and communication among distant islands, the cardinal added. In Australia and New Zealand, he said, these means, the Internet especially, are fundamental for youth pastoral care. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Catholic students choose cardinal and academic as patrons Mar 15, 2006 A national body of tertiary students this week announces that Cardinal George Pell and Dr Tracey Rowland from The John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family will be the inaugural national patrons of the student body. (cathnews.com, 14 Mar 2006) The Australian Catholic Students Association (ACSA) unanimously endorsed the appointments as the organisation prepares to enter its 60th year since being founded as the University Catholic Federation of Australia. "Cardinal Pell and Dr Tracey Rowland have had a strong relationship with the Association for many years. Every year when they attend the Conference they are met with standing applause. It is a great honour for all students, graduates and seminarians that they join as being our patrons." President Daniel Hill said. "Dr Tracey Rowland was once involved with the Association as a student in the 1970s and it is wonderful for her now to be recognised in this way. This is also a massive endorsement of Cardinal Pell and all he stands for. "Across the nation, tertiary groups so warmly receive him and we continue to stand in great debt for his amazing work in bringing World Youth Day to Sydney", he said. Secretary Joanna Hayes said: "As many students of our nation return to their studies they do so with two of Australia's finest people as Patrons of an open, inclusive and accessible association for and by students." Dr Tracey Rowland, in accepting the patronage, said: "I am very honoured to be invited to be a patron…the work of your Association is one of the most important works in the life of the Church today." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Australian cardinal protest target over Catholic conscience teaching Feb 28, 2006 Twenty-four Australian Catholic liberals, including five priests, known as fierce critics of Sydney's Cardinal George Pell, have charged the conservative prelate with being "outside the Catholic mainstream" for his views on conscience, and have asked the Vatican to rein him in. (www.ncronline.org/National Catholic Reporter, 2/21/2006) SYDNEY, Australia – Though the chance of Vatican action on the complaint is virtually nil, the contretemps offers a reminder of what a polarizing force the tall, hard-charging Cardinal Pell, 64, represents in the normally laid-back Australian church. In essence, Cardinal Pell has argued in a series of widely circulated lectures and essays that a moral obligation to follow one's conscience, sometimes called in Catholic tradition the "primacy of conscience," cannot be invoked to justify dissent from church teaching; his critics say his position is inconsistent with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The group went public with its protest on Feb. 21, saying a letter sent on Nov. 13, 2005, to American Archbishop William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican's doctrinal agency, had received no response. See the copy of the (letter to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith). The group includes Paul Collins, a writer and former commentator with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation who left the priesthood in 2001 after a Vatican investigation he attributes to Cardinal Pell's influence; and Loreto Sister Veronica Brady, a strong progressive in the Australian press on issues such as women in the church. Academics, parents, a civil judge and a trade-union official, along with five priests, are among the other signatories. Australian sources said that aside from Collins and Sister Brady most of the others are not especially prominent. In recent lectures and essays, Cardinal Pell has said that it's a mistake for the church to talk about "primacy of conscience," since truth, not conscience, is actually primary. Too much talk about "conscience," he has warned, risks legitimizing moral relativism. "I believe that the mischievous doctrine of the primacy of conscience has been used to… justify many un-Catholic teachings, ranging from denying the divinity of Christ to legitimizing abortion and euthanasia," Cardinal Pell said in a May 30, 2003, lecture. In the May 2005 issue of First Things, an influential American Catholic journal, Cardinal Pell blames emphasis on the primacy of the individual conscience following the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) for generating "suspicion of religion and distaste for moral norms, the refusal to accept any doctrine that is personally inconvenient, religious indifference and sexual indiscipline." The group of 24 critics argue that such assertions are inconsistent with Catholic teaching. "His approach to this issue is, at best, not true to the Catholic tradition, although it is being disseminated as an accurate statement of Catholic belief," they write. "We believe the authentic Catholic tradition is that conscience holds primacy in the process of moral decision-making," the group says. "Certainly we accept that Catholics are bound to take biblical and church teaching as a central and integral element in moral discernment, but that in the end conscience is the ultimate norm of each person's moral action." The group asked Archbishop Levada to insist that Cardinal Pell restrict himself to the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that even though the conscience can make mistakes, "a human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience." Australian sources told National Catholic Register Feb. 19 that Cardinal Pell's arguments on conscience have generated wide discussion, with many Catholics of a more center-left temperament taking exception. In a Feb. 16 panel discussion at Sydney's Notre Dame University, for example, Jesuit Father Frank Brennan, a well-known Australian author, challenged Cardinal Pell, suggesting that Catholics "in good conscience" could have voted either way on a recent bill regarding RU486, the so-called "abortion pill," before the country's parliament. Looking directly at Cardinal Pell, who was in the audience, Father Brennan said: "I know Cardinal Pell would disagree with me on this." Father Brennan is a widely respected author and speaker who has been named a "living treasure" by Australia's National Trust for his work on social justice and human rights. In that light, Australian church sources said it was striking that there weren't any prominent center-left figures, such as Father Brennan among the signatories to the letter released Feb. 21. Cardinal Pell told the Sydney Morning Herald that he found the complaint to the Vatican a "real hoot." "There never has been a traditional Catholic teaching of the primacy of conscience," Cardinal Pell said. "The word of God remains supreme no matter how uncomfortable this is for the loyal opposition, for Catholic dissenters." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Pell accused of Catholic 'dictatorship' Feb 22, 2006 „I think it's a bit of a hoot. I mean, people like Paul Collins, Veronica Brady and Max Charlesworth appealing for protection to the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, it's…. the poacher's turned the gamekeeper. I think it's… life is full of surprises, but this is a splendid surprise.“ (The World Today, 20 February , 2006) ELEANOR HALL: The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, has laughed off a complaint made about him to the Vatican, by a group of high-profile Australian Catholics. The group says Cardinal Pell's interpretation of Catholic doctrine is "inaccurate, misleading and not true to the Catholic tradition". And it's accused Cardinal Pell of denying the rights of Catholics to make moral judgements based on individual conscience. But George Pell has defended his teachings, and dismissed his critics, as Jean Kennedy reports. JEAN KENNEDY: 24 Catholics have signed the letter which was sent three months ago to the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith. Spokesman for the Group is Frank Purcell, a former priest from country Victoria, who says Cardinal Pell refuses to recognise the ultimate right of Catholics to make moral judgements based on their individual conscience, even if it is in error. FRANK PURCELL: When people are making moral judgements on right and wrong, the Catholic position is that you are required to look carefully at what the Church teaches, what the Bible teaches, what experience teaches. But ultimately, it's your responsibility to make your decision on what is right and wrong. Now, Cardinal Pell tends to go back to the pre-Vatican II position of the Church, which was very much simply this is the way it is, these are the dos, these are the don'ts, do you what you're told. JEAN KENNEDY: Mr Purcell goes even further, accusing Cardinal Pell of fostering an Eichmann mentality, referring to Adolf Eichmann - the Nazi in charge of exterminating the Jews in World War II. FRANK PURCELL: His defence was I did what I was told, it's not my responsibility, I just did what I was told. And it became quite clear that that was totally immoral. JEAN KENNEDY: Another signatory to the letter is historian Paul Collins. PAUL COLLINS: Ultimately, freedom of conscience guarantees that a person is the ultimate… that the person's conscience is the ultimate moral norm of their behaviour. Cardinal Pell never stresses that. In fact, at times he has seemingly attacked that and kind of almost wants it abolished from Catholic teaching. And he seems to want to turn Catholic teaching into a kind of a dictatorship whereby we have no moral conscience whatsoever. I mean, that at least is the logical consequence of what he's saying. JEAN KENNEDY: But the Archbishop of Sydney has dismissed the complaint out of hand, and taken a swipe at his moderate critics. GEORGE PELL: I think it's a bit of a hoot. I mean, people like Paul Collins, Veronica Brady and Max Charlesworth appealing for protection to the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, it's…. the poacher's turned the gamekeeper. I think it's… life is full of surprises, but this is a splendid surprise. JEAN KENNEDY: Cardinal Pell isn't backing away from the stance that his opponents have complained to the Vatican about. GEORGE PELL: Everybody knows that we have to use our conscience, we have to… the point as issue is whether our conscience has primacy or is supreme and whether a Catholic can choose to reject central doctrines, central teachings of Jesus Christ and/or the Church and be regarded as a perfectly good Catholic. Now, there's a whole Alice in Wonderland dimension to this. JEAN KENNEDY: So you're saying that there are right and wrongs in terms of the Church's doctrine and there's no scope, ultimately, for people to make decisions based on their individual conscience? GEORGE PELL: No, there's plenty of scope, but if you make those decisions and they run contrary to central church teachings, you can't claim to be a good Catholic. ELEANOR HALL: And that's the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, speaking to Jean Kennedy. Translation (automatic) English Il Card. Pell interviene nel dibattito sulla pillola RU486 Feb 22, 2006 “Gli australiani vorrebbero vedere ridursi, non aumentare, il tasso di aborti” Sydney (Agenzia Fides, 15/2/2006) - Mentre la Camera dei Rappresentanti ha iniziato il dibattito sulla pillola abortiva RU486, la Chiesa cattolica ha preso posizione pubblicamente, dichiarandosi contraria alla legalizzazione della pillola in Australia. Dopo la raccolta di firme promossa in tutta la nazione dalla comunità cattolica e da altre chiese cristiane (già oltre 75.000), è intervenuto il Card. George Pell, Arcivescovo di Sydney affermando che i parlamentari dovrebbero interpretare la volontà popolare: l’87% degli australiani è favorevole a ridurre, non a incentivare, gli aborti. “I farmaci in genere dovrebbero essere strumenti terapeutici. E la gravidanza non è una malattia. Oggi i pericoli e gli effetti dannosi della RU486 sulla donna sono ben noti”, ha sottolineato il Cardinale. “Larga parte dell’opinion pubblica australiana - ha continuato - disapprova gli oltre 80mila aborti annui finanziati dal governo e vorrebbe vedere questa cifra ridursi, non aumentare”. Inoltre il Porporato ha notato che “già un numero significativo di donne sono morte dopo aver preso la pillola e molte altre negli Stati Uniti ne soffrono i pesanti effetti collaterali. La RU486 rischia di banalizzare ulteriormente la distruzione della vita umana”. Il Cardinale ha stigmatizzato il fatto che la prima alleanza trasversale fra le donne nel Parlamento possa essere utilizzata per aumentare il potere abortivo, per attaccare la vita invece che per proteggerla. Secondo il Cardinale, “l’opinione pubblica si sta muovendo in Australia”, e questo andrebbe considerato. “La sfida è incoraggiare le nascite, incoraggiare la scelta personale di ciascuno per la vita e per dare a ogni donna le risorse e il sostegno necessario per mettere al mondo e allevare un figlio. Questo dovrebbe esser il ruolo del Governo e del Parlamento”, ha concluso. Alla petizione pro-vita lanciata dalla comunità cattolica australiana per impedire la legalizzazione della pillola abortiva Ru 486 hanno partecipato parrocchie, movimenti e associazioni. Alcuni cattolici, insieme con altre associazioni e singoli cittadini sensibili alla campagna, hanno costituito il gruppo “Australiani contro la Ru 486” che sta portando avanti un’opera capillare di pubblicità e sensibilizzazione. P. Eugene Ahern, coordinatore della campagna, ha invitato i cittadini a scrivere una lettera ai rappresentanti in Parlamento, per convincerli a non introdurre una pratica che “è un vero omicidio farmacologico”. Anche l’Arcivescovo di Melbourne, Mons. Dennis Hart, ha diffuso un messaggio rivolto ai politici australiani, invitandoli a incentivare le politiche familiari. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell enters Australian debate against RU-486 Feb 22, 2006 Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia has entered a lively national debate on the drive to approve the use of RU-486. Sydney, Feb. 15 2006 (CWNews.com) - As parliamentary debate begins on a bid to allow the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to authorize distribution of the abortion drug, Cardinal Pell released a statement saying that politicians "who introducing this pill are not pro-life." Health minister Tony Abbott has resisted pressure to approve the drug, and rejects the argument that RU-486 should be classified with ordinary pharmaceutical products regulated by the TGA. Abbott, who has called for measures to cut the abortion rate in Australia, argues that RU-486 involves significant health risks, and would likely increase the number of abortions. Cardinal Pell backed Abbott's argument, scolding abortion advocates for their "sectarian anti-Catholic attacks on the minister of health." The public vilification of Abbott, he said, shows "a poverty of argumentation and a fear the tide is turning." In fact, the cardinal says, most Australians share Abbott's goal of cutting the number of abortions. Moreover, he adds, "The health risks to women of RU486 cannot be airbrushed out of existence." Cardinal Pell concludes that the decision on RU-486 should be made by the Australian people and their elected representatives, not by the TGA-- which, he notes, is "an unelected board partly funded by the pharmaceutical industry." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal, bishops’ conference prez condemn Australian cloning plan Jan 07, 2006 The president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, the cardinal archbishop of Sydney and pro-life groups have condemned an Australian government report backing the easing of laws on cloning and embryo research. SYDNEY, Australia (Catholic Weekly/Zenit, 12/26/2005) – “It is a matter of regret and a further step towards reducing the respect and dignity of human life,” said Archbishop Francis Carroll, of Canberra and Goulburn and bishops’ conference head, the Catholic Weekly here.reported Dec. 25. It is a “matter of great disappointment and sadness,” he added. Cardinal George Pell of Sydney released a statement on Dec. 22 criticizing the Report of the Lockhart Committee as "out of step with human values," the Australian newspaper The Age reported. The six-month inquiry reviewed the 2002 law, which banned cloning and prohibited the creation of human embryos for the purpose of experimental destruction, and called for dramatic relaxation of those restrictions and backed the practice of “therapeutic cloning.”. Under the recommendations, scientists would be able to perform procedures including the creation of cloned human embryos for scientific study, the mixing of animal and human material to obtain stem cells and the creation of embryos from the DNA of two or more people. But the committee agreed that the existing prohibitions in place to prevent reproductive cloning and the placement of prohibited embryos in the body of a woman should be maintained. Cardinal Pell denounced the report's lack of respect for the human embryo. "The report takes it for granted that human embryos are merely a 'resource' to be exploited like an inferior animal or plant," he said. Cardinal Pell said the report proposes the "manufacturing a specific subclass of living human beings solely for use as research material." "All human cloning is reproductive because all human cloning creates new human life," said the cardinal. "It is never 'therapeutic' to destroy human life, and creating human life for the sole purpose of killing for disputed scientific reasons makes a mockery of the therapeutic purpose of medical science." "The Lockhart Report points the way to a destructive dead-end and provides no compelling reason for Parliament to change the existing law. We call on the Australian community and its legislators to reject it," he said. Julie Bishop, Australian minister for aging, who commissioned the report, said the review would be discussed at February’s Premiers’ Conference. She said the conference could lead to a parliamentary vote, depending on what changes were proposed, the Catholic Weekly reported. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Christmas is sacred, Pell warns race gangs Dec 26, 2005 Catholic Archbishop George Pell has warned gangs of Middle Eastern descent not to target Christmas celebrations, after families were abused and gunshots fired into cars at a primary school's carols night in western Sydney on Monday. (The Australian, December 14, 2005) Cardinal Pell said the attack in the multicultural suburb of Auburn, where Lebanese Muslims are believed to have turned on Lebanese Christians, was "apparently motivated by religious intolerance". He said: "I am deeply concerned about the targeting of Christmas celebrations at schools for students as young as five years old. "The attack was apparently motivated by religious intolerance. This has no place in Australia today." Police confirmed last night that they had been called to the St Joseph the Worker Primary School on Monday evening at about 9.30pm after a priest and parents heard gunshots outside the school, predominantly used by Lebanese Catholics. Earlier in the evening, about 400 parents and children were singing carols when a group of youths of Middle Eastern appearance verbally abused them. Neither police nor school staff could find any damage, but yesterday two school staff members discovered bullet holes in their cars, with spent cartridges found nearby. "The cars have been seized along with a number of cartridges found at the scene and these will be forensically examined," a police spokeswoman said last night. After two days of clashes between the Lebanese and Anglo communities in hotspots along Sydney's beaches, this was the first case of an attack on religious - rather than ethnic - grounds. A church in Macquarie Fields, also in Sydney's west, was damaged in the early hours of yesterday morning, suffering minor fire damage after what police believe was an incendiary device was thrown through the front door. Cardinal Pell said the actions of the gang towards the Auburn school community - which was "predominantly Lebanese, with Filipinos, Chinese and Anglo families also represented" - was "as unacceptable as the violence perpetrated by Anglo elements on Sunday at Cronulla". The incident forced the cancellation of a carols service at the Holy Spirit Primary School in Lakemba last night. Cardinal Pell asked the Government to ensure the safety of those wishing to attend Christmas services. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell blasts proposed embryo-research support Dec 26, 2005 A report by an Australian government panel, recommending fewer restrictions on embryo research, is "out of step with human values," argued Cardinal George Pell of Sydney. Sydney, Dec. 23 2005 (CWNews.com) - The fundamental error committed by the Lockhart Committee, the cardinal said, was that its report "takes it for granted that human embryos are merely a 'resource' to be exploited like an inferior animal or plant." He charged that the committee's report was intended "for the sole purpose of expanding experimental destruction of early human life for dubious medical purposes." By allowing the creation of human embryos for research purposes, the Australian government would be "creating a new sub-class of humans," the cardinal said. Cardinal Pell said that there is no public support for a policy that allows broad embryo research, and cited polling statistics that show 85 percent of Australians opposed to cloning. Yet the report would allow cloning for experimental purposes, he said. The cardinal charged that the Lockhart Committee report was an effort to bring about a radical change in public moral standards. He said: "Practices surrounding the creation and destruction of human life which were unthinkable 3 years ago are now being dressed up as necessary and acceptable." There is a morally acceptable alternative to human embryo research, Cardinal Pell observed. He pointed to successful efforts to produce stem-cells for research purposes from adult sources, without harming the human subjects. Translation (automatic) English French Zwei Priester im Frontalangriff Nov 24, 2005 Ihre Enttäuschung über den gegenwärtigen Kurs der Katholischen Kirche haben zwei Priester der Erzdiözese Melbourne (Südaustralien) gegen die Bischöfe zum Ausdruck gebracht. Die Kirchenführung sei „diktatorisch“, „wirklichkeitsfremd“ und „erbarmungslos“. (kreuz.net, 22. Dezember 2004) Melbourne - Nach einem Bericht der in Melbourne erscheinenden Tageszeitung „The Age“ haben zwei Priester der dortigen Erzdiözese gegen die Bischöfe Australiens und vor allem gegen ihren ehemaligen Vorgesetzten, Kardinal George Pell (63) von Sydney, losgelegt. Kardinal Pell war früher Erzbischof in Melbourne. Pfarrer Len Thomas und Pfarrer Peter Foley meinten in einer heute veröffentlichten Stellungnahme, daß die Kirche an Herz und Verstand an der gegenwärtigen Rückkehr hinter das Zweite Vatikanische Konzil leide. Insbesondere Kardinal George Pell, der Erzbischof von Sydney, habe die Haltung des „Wenn ihr nicht mit uns seid, seid ihr gegen uns“, meinte der 68 jährige Foley. In seinem Alter brauche er sich vor den Repressalien der Bischöfe nicht mehr zu fürchten: „Dies ist ein Schrei aus meinem Herzen. Ich möchte nicht einfach in die Zeitungen kommen. Ich habe 42 Jahre für diese Diözese gearbeitet.“ Insbesondere kritisierten die zwei Priester das neu eingerichtete diözesane „Amt für Evangelisation“, dessen Ziel es ist, die Zahl der Kirchengänger zu erhöhen. Dieses Amt werde unter den Priestern mit „Mißtrauen“ gesehen und diene vor allem der Beschwichtigung des Vatikans. Pfarrer Thomas sagte, daß die Menschen und die Bischöfe die Kirchenleitung mit der Kirche verwechselten: „Aber die Kirche ist das Volk, das an den Gottesdiensten teilnimmt, und das wir bei Beerdigungen und Hochzeiten erreichen.“ Die Priester beschwerten sich auch über Zentralismus und Kontrolle, die in der Erzdiözese Melbourne und weltweit herrschten, sowie über den Mangel an Dialog. Ein Abgrund existiere zwischen der diözesanen und vatikanischen Bürokratie auf der einen und dem Volk und den Priestern auf der anderen Seite: „Mitgefühl und Vielfalt leiden, wenn Priester kalte und stumpfe Anweisungen erhalten, in denen es üblicherweise um die Liturgie geht.“ Pastorale Perspektiven fehlten. Der Herausgeber der Homepage „OnlineCatholics“, auf welcher die Stellungnahme der Priester heute publiziert wurde, meinte dazu: „Das Kirchenrecht sagt, daß die Priester das volle Recht besitzen, den Hirten ihre Anliegen vorzubringen.“ Translation (automatic) English French Weihbischof gegen Kardinal Nov 24, 2005 Der dem progressistischen Lager zugehörige Weihbischof von Canberra stellte sich in einem Radiointerview gegen Aussagen des konservativen Erzbischofs von Sydney, George Kardinal Pell. (kreuz.net, 06. November 2005) Canberra - In einem Interview mit dem Lokalradio ABC, das eineinhalb Wochen in ganz Australien ausgestrahlt wurde, brachte der Weihbischof von Canberra und Goulburn, Mons. Pat Power, sein Mißfallen über den Kardinalerzbischof von Sydney zum Ausdruck. Die Stellungnahme des Kardinals, wonach es in Australien keine wirkliche Krise der Berufungen gebe, sei für ihn enttäuschend, erklärte der Weihbischof dem Radio. Der Kardinal hatte erklärt, daß gegenwärtig 42 oder 43 Studenten für seine Erzdiözese studierten und daß dies soweit genug sei. Diese Aussage mache ihn betroffen, erklärte Weihbischof Power. Die Situation der von der australischen Bischofskonferenz bestimmten Vertreter an der Bischofssynode – Erzbischof Adrian Leo Doyle von Hobard und Bischof Chris Toohey von Wilcannia Forbes – sei eine ganz andere. Erzbischof Doyle besitze für den ganzen Bundesstaat Tasmanien 17 Diözesanpriester. Bischof Toohey könne in seinem Bistum, das halb so groß ist wie der ganze Bundesstaat Neusüdwales, auf ungefähr 12 oder 13 aktive Priester zurückgreifen. „Es ist eine Sache, wenn ein Stadtbischof sagt »Bei mir ist alles in Ordnung, Jack«. Doch viele andere Bischöfe hier in Australien stehen vor ähnlichen Erfahrungen wie Erzbischof Doyle und Bischof Toohey.“ „Mit Sicherheit“ repräsentiere Erzbischof Pell in dieser spezifischen Frage nicht die australischen Bischöfe. Der Kardinal sei von den australischen Bischöfen auch nicht ausgewählt worden, um an der Synode teilzunehmen. Damit wolle er – so der Weihbischof – nicht sagen, daß Kardinal Pell nicht befähigt gewesen sei, an der Bischofssynode teilzunehmen. „Aber ich möchte auf jeden Fall festhalten, daß die von ihm vorgebrachten Ansichten nicht mit der australischen Erfahrung übereinstimmen.“ Translation (automatic) English Eliminar celibato sacerdotal sería “gravísimo error” Oct 24, 2005 Durante la 15º Congregación General del Sínodo de los Obispos sobre la Eucaristía, el Arzobispo de Sydney (Australia), Cardenal George Pell, explicó algunas de la razones por las que perder el celibato obligatorio del clero sería un “gravísimo error” que no solucionaría las “sombras” y dificultades en la misión de la Iglesia en el mundo. VATICANO, 12 Oct. 05 (ACI).- Tras reconocer los grandes aportes del Concilio Vaticano II, como la constante expansión misionera y los nuevos movimientos y comunidades, el Purpurado recordó que el período posterior a este acontecimiento fue un tiempo de confusión y defecciones. Para hacer frente a estas “sombras”, el Cardenal sugirió como presupuesto “el mantenimiento de la Iglesia latina de tradición antigua y la disciplina del celibato obligatorio para el clero diocesano y las órdenes religiosas”. Sobre las razones de su propuesta, el Purpurado australiano expuso ante los 239 padres sinodales reunidos esta mañana, que “perder ahora esa tradición representaría un error gravísimo, que engendraría confusión en las zonas de misión y no reforzaría la vitalidad espiritual del primer mundo”. “Representaría un distanciamiento de la práctica del Señor mismo, acarrearía graves desventajas prácticas a la acción de la Iglesia –es decir financieras– y debilitaría el significado de ‘signo’ del sacerdocio; debilitaría además el testimonio del sacrificio amoroso y de la realidad de los Novísimos y del premio en el cielo”, dijo el Arzobispo. Asimismo, el Cardenal Pell señaló que “los servicios eucarísticos, o las liturgias de la Palabra, cuando los sacerdotes están disponibles, no deberían delegarse. Estas inútiles sustituciones de personas, a menudo no están motivadas por el hambre del Pan de Vida, sino por la ignorancia y la confusión, cuando no, incluso por la hostilidad al ministerio sacerdotal y a los sacramentos". Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Synopsis of the Intervention Oct 16, 2005 Synopsis of the Intervention of His Eminence Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney at the XI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Rome by + Cardinal George Pell, archbishop of Sydney, 11 October 2005. Many Synod Fathers have spoken of the difficulties experienced by the Church throughout the world. Some of these are caused by our own mistakes. The Second Vatican Council brought great blessings and substantial gains; for example, continuing missionary expansion and the new movements and communities. But it was also followed by confusion, some decline, especially in the West, and pockets of collapse. Good intentions are not enough. Two areas of decline in Oceania are the number of priestly vocations in Australia and New Zealand (but not everywhere in Oceania) and the confusion evident in the proliferation of Communion services. My recommendations to the Synod on how to deal with these "shadows" presuppose the maintenance in the Latin Church of the ancient tradition and life-giving discipline of mandatory celibacy for the diocesan clergy as well as the religious orders. To loosen this tradition now would be a serious error, which would provoke confusion in the mission areas and would not strengthen spiritual vitality in the First World. It would be a departure from the practice of the Lord Himself, bring significant practical disadvantages to the work of the Church, e.g. financial, and weaken the sign value of the priesthood. It would weaken, too, the witness to loving sacrifice, and to the reality of the Last Things, and the rewards of Heaven. We should remember the situation of the Church 500 years ago just before the Reformation, a small weak community separated from the East. The enormous expansion since then and the purification of Church leadership (imperfect but substantial) were achieved primarily under grace, through the lives of celibate sisters, brothers and priests. The recent sexual scandals have not invalidated these gains. I request the Synod to draw up a further list of suggestions and criteria to regulate the celebration of Communion services, especially on Sundays. "Liturgies awaiting a priest" is a better title than "priest-less liturgies." There is no such thing as "lay-led liturgy," because lay people can only lead devotional prayers and para-liturgies. The suggestion of Archbishop Paolo of Haiti that we use the title "special ministers of Holy Communion" is much better than "ministers of the Eucharist." I support the suggestion that a list of topics for thematic homilies be drawn up for the liturgical year. One such topic should be the nature of the Eucharist and the essential role of the ministerial priest. Communion services or liturgies of the Word should not be substituted for Mass when priests are available. Such unnecessary substitutions are often not motivated by a hunger for the Bread of Life, but by ignorance and confusion or even by hostility to the ministerial priesthood and the sacraments. To what extent are regular celebrations of Communion services, Sunday after Sunday, a genuine development or distortion, a  Protestantization, which risks confusing even regular Church-goers? Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese The Dictatorship of Relativism Oct 07, 2005 Address to the National Press Club, Canberra. By Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney. 21 September 2005. Shortly before he entered the conclave in which he was elected pope, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger preached the homily at the pre-conclave Mass and warned against the rise of “a dictatorship of relativism”. It is an evocative phrase which frightened some and provoked confusion in others. Taking as his text St Paul's warning to the Ephesians (4:14-16), that “we must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine” but “must grow up” in Christ and in love, the Cardinal offered the following reflection: Every day new sects are born and we see realized what St. Paul says on the deception of men, on the cunning that tends to lead into error (cf. Ephesians 4:14). To have a clear faith according to the creed of the Church, is often labelled as fundamentalism. While relativism, that is, allowing oneself to be carried about with every wind of 'doctrine', seems to be the only attitude that is fashionable. A dictatorship of relativism is being constituted that recognizes nothing as absolute and which only leaves the 'I' and its whims as the ultimate measure. When I heard these words in St. Peter's Square my first instinct was to think that Cardinal Ratzinger obviously did not want to be pope. I wondered whether he thought a few home truths would not go astray on this final occasion when he was at centre stage. The words were blunt, and provocative, even if he spoke of a dictatorship "being constituted", a dark cloud on the horizon, rather than claiming that the fashionable winds of doctrine were everywhere triumphant. Relativism is powerful in Western life, evidenced in many areas from the decline in the study of history and English literature, through to the triumph of subjective values and conscience over moral truth and the downgrading of heterosexual marriage.  None of this is entirely new: relativism is an antique theory.  The great thinker and father of history Heraclitus [History 3, 38] noted that different cultures differ in their basic beliefs and customs, and at the dawn of our philosophical tradition the Greek philosopher Protagoras challenged the religious and moral wisdom of his day, arguing that each individual’s own opinions are the measure of truth [see Plato Theaetetus 151eff].  This theory has so far received no official sanction – usually because wise men and women have seen that either relativism is the real truth about the Universe, in which case relativism is wrong since there is a real truth, or relativism is not the real truth, in which case we should all stop thinking about it.  The danger today is that people do not even think this far to see the inconsistencies.  Hence Pope Benedict’s warning. One reason for optimism is that no one believes deep down in relativism.  People may express their scepticism about truth and morality in lecture rooms or in print, but afterwards, they will go on to sip a cappuccino, pay the mortgage, drive home on the left side of the road, and presumably avoid acts of murder and cannibalism throughout their evening.  People, unless insane, do not live as relativists.  They care about truth and follow clear cut rules. Catholics call the universal acceptance of the many basic moral norms ‘natural law’ – the term simply means that whereas some laws apply only to Australians, moral laws apply to everyone who shares human nature.  Some remain sceptical of this – but interestingly, philosophers and thinkers of quite secular temperament now regularly explore the notion of objective morality in their teaching and writing. Nothing matters more than truth to our country.  Differences about important issues such as war, slavery, abortion, euthanasia are different claims to moral truth, not merely competing preferences.  Some who have never been deprived of truth can give it up too easily, perhaps using talk of relativism or secularism to camouflage their actual commitment to money, success, possessions, power.  But these are ambiguous goods: they can be misused and are rarely distributed fairly.  It is getting to the truth about things and having the integrity to live by that truth that is the ideal we should pass to the next generation.  By comparison, relativism is bankrupt: it offers no future because it is not livable; and where it is a camouflage, what it camouflages is gnerally rotten and often shaped by greed. Jesus said “I am the Truth” and for this he, and countless good men and women, lived and died.  Nobody lives and dies for relativism: people do not sacrifice themselves for a theory which states that such a gesture is merely relative. The abolition of truth does not ensure a proper tolerance of diversity, but removes the constraints on any passing majority opinion and prevents us from discriminating legally between the tolerable and intolerable.   Relativism is a position that explains a self-obsessed, overly materialist, ethics-lite minority – and that, I firmly believe, is not Australia today and not the Australia we want for tomorrow. EDUCATION Recently some newspapers have given considerable coverage to demonstrating how relativism's intrusion into the classroom as post-modernism or "critical literacy" affect education at both secondary and university level. In some schools the study of English texts as English language has been abandoned altogether for the lower secondary grades and replaced with a blancmange of English, social studies and comparative religion called "Integrated Studies". While parents wonder why their children have never heard of the Romantic poets, Yeats or the Great War poets and never ploughed through a Bronte, Orwell or Dickens novel, their children are engaged in analysing a variety of "texts" including films, magazines, advertisements and even road signs as part of critical literacy. The trend has apparently gone furthest in Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania, and I am aware that N.S.W. Board of Studies syllabuses prescribe these authors. Of course there are always rationalisations for why school syllabuses are manipulated in this way. The official website of the Tasmanian school syllabus explains that the objectives of critical literacy are to enable students to "deconstruct the structures and features of texts", to overcome the assumption that "texts [are] timeless, universal or unbiased", to understand the "unequal positions of power" that texts often present, and in this way to "work for social equity and change". It is all meant to be very "empowering". Examining how relativism in the form of school-based post-modernism proposes to make students into "agents of social change" makes it apparent very quickly that there is another agenda at work underneath it all. Generally accepted understandings of family, sexuality, maleness, femaleness, parenthood, and culture are treated as "dominant discourses" that impose and legitimise injustice and intolerance. These dominant discourses are then undermined by a disproportionate focus on 'texts" which normalise moral and social disorder.  Too much time is given to narratives about sad and dysfunctional individuals and shattered families. While no one is arguing that children, especially senior secondary school students, should be brought up only on fairy tales with happy endings, this narrow focus and the rejection of those principles which build and maintain society’s social capital mean that students are not forced to confront and learn from the great English language classics but are allowed to sink towards the sordid and the dismal rather than strive towards the good and the beautiful. Theologian Jaroslav Pelikan, writing shortly after Pope Benedict's homily, described relativism as "nothing more or less than the deconstruction of all objectivity in our perceptions of reality. Accordingly, there is no real, objective and historical truth, only those notions which each special proponent offers as his own idea of truth." (9/6/05)  My generation has had the benefit of learning from the tradition and thus we can critique it.  To give youngsters all-critique-and-no-foundation leaves them rudderless.  School syllabuses or university courses in which great works of literature and the study of history are dismissed as "elitist" or relevant only to "the dominant ethnic and social group" dismantle the sense of an objective reality in young people, by denying any philosophic foundation for adhering to humanist values. Although the stated purpose may be to make students "sensitive" to the experiences and stories of others, the effort is often counterproductive.  If it is impossible to get a handle on the true range of human endeavour because nobility, faith, heroism and compassion become deceptions, facades for the exercise of power, then students are forced back into their own small personal worlds, good, bad or different. Looked at in this way an education in relativism seems more like a recipe for disenfranchisement and passivity than empowerment. If you want people to move the world it actually helps if you put some ground under their feet. This is one of the things that Christianity does.  As Pope Benedict said elsewhere in his pre-conclave homily, 'A faith profoundly rooted in friendship with Christ is adult and mature.  This friendship opens us to all that is good and gives us the measure to discern between what is true and what is false, between deceit and truth". Having a "measure to discern between what is true and what is false, between deceit and truth", is the source of empowerment, and the lasting basis for concern and compassion for others. One of the most important reasons for persisting with the difficult search for truth, is that wishes are a poor substitute for reality. Australians want our country to be a fair and decent society. Wishing will not make this happen. It takes clear thinking.  We actually need a clear and well-founded notion of fairness and decency and need to work consistently towards them. Some argue that a public consensus on issues is sufficient and that ideas of right and wrong and truth are superfluous to this. The problem with consensus, even community-wide consensus, it that it is malleable, manipulable and subject to strange changes over time. It is amazing what we can get used to, given enough time and given enough confusion about identity, experience, values and tolerance. Deeds that were formerly crimes have in some places become constitutional rights in little more than a generation, sometimes for good, sometimes for ill. People sometimes look to the law as a way out of the labyrinth.  Questions of right and wrong are to be resolved through the decisions of courts.  However these changing legal rulings are either the product of social consensus or social engineering, running ahead of society, by senior judges.  An explicit relativism provides no basis to evaluate these developments. RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES A society like Australia, despite many among the elite understanding themselves as secular, has been living off Christian principles for nearly two centuries. This has tempted some to take for granted values like human rights, social justice, a fair go, and kindness towards the battlers. But values like this do not occur spontaneously.  Very few societies in history have been founded on all of them, and some e.g. Roman have even regarded compassion and humility as weaknesses.  Humane values have to be nurtured, explained, defended, and above all given a foundation in reality.  The twentieth century, the most cruel in history, has given us abundant evidence for this proposition.  An interesting analysis of this evidence has been provided by the moral philosopher Jonathan Glover in his book Humanity: A Moral History of the Twentieth Century. In addition to examining the great catastrophes that took place Glover also considers what held back some people from co-operating in atrocities and encouraged resistance in the face of evil. Glover is an atheist and an opponent of many Christian positions e.g. supporter of infanticide but he is concerned with "the fading of the moral law."  I attended a course of his lectures at Oxford more than 25 years ago and he told me proudly more recently that a few Bishops, more Anglicans than Catholics had been his pupils.   While drawing attention to "the evils of religious intolerance, religious persecution and religious wars", he also argues that “it is striking how many protests against and acts of resistance to atrocity have also come from principled religious commitment”. He worries that the decline of religion will mean the decline of this source of resistance, and that in the absence of God our moral code will be that of the society we live in: meaning that we become hostages to tribalism, inherited prejudice and the winds of fashion. (p. 405) AN UNPRINCIPLED AND INTOLERANT SECULARISM? There is considerable evidence that atheism is dying in the Western world (cf. Alistair McGrath’s “The Twilight of Atheism”. 2004) and that popular secularism is heavily infected with superstition, but if intellectual secularism does have a creed it is relativism.  With the demise of Communism secularism only survives by attacking Christianity, has no independent platform of value and objectivity but lives (in the Western world) on a post-Christian overdraft. Many think that Australia is now a secular society (some Catholics and many secularists like to talk like this) but in the 2001 census 68% declared themselves Christian and only 15.48% declared themselves without religion, a decline of 1.45% from 1996.  While the percentages of believers and unbelievers among our academics and journalists might be the reverse of that obtaining in the general population, there remains a good case for claiming that Australia is still a Christian country (tolerant of every religion and no religion), whose major social, political and legal institutions cannot be fully understood without it. Daily we hear of human rights, obligations to the needy, ideals of virtue, principles of equity and compassion that are certainly not relative and often not secular.  In fact under relativism, human rights are not just watered down but literally incoherent.  Obligations to the needy become negotiable, virtue is flexible so that “might can be right” and “greed can beat need”.  Equity and compassion are fine for those who freely choose them, but simply options, not imperatives.  If relativism were ever officially endorsed, moral life and public life would be changed forever. Many people never think seriously about religion at all, hence secularism wins by stealth and default.  But we should ponder the effects of an increase in the secular-relativist bite into Christianity: previous moral norms we all accept (on lying and promise breaking, assault and abuse, cheating and rorting, even freedom and equality) would be vulnerable to revision: conscience would become personal preference – a polite term for ‘doing it my way’, and clear thinking and past wisdom would be repudiated and ridiculed.   Could this really happen in Australia?  It might seem hard to believe we would ever reject the most fundamental moral values; but it was hard only 50 years ago to believe we would abort 100,000 babies a year, contemplate men marrying men, killing the sick, experimenting on human embryos….  Under relativism there is no antidote to Nazism, racism, Communism, fundamentalism: for relativism, whatever is socially supported thereby deserves social support. Relativism follows from secularism because part of secularism's original argument was that the renunciation of the claim to religious truth is a fundamental condition for peace. In an essay in his book Truth and Tolerance, the then Cardinal Ratzinger refers to the work of Egyptologist Jan Assmann, who claims that it was Moses who introduced the notion of truth into religion, and insisted on rejecting false gods. Hitherto religions had been pure or impure, sacred or profane, and people could have a number of religious enthusiasms. But Moses' destruction of the Golden Calf set an unfortunate precedent for monotheistic intolerance. The secular ambition today is to return to ancient Egypt, to remove again the distinction between God and the world, to tolerate undemanding forms of spirituality, perhaps a return to pantheism, a vague nature worship, where there is no need to be concerned with truth and falsehood, much less any notion of individual judgement after death by the one true God.  With this reversion there would be no more need for the notions of sin and redemption. According to Assmann's theory, sin only came into the world with Moses. But if there is no true and false religion, it is much more difficult to distinguish good from evil. Relativism is meant to serve as the operational principle that delivers tolerance, mutual respect, and a basis for civic peace, in contrast to the way religion causes war and dissension. Those who defend secularism and relativism continue to offer this rationale, but secularism and relativism can be dictatorial, intolerant of principled opposition. In 2001, when the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney suggested that Christians should do more to evangelize Australian society, the Sydney Morning Herald published an editorial condemning this idea as arrogant, dangerous and a recipe for bloodshed. Observing that "in Australia, one's religion is largely a private matter", the editorial concluded-with only a small hint of menace-that 'it should remain that way". This editorial captured the secularist attitude to traditional religion very well: it is acceptable, perhaps even a good thing, to have some of it around for the sake of "diversity" but it can only be tolerated on the condition that it is privatized. The privatization of belief is usually justified by referring to the importance of maintaining the public domain and public policy as “neutral” areas.  But privatization does not favour neutrality. It is a way of silencing your opponents, because barring God from the public square is not neutral.  Believers have equal rights in a democracy!. There have been other manifestations of secularist intolerance throughout the Western world in recent years: the witch trial of Rocco Buttiglione conducted by the European Parliament because of his Christian understanding of homosexual activity; the conviction of critics of same-sex marriage for publicizing their views under human rights legislation in Canada; and the penalties handed out to Christian ministers in Victoria for allegedly vilifying Islam. There were more Christian martyrs in the twentieth century than in any other century, most of them under atheist tyrants like Lenin, Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot.  To what extent these were principled killers, ruthlessly following their ideologies, or relativists who worshipped power is a moot point. A WEAKER CHRISTIANITY Obviously it would be an ambition of Pope Benedict that Catholics and indeed all Christians would be sturdy opponents of the dictatorship of relativism.  This is not always the case. In 1993 Pope John Paul II wrote his beautiful and controversial encyclical on “The Splendour of Truth”.  There he spoke of a genuine crisis in the Catholic understanding of morality; not only dissent on particular points but differences which contested the very basis of Christian moral thinking, that there are moral truths. Put very crudely, but with basic accuracy, there is a conviction even among some Church-going Catholics that the Second Vatican Council taught that they can now choose to identify conscience with their personal opinions, and disagree with Church teaching especially on matters of sexuality and life.  Somewhat strangely those who assert this claim rarely urge people to follow their consciences in matters of public morality, such as social justice.  No one seems to be free to follow his conscience when confronted with racism. The crisis is more publicly apparent in other Christian denominations e.g. in the tragic divisions in the Anglican Churches over the ordination of homosexually active bishops, but the root causes are similar.  A fundamental division between liberal and traditional Christians is where to draw the line between immutable tradition or Revelation and what can be changed and updated according to modern understandings. In moral matters this often involves two contrasting views of conscience; the Christian concept, where conscience seeks to discover and do what God commands and a secular view of conscience as personal autonomy, each person’s right to define right and wrong for himself. Sometimes Christians move unknowingly from one concept of conscience to the other, easy victims to the fashionable relativism. Pastorally there can be a radical confusion which is much welcomed, because it can conceal, even from those involved, the fact that they are disagreeing with the teaching of the Church, and sometimes with Christ’s own teaching. Recently I heard of a discussion between two Christian politicians (I am not sure both were Catholics) on how they would vote on destructive human embryo experimentation.  One proposed to vote for it and the other to oppose, and the supporter of the legislation justified his position by claiming he had asked advice from a priest who told him to follow his conscience.  At best the priest ducked the issue; at worst he disguised his dissent by advocating what his listener preferred. Simple-minded relativism is alive and well within the Christian communities.  In its radically liberal forms it is poisonous of both faith and morals, while at a pastoral level such fudging of the issues offers nothing to people young or old who are looking for truth and principles. CONCLUSION The first St. Benedict was born at Nursia, Italy in 480A.D.  He withdrew from the world to Subiaco, where Nero had a villa centuries earlier with its own artificial lake, and then moved to found a monastery at Monte Cassino.  His rule became the basis of the Benedictine Order, whose monasteries across Europe preserved faith and learning through what is sometimes called the Dark Ages. Pope Benedict is clear headed, long sighted, a realist rather than a pessimist.  He does not seem to share those surges of optimism which touched Pope John Paul II.  It is significant that he took the name Benedict as he begins to lead the Church in a Europe with a declining population, many signs of metaphysical boredom, and a culture of relativism which lacks clarity and self confidence.  There is also a crisis of faith in many parts of this continent. Pope Benedict knows this well, just as he knows that a vibrant Christianity can still transform even post-industrial societies with its love and faith, its principles and communities of service. Australia is still a young society.  With our energy and optimism we are not fertile ground for the dictatorship of relativism, but are rich in spiritual and especially moral potential.  This could be one reason why Pope Benedict nominated Sydney to host the World Youth Day in 2008. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese No change under new Pope, cardinal predicts Oct 07, 2005 For Catholics seeking changes in Church teachings on such issues as married priests or the use of condoms in the war against AIDS, Sydney’s Archbishop Cardinal George Pell offered little hope in a landmark talk last Sunday night. (onlinecatholics.com.au, 28 September 2005) Speaking to a predominantly Jewish audience at Mandelbaum House, University of Sydney, on directions the Church might take over the next decade under Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Pell predicted the rapid demise of liberal Catholicism among young people and expressed admiration for examples of the devotion of lay people in organisations such as Opus Dei. On the question of condoms the cardinal said he rejected claims for their efficacy and said they created “an inflated sense of protection”. Concerning stem cell research, Cardinal Pell said he supported adult stem cell research and observed the progress of using cells from nasal tissue, but he rejected the use of embryos as human spare parts factories. Asked about celibacy and the sexual culture of our time, he was equally adamant. “I do think the pressures on the clergy today are precisely because of the pansexualism of society,” he said. “But even the pansexualism of today though would be considerably less than in the time of the Roman Empire and paganism.” Cardinal Pell conceded that most priests for the first thousand years in the life of the Church were married, and quite a number of priests today are married. But he said he didn’t favour abandoning compulsory celibacy. “I don't favour the abandoning of the discipline of compulsory celibacy in the Western Church for the clergy for a number of reasons. It could be changed. The Church could ordain married men. So I tell our seminarians ‘It's never going to work the other way. You'll never be able to be ordained and then go looking for a wife.’ The Church might change its discipline and ordain married men [but] I'm not in favour of that for a number of practical and spiritual reasons.” Cardinal Pell said that compulsory celibacy was part of the world the Church has built through the sacrifices of unmarried people, priests and brothers and nuns. “Of course we have had scandals,” he said. “Unfortunately marriage is no protection against paedophilia. Most of the crimes of paedophilia are committed by married people.” Cardinal Pell said that allowing priests to marry could invite other problems. “I know that the public notoriety that I have had here and there that my family has found it rather difficult. I know that the children of Protestant and Anglican ministers often find it very difficult indeed. “I have spoken with women [who are] married to priests who were formerly Anglicans and became Catholics. They say that the demands that the Anglican people put on their married clergy are much less than the demands put on Catholic clergy.” Allowing priests to marry would weaken their pastoral effectiveness considerably he added. “If you are married you've got to take it seriously and give time to your wife and children. So it's a big issue. But I am not supporting any change.” Concerning Pope Benedict, Cardinal Pell said: “It is not without significance that the Catholic Church was able to choose a German. I am not sure how long ago that would have been impossible. At the end of a press conference in Rome one of the reporters said ‘What does it mean that the Catholic Church has chosen a German as Pope?’ I said I think it means that the Second World War is finally over and that we can turn the page on that appalling section of history.   “A young German woman who works in the Vatican Radio came up to me and said she was very pleased that I said that because even today you can't imagine how difficult it sometimes can be even in other parts of Europe travelling around and saying that you're German.” Cardinal Pell said his father had worked well with Jewish people and always spoke well of them, and he felt that this attitude was shared by the vast majority of Australian Catholics. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Australian Cardinal Approves Government Decision to Allow Teaching of Intelligent Design in Schools Oct 07, 2005 In August, Australian Federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson told reporters that the theory of Intelligent Design (ID), would have a place alongside Darwinian evolution in schools. The announcement has raised the fury of secularists in the education and scientific communities and received the approval of Sydney’s Catholic Archbishop, George Cardinal Pell. SYDNEY, September 2, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - So far, one school has taken up the challenge and is planning on including ID in this year’s curriculum. Pacific Hills Christian School is ready to offer both theories in either its religion or science classes giving students opportunity to critically examine the possible limitations and merits of Darwinian evolution. The school's principal, Ted Boyce, said, “Evolution is taught in the school system as if it's a universally accepted theory and there's no other way to view the origin of man and creation,” Dr Boyce said. “I have trouble with this. We would teach evolution as a theory and ID as an alternative theory.” Cardinal Pell, the Catholic archbishop of Sydney Australia, accustomed to being called names by his opponents, describes himself as “agnostic” on the physical nature of the origins of life. But he was happy to see ID offered as an alternative theory to pure secularist Darwinism that is, he said, sometimes taught in an “anti-God” way. That species change over time is clear and has never been denied by responsible religious thinkers. Pell said, “There’s no doubt evolution explains a lot of things. But it's there to be replaced or improved -- there are many things it doesn't explain.” Paul Davies a physicist and author called ID proponents the worst name a secularist can think of: “religious.” “(ID) isn't a scientific theory, it's a religion,” he said. “There are all sorts of beliefs out there: flat-earthers, fairies and philosophy class might be appropriate.” Whatever the theologians and secularist scientists work out in the end, the US public is tired of being treated like sheep and want to hear both sides of the argument. In a recent Pew Research Center poll, 64 percent, say they believe “creationism” should be taught alongside “evolution.” Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life said that though there may be some confusion about terms like “creationism” the general conclusion is that people feel they have a right to both sides of the issue. "What this basically tells us is that in contentious issues, many people take the default position - teach both sides and let people make up their own minds," Lugo said. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Australian cardinal comfortable with Intelligent Design Sept 28, 2005 Cardinal Pell told The Australian that although the theory of evolution can be reconciled with Christian doctrine, sometimes evolution is presented "in an anti-God way." Where that is the case, he said, "I'd be happy for them to talk about design or intelligent design." Sydney, Sep. 05 2005 (CWNews.com) - The cardinal was responding to a controversy that arose in Australia when education minister Brendan Nelson voiced his approval for the teaching of Intelligent Design in public schools. Some scientists protested, claiming that the ID theory is inherently religious-- thus echoing a controversy that has excited comment in the US. Cardinal Pell, in his remarks to The Australian, noted that science has its limitations in discussions of ultimate causes. The physical evidence may indicate that nature follows a design, he observed; but it remains for philosophy and theology to speak about the designer. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell on What Sydney Can Offer Sept 28, 2005 Cardinal George Pell and a group of 2,300 young Australian pilgrims expressed their joy over Benedict XVI's announcement that Sydney will be the host city for World Youth Day 2008. COLOGNE, Germany, AUG. 22, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The archbishop of Sydney, 64, told ZENIT that he had learned a lot from his Cologne experience and believes that "the mixture" of sacraments and fun "still works." He insisted that "as long as the event remains Christocentric, a religious pilgrimage and it's not distracted away into other things, it will continue to work." Q: What does Sydney intend to offer to the pilgrims of the world? Cardinal Pell: Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and has been voted as such too by the world on occasion. It's a city of 4 million people, 1 million Catholics. A splendid range of facilities which were designed and used for the Olympic Games, and a whole raft of people who are experts in organization and who have cut their teeth at those 2000 Games and have been a great help to us. We have a strong core of deeply religious Catholics, and obviously they will help us present it, but the whole intention behind it is that it will strengthen the faith of young Australians and those who come. It will be specifically Catholic as always but it will be an offering to all those young Aussies who don't have a settled core of religious convictions. We'll offer them something different. Q: Indeed, WYDs are extremely multicultural events and that's one thing Australia also has, true? Cardinal Pell: I think we probably have the highest percentage of migrants in the world, and Catholic Sydney is enormously multicultural. We get great strength from our Vietnamese communities, the Koreans, Chinese and then, of course, from the Italians, Lebanese, Maltese and the Irish. This is something very distinct that Sydney, Australia, offers to the dynamics of the next WYD -- it's the New Land. It's based on a shared inheritance rather than in the cases of European cities being very much entrenched in their specific cultures, perhaps? Initially it actually presents some difficulties because we don't have the great multiplicity of the beautiful Catholic shrines as you do in Europe. We're still pioneers here. We're also a predominately English-speaking country with a somewhat different set of perspectives from continental Europe. But we've got a lot to offer and I believe that we stand to gain and receive a lot. Our people, seeing these young people come into our country with their living faith and enthusiasm blazing -- the thought strengthens me and our pilgrims, so I am sure it will make a difference to the young Aussies at home who encounter it. Q: We've noticed that in this trip Pope Benedict XVI has made some historic steps toward building bridges and reconciliation. Is this element likely to be part of the Sydney schedule? Cardinal Pell: Well I think the main thing is, is that it is a Catholic celebration that will remain a Catholic celebration. But that doesn't bar us from having a significantly ecumenical dimension. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Pell hopes to lure Pope to Melbourne Sept 28, 2005 The Pope may be persuaded to come to Melbourne during his Australian visit to the Catholic World Youth Day celebrations in 2008, Cardinal George Pell said yesterday. (Harald Sun, 03sep05) "If there were some good reason which could be devised to convince the Holy Father to come to Melbourne, I think it would be a good idea," Cardinal Pell said. "I'd be happy to co-operate with the Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, and if there is anything I can do to facilitate it, I certainly will." World Youth Day in Sydney is expected to draw between 800,000 and a million young Catholics from around the world, in an event that will rival the Olympics in size. Cardinal Pell said he would like to see his old home town share the Pope's visit. He was speaking after being made a Companion of the General Division of the Order of Australia. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell raps educational relativism Sept 23, 2005 Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia denounced liberal educational ideology during a speech at the National Press Club in Canberra. Canberra, Sep. 22 2005 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Pell said that said that contemporary educational institutions have led to what Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) called the "dictatorship of relativism." He attacked the trends in which "great works of literature and the study of history are dismissed as elitist," saying that the practical result of that approach is to "dismantle the sense of objective reality." If this approach becomes universal, the cardinal warned, the word "conscience" could be stripped of its meaning, and become understood as "personal preference-- a polite term for 'doing it my way.'" Cardinal Pell pointed out that the attack on objective educational standards has a clear political motivation. The post-modern approach to education, he said, "proposes to make students into agents of social change." The modernist curriculum, he charged, undermines age-old beliefs about "family, sexuality, maleness, femaleness, parenthood, and culture," and to "normalize moral and social disorder." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Australian prelate seeks stem-cell research ban Sept 23, 2005 Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia, is urging a ban on embryonic stem-cell research, arguing that experiments to date have not produced "a significant advance in knowledge." Sydney, Sep. 21 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Pell told The Age that the arguments in favor of embryonic stem-cell research are actually less convincing today than when the current laws allowing such experimentation were passed in 2002. Scientists have not produced impressive results from their work, he observed, while experiments using adult stem-cells have yielded more promising results. Cardinal Pell told The Age that existing laws, allowing experiments on embryos left over from in-vitro fertilization treatments, have created "a class of human life that is statutorily expendable." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Pell calls for stem cell research ban Sept 23, 2005 Catholic Archbishop George Pell is pushing to wind back stem cell research laws, warning the destruction of embryos for science has created "a class of human life which is statutorily expendable". (The Age, September 21, 2005) In his submission to a Government inquiry into laws covering cloning and the use of embryos for research, Australia's most senior Catholic leader said the scientific justification for using embryos had diminished since the laws were passed in 2002. But scientists are pushing for laws to be extended to allow somatic cell nuclear transfer or "therapeutic cloning", in which embryos are created specifically for their stem cells and then destroyed when they are a few days old. Stem cells, which can grow into different types of tissue, offer hope for treating a range of diseases from Parkinson's to diabetes. Under the existing laws, scientists can use embryos left over from IVF treatment — which would be destroyed anyway — for research, including the creation of embryonic stem cell lines. AdvertisementAdvertisement The National Health and Medical Research Council has granted licences allowing research on 1731 spare IVF embryos since the 2002 laws were passed. A panel headed by former Federal Court Judge John Lockhart, QC, is now reviewing the laws and will recommend to state and federal governments whether changes are needed. Cardinal Pell, who will today address the National Press Club in Canberra, called for a ban on all research that involves destroying embryos or, at least, no extension to the laws. He said access to spare IVF embryos for the past two years had not "led to a significant advance in knowledge". All sides agree the current ban on reproductive cloning should stay. But scientists say "therapeutic cloning" would let them create personalised stem cell lines that are genetically compatible and would not be rejected by the immune system. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Latham book is sad, self-obsessed: Pell Sept 23, 2005 The Latham Diaries is a sad, self-obsessed book that fails to give much insight into human nature, Sydney Archbishop George Pell has said. (The Age, September 21, 2005) Cardinal Pell is among many to be lambasted in the former Labor leader's new book, along with the Catholic Church. Mr Latham describes some within the church as "kiddy-fiddlers" and attacks "Big George Pell" for denouncing Labor's schools funding policy during last year's election. On Wednesday, Cardinal Pell told the National Press Club: "I remember before the election people were saying: 'How are we going to deal with Mr Latham?' because of the many things he's said about the church, most of them disparaging. "And I said: 'Well, I'm not too worried because he's spoken more badly of most of his colleagues then he has of us'. "That's been demonstrated in spades in this sad book. "It's a sad book, it's self-obsessed, I don't think it's given much insight into human nature generally or suggests many or any useful reforms for the system that he laments. "I think the sooner it moves on, the better." As for Labor's education policy, Cardinal Pell said he still regarded it as unacceptable and guaranteed to provoke division. Cardinal Pell said he did not regard himself as aligned to a political party, but the benefit of the doubt must be given to whichever party is in government. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Catholics fund stem cell research Aug 06, 2005 THE Catholic Church will fund a $100,000 grant for research on stem cells, further signalling its guarded support for some experimentation with some types of human cells. (The Courier-Mail, July 26, 2005) Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell announced the grant yesterday. He said research on adult cells had potential to lead to life-saving treatments. The church remains opposed to research on cells harvested from human embryos, but has given in-principle support to the use of adult cells. In the US last week, scientists reported new evidence of the effectiveness of treating congestive heart failure with a patient's own stem cells. They said there was evidence of improved blood-flow, blood-vessel formation and even new tissue growth. The scientific community had argued that legalising the use of embryos for research would open the way to find cures for disease such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes and genetic conditions such as cystic fibrosis. Cardinal Pell said breakthroughs in adult stem cell research were exciting and impressive. "The achievements to date in this area far surpass anything that has been attained in the area of embryonic stem cell research," Cardinal Pell said. "The Catholic Church always supports good science working from a good ethical foundation, and the Archdiocese of Sydney is delighted to be able to collaborate with researchers making inroads in this vitally important area." Federal Parliament passed laws allowing surplus IVF embryos to be used for stem cell research in late 2002 but the church has maintained its opposition to the use of embryonic stem cells. It describes the use of surplus human embryos for scientific inquiry constitutes wanton destruction of life. The latest grant is the second made available by the Sydney Archdiocese to further research into adult stem cells, and applications have been invited from Australian-based researchers. In 2002, a research team at Griffith University received a $50,000 grant for their work on developing therapies to use stem cells extracted from patients' nasal lining. Earlier this year, Cardinal Pell referred to Rome a breakthrough by Griffith University's Alan Mackay-Sim that succeeded in growing adult stem cells harvested from the nose. The cells appeared to be able to deliver everything that embryonic stem cell research promises but without the side-effects. At the time, Professor Mackay-Sim said the easily harvested and grown olfactory stem cells were capable of being turned into any kind of cell in the body, without the problems of rejection or tumours forming, which can happen in one in five cases when embryonic stem cells are injected into the body. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell voices wages concerns Jul 09, 2005 Cardinal George Pell of Sydney has warned the Prime Minister to exercise caution when using his new powers in the Senate. (cathnews.com, 4 Jul 2005) Australian Associated Press reports that that as John Howard's coalition government on Friday became the first in 24 years to control both chambers of Parliament, Cardinal Pell commented: "I think there's an even greater need for wisdom and magnanimity from the prime minister." He said that considerable unease about the Government's industrial relations policy makes it necessary for wide consultationd. His major concern was that minimum wages would be pushed lower in real terms. "The disparity between rich and poor is of some concern, but it is different if the minimum wage is still rising," Cardinal Pell said. More reassurance and information was needed, he said. Opposition industrial affairs spokesman Stephen Smith welcomed Cardinal Pell's intervention, after concerns expressed by the National Council of Churches (NCC) and other clerical figures. "I think it's significant, following on, as it does, from the NCC intervention last week," Mr Smith told AAP. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Catholic festival 'bigger than Games' Jul 09, 2005 A global Catholic youth festival could surpass the 2000 Olympics as Sydney's biggest event if the city wins the right to host the 2008 celebration, church leaders say. (news.com.au, July 04, 2005) Cardinal George Pell left for Rome yesterday to lead a delegation to the Vatican to present the city's case to hold the 11th World Youth Day in 2008. He is due to meet the Pontifical Council for the Laity on July 9 to discuss Sydney's bid. Sydney's competition for the event is thought to be from South Africa and Brazil. A decision on the successful country will be announced on August 21 - the final day of this year's festival in Cologne, Germany. Cardinal Pell said the celebration would attract more than 250,000 visitors. "We believe that we have the capacity in Sydney and throughout Australia to host this gathering; the spiritual strength, the organisational expertise and financial resources necessary," he said. "If our bid is successful, Sydney will be host to an event bigger than the 2000 Olympics in terms of the numbers visiting. "The benefits for Australia, both socially and spiritually, will be enormous." A spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney said Prime Minister John Howard had shown strong support for the bid. Translation (automatic) English Inicio de construcción de nueva universidad Jul 09, 2005 En una solemne ceremonia, el Arzobispo de Sydney, Cardenal George Pell,  celebró la colocación de la primera piedra de la Universidad Notre-Dame en esa ciudad y resaltó el hecho como un reconocimiento al compromiso educativo de la Iglesia. Sydney, 07 Jul. 05 (ACI).- En declaraciones a la agencia vaticana Fides, los promotores de la nueva universidad, financiada por el gobierno y la arquidiócesis local, señalaron que la iniciativa confirma la calidad de la instrucción ofrecida por la comunidad católica australiana, que atrae a gran cantidad de familias, incluso de otras confesiones. Añadieron que la Universidad Notre-Dame y el Campus de San Benedicto contribuirán a la promoción de valores y al pluralismo de la oferta educativa en Sydney. La nueva casa de estudios será inaugurada el próximo año y ofrecerá las carreras de derecho, educación, economía y enfermería. Desde 1989, otra sede de la universidad Notre Dame, ubicada en Australia Oriental alberga a más de cinco mil estudiantes. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Honoured Pell happy being controversial Jun 25, 2005 A little bit of controversy is better than being ignored, says George Pell - and he should know. Cardinal Pell is one of seven people to receive the highest Australian award in the Queens birthday honours list. (AAP, June 13, 2005) "Yes, there has been some controversy," said Cardinal Pell, who stood aside as Archbishop of Sydney three years ago when he was accused - and later cleared - of sexually abusing an altar boy at a church camp in 1961. "But a little bit of controversy is better than being ignored. "I am deeply honoured by this recognition, both personally and for the Catholic Church," he said on being appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). "It is a recognition of the Catholic contribution to Australian life, and I am also grateful for this," said the archbishop, who since the dark days of 2002 has been appointed Australia's seventh cardinal, has gone to Rome to help elect a new Pope and now has been awarded a Queen's Birthday honour. Cardinal Pell, once described as having a "hide several rhinoceroses thick" has angered many progressives with his insistence that basic church teachings are non-negotiable. The Ballarat-born archbishop, who chose the priesthood over a football career with AFL club Richmond, consistently refused communion to openly gay parishioners and once called homosexuality "a greater health hazard than smoking". He angered feminists by opposing female priests, and opposed access to in-vitro fertilisation for single women. Gay rights and pro-choice activists demonstrated against his appointment as Sydney archbishop by bearing placards reading: "George Pell, Go To Hell". The archbishop entered the education debate in the last federal election, saying Labor's planned redistribution of funds between non-government schools was "potentially divisive" and "regrettable". He offered to appeal for clemency if any of the "Bali nine" Australians arrested for drug smuggling are convicted and given the death penalty, and to take their case to new Pope Benedict XVI. And he criticised the federal government's immigration policies as "too tough" when commenting on the case of Vivian Alvarez, wrongly deported four years ago and later found in a Catholic hospice in the Philippines. Kard. Pell o współpracy między religiami Jun 11, 2005 Kardynał George Pell zaapelował o współpracę muzułmanów, chrześcijan i żydów w obronie rodziny i podstawowych wartości moralnych. Na Uniwersytecie Katolickim w Sydney odbyła się IV Konferencja Międzyreligijny. Radio Vaticana 07.06.2005) Sydney - Kardynał Pell wyraził przekonanie, iż dzieci Abrahama muszą być wierne podstawowym wartościom i głosić je społeczeństwu. Należy zdecydowanie odrzucać pornografię, narkomanię, alkoholizm, rozwiązłość seksualną i aborcję. Hierarcha wezwał do współpracy w obronie szkolnictwa wyznaniowego, które powinno przyczyniać się do budowy pluralistycznego a zarazem zgodnie żyjącego społeczeństwa. Wskazał na potrzebę wspólnego zaangażowania w obronie rodziny, która jest podstawą pomyślności narodu i państwa. Arcybiskup Sydney zaapelował o odrzucenie wszelkiej nienawiści. „Musimy sprawić, aby naszej przyjaźni nie przytłumili ludzie czczący bożki przemocy i fanatyzmu” – stwierdził podczas konferencji międzyreligijnej w Sydney kardynał George Pell. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Boost Mass attendance Jun 05, 2005 Cardinal George Pell of Sydney has asked Catholic schools to remind their students about the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. Sydney, Jun. 02 2005 (CWNews.com) - Speaking to Australian parochial-school administrators, the cardinal said that the schools should "prepare children for this world and the next," the Catholic Weekly reported. He questioned how often children who attend parochial schools are reminded that "if you are a follower of Christ then there is an obligation to worship regularly." Cardinal Pell gave his full support to the Catholic school system, and expressed misgivings that some Catholic families are unable to send their children to the parochial schools. "We should all work to maintain the tribe," he said. "I am a great believer in tribalism. Translation (automatic) English German Que le gouvernement revoie la politique sur l’immigration May 20, 2005 « Il faut revoir la politique sur l’immigration. Le flux des immigrés clandestins a été contenu. La politique est trop dure », déclare le Cardinal George Pell, Archevêque de Sydney, commentant le cas récent d’une citoyenne australienne, Mme Vivian Alvarez, expulsée par erreur il y a quatre ans par le Département de l’Immigration, et qui est sorti en plein jour ces dernières semaines. Sydney (Agence Fides, 18 mai 2005) - Cette affaire a suscité l’embarras pour le gouvernement australien qui maintient depuis plusieurs années une ligne dure contre l’immigration clandestine, avec des rapatriements forcés et la détention obligatoire pour un temps non défini pour les demandeurs d’asile. Les mouvements de protestation contre la politique du gouvernement ont demandé ces jours derniers la démission du Ministre pour l’Immigration, Amanda Vanstone. La ligne dure contre les clandestins reflète en réalité une forte crainte de l’opinion publique australienne vis-à-vis de l’immigration : le gouvernement veut décourager par tous les moyens les clandestins à venir en Australie. Des secteurs de la politique et de la société ont critiqué le traitement gouvernemental des immigrés qui demandent asile, et ont proposé récemment de les confier à des organisations comme la Croix-Rouge ou à des organisations religieuses, dans l’attente d’une décision sur le droit d’asile. Pour les Evêques, la pastorale des migrants est très importante. Pour la politique d’immigration, l’Eglise demande que les réfugiés, une fois arrivés en Australie, soient bien accueillis et respectés en tant que personnes. « L’Australie est un pays qui a une très gande expérience dans la domaine de l’immigration ; c’est une terre qui a été pour beaucoup la possibilité de commencer une vie nouvelle », ont-ils rappelé récemment à l’agence Fides. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Benedict didn't want to be Pope: Pell May 06, 2005 Sydney Archbishop Cardinal George Pell says Pope Benedict XVI did not want the Catholic Church's top job but was elected because he was the most qualified. (The Age/AAP, April 29, 2005) Cardinal Pell welcomed the German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's appointment as the new pontiff in his first public appearance, since his return from Rome, at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney. Cardinal Pell was a member of the conclave that elected Cardinal Ratzinger, 78, as its first new pope of the third millennium. Having chosen to be known as Pope Benedict XVI, the new supreme leader of the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics succeeds John Paul II, who died on April 2 at the age of 84. Unveiling portraits of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI by Australian artist Charles Billich, Cardinal Pell told the crowd that the new Pope was a sincere man and well qualified to lead the Church. "He knows how to listen, he is prepared to present the Christian viewpoint so that it can be discussed and taken up or ignored and rejected by the people of today," he said. "He's a rather shy man but he is an exquisitely courteous man and has a very pleasant and friendly demeanour and I'm sure that, increasingly, as the years go ahead he will be ... deeply loved. "(He was chosen) because very quickly the cardinals believed he was clearly the best man for the job. "He didn't want the job. I'm quite convinced that that was genuine. He is a genuine man of the spirit ... he will clearly and consistently call up Christ, call up the loyalty within the Church and he'll do that in ways and tones that are new and interesting." Cardinal Pell also paid tribute to Pope John Paul II in his homily and described his funeral in Vatican City as remarkable. He said Pope Benedict XVI visited the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the days after his appointment. "I wasn't there but I believe that it was a deeply moving occasion because as a boss and to the people he worked with he was admired and loved and deeply revered," he said. Cardinal Pell joked that Pope Benedict followed in the German tradition of good organisation and that it spoke well for the direction of the Catholic Church. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese No radical change from new Pope: Pell May 06, 2005 Those hoping for radical change under the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI should not be optimistic, Sydney's Catholic Archbishop George Pell has said. (The Age, May 1, 2005) In his first official mass at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney since his return from Rome, Cardinal Pell said he thought the new pope would uphold many of the policies of his predecessor. "The choice reflects a general endorsement of the policies of Pope John Paul II," he said. "Time will tell what will happen in the new pontificate, but for those hoping for radical change there is no reason for optimism in Benedict XVI." Cardinal Pell was a member of the conclave that elected Cardinal Ratzinger, 78, as its first new pope of the third millennium. Having chosen to be known as Pope Benedict XVI, the new leader of the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics succeeds John Paul II, who died on April 2 aged 84. At a special Mass for Carnivale Christi, a three-day festival which brought together hundreds of Catholics from around Sydney, Cardinal Pell called on the faithful to support the new pope. "The Holy Father deserves our prayers and support and I'm sure he will be much loved and supported by Catholics around the world," he said. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese No optimism from pope for Liberals May 06, 2005 Cardinal George Pell has given liberal Catholics a reality check, telling them they had no "reason for optimism" under the new Pope. In his first mass since returning from Rome, Cardinal Pell said the election of Benedict XVI was "a clear affirmation of Catholic identity". (The Australian, May 02, 2005) "Time will tell what will happen in the new pontificate, but for those hoping for radical change there is no reason for optimism in Benedict XVI," he said during an upbeat sermon in Sydney. Australia's most senior Catholic spoke at St Mary's Cathedral to a large congregation that included NSW Premier Bob Carr. Advertisement: With charcoal etchings of Benedict adorning the cathedral, Cardinal Pell asked the congregation to support the Pope. "A strong papacy is vital to the health of the Catholic faith," he said. The health of Benedict is another matter. Vatican insiders have revealed he suffered a mild stroke two years ago and has had health problems dating back to 1991, when he had a brain haemorrhage. His condition was so serious he offered his resignation to his predecessor, John Paul II, for whom he worked as the Vatican's chief doctrinal enforcer. Benedict has had regular dizzy spells for more than a decade and suffers from a heart condition. At 78, he was the oldest man to become pope in 275 years, and his health problems have deepened concerns this papacy may be brief. But Cardinal Pell was emphatic in his support for Benedict, and praised the Vatican's willingness to elect a leader from Germany. "This election indicates World War II is finally over, and we can now turn this terrible page in history." The service was part of the weekend's Carnivale Christi, a three-day festival celebrating Catholic themes in film and literature that drew thousands to St Mary's. The premiere of Mother Teresa: The Movie was scheduled for yesterday afternoon, as well as a production of T.S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral. "Catholicism is a religion that appeals to the mind as much as the heart," Cardinal Pell said. "We thank God his followers can produce so many beautiful creations." He praised the diversity in the Catholic Church reflected in the festival participation of the Maronite, Melchite, Ukrainian and Chaldean churches. "The diversity displayed here is what has allowed the Catholic Church to make a greater contribution to Western life than any other institution." Translation (automatic) English Ratzinger no quería ser Papa May 02, 2005 Un cardenal australiano que participó en la elección de Joseph Ratzinger como nuevo pontífice dijo hoy que Benedicto XVI no quería ser Papa, pero "fue elegido porque era claramente el mejor para desempeñar ese cargo". SIDNEY, 29 Abr. 2005 (EP/AP) - "El no quería ese trabajo. Estoy convencido de que era sincero", dijo el Arzobispo de Sidney, George Pell, en su primera aparición después de regresar del Vaticano, donde formó parte del cónclave que eligió el 19 de abril a Ratzinger como nuevo líder de la Iglesia Católica. Joseph Ratzinger, de 78 años de edad, conocido ahora como el Papa Benedicto XVI, dijo además que "no quería suceder a Juan Pablo II", que falleció el pasado 2 de abril. En un encuentro con peregrinos alemanes el lunes, el nuevo pontífice dijo que durante el cónclave rezó a Dios con profunda convicción: "No hagas esto para mí. Tienes candidatos más jóvenes y mejores que podrían desempeñar esta tarea con una energía y fuerza totalmente diferente". El cardenal, que comparte las ideas conservadores del Papa, descubrió hoy en la Catedral de Santa María de Sidney, sendos retratos del Papa Juan Pablo II y Benedicto XVI y elogió al nuevo pontífice. "Él sabe cómo escuchar, él está preparado para ofrecer un nuevo punto de vista del cristianismo, que podrá ser discutido, aceptado o rechazado por la gente de hoy", dijo. "Es un hombre tímido y muy educado, a la vez que agradable y simpático. Estoy seguro de que con los años será amado profundamente", añadió Pell. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Homily delivered by Cardinal George Pell, Apr 24, 2005 Homily delivered by Cardinal George Pell in the church of Santa Maria Domenica Mazzarello in Rome one day before the beginning of the conclave, Sunday 17 April 2005. Today’s feast of the Good Shepherd is celebrated at an unusual time for the Catholic Church, the "sede vacante" period when there is no pope. There have been periods when there were more than one cardinal claiming to be pope, but we could say there have only been about 264 such interim occasions in nearly 2000 years. What is important is that God’s will be done, but we are entitled to pray that it will not take the College of Cardinals too long to identify God’s will; that we will not have a repetition of the situation in Viterbo in 1271 when the conclave lasted more than two years, provoking the local people to reduce the cardinal’s rations, and when this did not produce the desired results, the locals took off the roof of the building which can still be seen today. The readings for this Sunday, known as Good Shepherd Sunday, remind us of what is central ie the person and teachings of Jesus. All Bible Christians, not just the Catholics would agree that this is the central task for any Christian leader, who seeks to be a good shepherd. Certainly that is one of the most important duties of a pope, as the successor of Peter, the rock-man on whom the Church is built, the one to whom was given the task of feeding the sheep. He has to preserve and defend the apostolic tradition, which tells us about Christ. On the very day of Pentecost, Peter, supported by the other eleven apostles, announced to the people of Jerusalem that the man Jesus who had been crucified recently was in fact our Lord and the Christ, the anointed one who is the Messiah. Many were so moved that they asked what they should do. Peter told them to repent so that their sins could be forgiven and to receive baptism. Through this they would receive the Holy Spirit, God’s presence among us. We are told that 3000 were baptised on that very day. The person of Christ is as central and important for us today as it was in the time of St Peter. In Peter’s first letter which we heard today, Peter explains the mystery and scandal of our redemption, that the suffering of Christ is an example for us too to follow in his footsteps. We too should not return evil for evil, but believe that our sins are forgiven through Christ’s wounds. Before conversion we were like lost sheep; when we follow the teachings of Jesus, we accept him as shepherd and guardian of our souls. We who worship regularly in our parish churches understand this and accept it. To those outside, to those who are uncertain, this claim that Christ is central, is the only Son of God, and not merely another great teacher or prophet or poet – this claim is still provocative and indeed scandalous. Some believe that the times have changed so much, that has been so much development of human knowledge and understanding that Christ’s message needs to be updated and improved. One important function of the successor of St Peter is to assimilate what is good, indeed among the many wonderful insights of today’s world of learning, into the Church’s central claims. There are new situations not described in the New Testament. That is one reason why we have a teaching Church with the authority of the magisterium. Forms of organisation have changed over the centuries, religious orders have come and gone, new movements, like the charismatics have arisen. But at the centre of all this change and inculturation is the Christ of the gospels; the Christ described in the great Councils of the Church, the Christ who will continue to be defended and explained by the successor of St Peter. There is no Christ without the cross. Catholics and indeed all Christians are called to be salt of the earth, not the sugar of the world. Too much sugar gives us diabetes. Cut price Christianity does not provoke conversion, but only a mild interest, a passing sympathy. We thank God that Pope John Paul II was such a good shepherd as Bishop of Rome, a vital duty for the Pope, but the Pope is also important for Catholics all over the world, for Catholics in far distant places like Australia, on the edge of Asia and on the edge of the Catholic world. I ask you to pray, as Catholics are praying all over the world today, that the College of Cardinals will choose another Good Shepherd. I am sure that many other Christians will also be praying for us, so that Christian cooperation will continue and be strengthened. And we all seek the prayers of all people of good will, from the other great religious traditions, from all people of good will. In today’s gospel Jesus explained that he has come, not to rob or kill or destroy, but that all may have life, life in abundance. And finally I ask the parishioners of this parish of Santa Maria Domenica Mazzarello to pray for their own priests here, Don Giuseppe and his assistants, their own good shepherds, and pray that many young men will follow their example in the priesthood. + George Cardinal Pell Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese "A lot of people find it quite attractive to be conservative" Apr 17, 2005 Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia, met the press in a room at Vatican Radio shortly after the Oct. 21 consistory. He's a favorite of journalists because he is neither a diplomat nor a spin doctor, but a man with strong conservative views who states them clearly. He is always, in other words, "good copy." (National Catholic Reporter, Oct 23 2003) On this day, the solemnity of the occasion left Pell a bit more sober and restrained than normal, but he still struck many of his characteristic themes. Pell noted the challenges of secularization, a slow erosion of Church practice, and the spread of "neo-paganism" -- "easy, slack rules on sexuality, treating the question of God as irrelevant, little regard for the family or for clear moral teachings." Pell suggested that fidelity is the key to success in meeting these challenges. "Those religious communities who preach the message of Jesus Christ more clearly and strongly, who have real service and who create genuine community are doing better than those with a more liberal or radical approach," Pell said. Pell was asked if his elevation as a cardinal was a vindication of his conservative views. "I hope my creation as cardinal will give encouragement and hope to New Testament people within the Catholic Church and outside it, other Christians, who are struggling to order their lives in line with what the Christian apostolic tradition recommends," he said. A reporter asked Pell about his role on liturgical issues as head of the Vox Clara Commission, an advisory body to the Congregation for Divine Worship. "I hope that future translations will be faithful to the principles of Liturgiam Authenticam," Pell said, referring to a May 2001 document that called for translations to be more faithful to Latin originals. "At the same time, it's important that they be beautiful." In that regard, Pell said he hopes that the new translation of the Roman Missal, or the book of prayers for the Mass, will be ready "closer to two years from now, rather than three, four or five." Pell was pressed as to whether his conservative vision could be attractive to young people. "A lot of people find it quite attractive to be conservative," Pell replied. "But setting that aside," he said, "it's difficult for a Bible-based Catholic not to be conservative, because our teachings come from the preaching given 2,000 years ago, and they have not changed." Pell said fidelity to this tradition comes at a cost. "You have to take up your cross, but it works," he said. I asked Pell about the current crisis within Anglicanism over the appointment of an openly gay bishop. Pell replied that it has "significant consequences," but despite that, dialogue and common prayer with Anglicans must go on. He said the turmoil also illustrates the value of a strong papacy, since the pope "is able to act when there isn't a clear consensus." Asked about a pope from the developing world, he said he would be surprised if within 50-100 years there isn't a pope from Latin America. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Energetic conservative Apr 17, 2005 The Australian Cardinal George Pell, 62, Archbishop of Sydney, is an energetic conservative who relishes battles with liberals and pagans of all stripes. (The Tablet, 23 April 2005) Cardinal Pell has refused Communion to practising homosexuals who declared their sexuality by wearing a rainbow sash, and has co-authored a work opposing women priests. An admirer of Pope John Paul II, as Archbishop of Melbourne he co-authored a religious education book that caused an uproar when it was adopted as the new draft syllabus for Catholic schools in the state of Victoria. An imposing six-foot-four, Cardinal Pell was tipped for professional football before seminary intervened. He has a theology degree from Rome, a master's from Melbourne, and a doctorate from Oxford, and his posts in Rome include the CDF and currently Vox Clara. He told a press conference on Tuesday that a future Pope could be Latin-American or African "sooner than you think". If he were like John Paul II, Cardinal Pell would be delighted. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Italian paper rates Pell for Pope Apr 14, 2005 While bookies are rating Australia's Cardinal George Pell as a long shot for Catholicism's top job, an Italian newspaper has picked him as one of its 18 frontrunners to replace Pope John Paul II. (The Age, April 13, 2005) Il Giornale, a national newspaper owned by the brother of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, praised Dr Pell's communications skills and wide travel in a feature on its 18 papal favourites, The Australian newspaper said today. "The Archbishop of Sydney, George Pell, is the portrait of an outsider and punters looking for a surprise win mustn't disregard this athletic ex-football player, a born fighter on whom John Paul II depended a great deal and who is well regarded by bishops the world over," the newspaper said. Il Giornale described Dr Pell as a great traveller with great communications skills who had emerged "immaculate" from allegations in 2002 that he had sexually abused a Victorian child 40 years ago. Bookmakers had Dr Pell as a long shot, with the Northern Territory's sportingbet.com.au putting him at odds of 101:1 and Irish bookmaker paddypower.com putting him at 50:1, The Australian said. Some 115 of the church's cardinals will meet in the Sistine Chapel on Monday for a conclave to pick a new pope to replace Polish-born John Paul who died on April 2 aged 84 after a 26-year reign. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Is There Only One Secular Democracy? Apr 12, 2005 Democracy is never unqualified. We are used to speaking of “liberal democracy”, which as currently understood is a synonym for “secular democracy”. In Europe there are parties advocating “Christian Democracy”. Lately there has been interest in the possibility of “Islamic democracy.” These descriptors do not simply refer to how democracy might be constituted, but to the moral vision democracy is intended to serve. By George Cardinal Pell. (acton.org, October 13, 2004) This is especially true in the case of secular democracy, which some insist is intended to serve no moral vision at all. But as Pope John Paul II argues “the value of democracy stands or falls with the values which it embodies and promotes.” Democracy is not a good in itself. Its value is instrumental and depends on the vision it serves. An attempt is sometimes made to evade this point by drawing a distinction between procedural and normative democracy. Procedural democracy’s claims are minimalist: democracy should be regarded as nothing more than a mechanism for regulating different interests on a purely empirical basis. To speak of normative democracy, however, especially if one is a Catholic bishop, is to provoke panic in some quarters and derision in others. Many things underlie this response, not least certain ideological convictions about secularism. But most important of all is a failure of imagination. Democracy can only be what it is now: a constant series of “breakthroughs” against social taboo in pursuit of the individual’s absolute autonomy. George Cardinal Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney. But think for a moment what it means to say that there can be no other form of democracy than secular democracy. Does democracy need a burgeoning billion-dollar pornography industry to be truly democratic? Does it need an abortion rate in the tens of millions? Does it need high levels of marriage breakdown, with the growing rates of family dysfunction that come with them? Does democracy (as in Holland’s case) need legalized euthanasia, extending to children under the age of 12? Does democracy need assisted reproductive technology (such as IVF) and embryonic stem cell research? Does democracy really need these things? What would democracy look like if you took some of these things out of the picture? Would it cease to be democracy? Or would it actually become more democratic? These are the things by which secular democracy defines itself and stakes its ground against other possibilities. They are not merely epiphenomena of freedom of speech, movement, and opportunity. The alarm with which many treat people in public life who are opposed to these things often implies that that they are a danger to democracy. This over-reaction is of course a bluff, an attempt to silence opposition almost suggesting that these practices are essential to democracy. If we think about the answers to the questions above we begin to have an inkling about what a form of democracy other than secular democracy might look like, an alternative I call “democratic personalism.” It means nothing more than democracy founded on the transcendent dignity of the human person. Transcendence directs us to our dependence on others and our dependence on God. And dependence is how we know the reality of transcendence. There is nothing undemocratic about bringing this truth into our reflections about our political arrangements. Placing democracy on this basis does not mean theocracy. To re-found democracy on our need for others, and our need to make a gift of ourselves to them, is to bring a whole new form of democracy into being. Democratic personalism is perhaps the last alternative to secular democracy still possible within Western culture as it is presently configured. From outside Western culture, of course, come other possibilities. It is still very early in the piece, of course, but the small but growing conversion of native Westerners within Western societies to Islam carries the suggestion that Islam may provide in the twenty-first century the attraction which communism provided in the twentieth, both for those who are alienated or embittered on the one hand, and for those who seek order or justice on the other. So alternatives are required. The recrudescence of intolerant religion is not a problem that secular democracy can resolve, but rather a problem that it tends to engender. The past century provided examples enough of how the emptiness within secular democracy can be filled with darkness by political substitutes for religion. Democratic personalism provides another, better possibility; one that does not require democracy to cancel itself out. Democratic personalism does not mean seizing power to pursue a project of world transformation, but broadening the imagination of democratic culture so that it can rediscover hope, and re-establish freedom in truth and the common good. It is a work of persuasion and evangelization, more than political activism. Its priority is culture rather than politics, and the transformation of politics through re-vivifying culture. It is also about salvation - not least of all the salvation of democracy itself. George Cardinal Pell is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Australia. This is an edited version of an address delivered at the Acton Institute annual dinner in Grand Rapids, Mich., on October 12, 2004. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Interview with Cardinal George Pell Apr 09, 2005 Whatever your religion - or even lack of one - the death of Pope John Paul II has clearly been the biggest show around this week. As Dateline goes to air tonight, hundreds of thousands of mourners are still lining up in St Peter's Basilica in Rome to pay their respects. But does the amazing global outpouring of emotion necessarily signal a healthy Catholic Church? Late last night, George Negus caught up with the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, at the Vatican itself. April 06, 2005. [fett]GEORGE NEGUS:[fett] Cardinal, thanks very much for your time because I realise these are incredibly busy times for you and the Church at the moment. This whole situation has seen enormous media coverage throughout the world. Is this an indication of just how powerful the Church is at the moment or do you think it was probably because he was such a charismatic pope? [fett]CARDINAL GEORGE PELL: [fett] I think both facts but undoubtedly the second fact is enormously important. He was an extraordinarily charismatic figure. [fett]GEORGE NEGUS:[fett] As an outsider to the Catholic Church, it appears to someone like myself that there were almost two Pope John Paul II's. There was this man who was incredibly conservative on social issues, domestic Church issues - like celibacy, like abortion, like birth control, like marriage, married priests, like AIDS, like homosexuality, that was one Pope John Paul II. The other Pope John Paul II was this man who was very aggressive on the international stage. He's opposed the war in Iraq. He's said that the pre-emptive strikes are not morally justifiable, etc. He's spoken out against the Third World debt. He's campaigned against racism and world poverty. So there were - he was almost a schizoid figure and I use that term advisedly. [fett]CARDINAL GEORGE PELL: [fett] No, no, not at all. He was a typically Catholic figure. As a Catholic, we don't judge things in the categories of many people who don't belong to our tradition or don't have any faith. So he brought a very coherent package based on human dignity, the linkage, especially, between truth and freedom, the maintenance of the Catholic tradition, and bringing freedom to people so that they can practise their religion and make their choices in public life. [fett]GEORGE NEGUS: [fett] I notice in press here that you said that the door on radical reform of the Church was closed and that you hoped that the successor to Pope John Paul II would not be a reformist. Do you believe that it needs to be a, if you like, conservative pope that succeeds him? [fett]CARDINAL GEORGE PELL: [fett] Well, I don't think I used quite the words described. The new pope will bring different perspectives but will be within the general line or orientation of Pope John Paul II. [fett]GEORGE NEGUS: [fett] Not a reformist in other words? [fett]CARDINAL GEORGE PELL: [fett] Well, the last Pope changed lots of things so it's very possible that the next pope, as every pope brings something new and different, there will be changes. We have to change to keep up with things. [fett]GEORGE NEGUS: [fett] Let's say for argument's sake that the next pope, his successor, was to arrive on the scene in the Vatican and say that he in fact supported - supports in fact the American invasion of Iraq. Wouldn't that leave the world with a couple of million, at least, very confused Catholics to have the previous Pope opposed to something like that and then his successor to say he was actually in favour of it? [fett]CARDINAL GEORGE PELL: [fett] Well you see the Church is not primarily a political organisation. We're a religious organisation. There's a much greater opportunity... [fett]GEORGE NEGUS: [fett] If I interrupt, Pope John Paul could hardly be described as an apolitical pope. [fett]CARDINAL GEORGE PELL: [fett] No, but he certainly wasn't primarily a political pope. That's one of the parado Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese A fair world built on Man's transcendent dignity Apr 09, 2005 Cardinal George Pell talks about how the Church should come to terms with the secular world: These days Christians prefer “to work mightily” not to think of death or what life might be like after death. (Times Online, April 09, 2005) So says Cardinal George Pell, leader of the 600,000 Roman Catholics in Sydney, Australia. He could hardly have imagined that his words, in his book Be Not Afraid, would be published in the week when he and the other 116 cardinals would be summoned to Rome to bury Pope John Paul II and choose his successor. Although the Cardinal might be considered papabile himself — the bookmakers Paddy Power have him at 40-1, and history shows that the favourites rarely emerge as victors from the conclave — he is more likely to play a role in determining whether the papacy goes to a Latin American or a European. The votes of the two cardinals from Australia and New Zealand are considered crucial by the lobbying groups already campaigning discreetly in the Eternal City. In many respects Pell epitomises the legacy of John Paul, but, like some of his brother bishops in the developing world, he is also a frontiersman. He is great-grandson of one of the first British colonists in Dunedin, New Zealand, whose son moved to Melbourne and then Western Australia in the 1890s. Pell’s father was a heavyweight boxing champion who worked in the mining industry and then took over the Royal Oak Hotel in Ballarat, where Pell grew up. Pell senior, an Anglican, was dismayed when the young George said he was going to train for the priesthood. He told a local nun his son might just as well have been a “bloody dill” but added: “You probably don’t want dills, do you?” Over the years his views changed, as he witnessed the beneficial effect of the Catholic Church on his family. Cardinal Pell is open to popular culture. In his book he praises Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings as a “masterpiece” and the film as a “classic”, lauding it as deeply spiritual and hope-inspiring. The Harry Potter books, he says, contain a “good dose of moral truth” as well as being “a great yarn”. But just because Pell is capable of the accessible “bon mot” and can see spiritual messages in secular contexts, does not mean that he has an uncritical view of the modern world. John Paul II was profoundly disappointed when the people of the newly liberated Eastern bloc failed to fill the communist-shaped spiritual vacuum with the Christian God and embraced capitalism, consumerism and all the modern mores that the Church is so set against — and Pell emerges as a priest fitted to take up his sword and crusade on this account. He cites John Paul’s writings with approval in Be Not Afraid — singling out for special praise Novo Millennio Ineunte, the Pope’s apostolic letter for the beginning of this millennium. Pell outlined some of his own thinking in a recent address in Michigan entitled Is there only secular democracy? Imagining other possibilities for the third millennium. Doubts about democracy are harboured by senior cardinals throughout the Church, and a cynic might wonder by what system, if not communism, fascism or democracy, should the world be governed in the eyes of the Catholic Church. The answer, the cynic suspects, is the Church itself or, in effect, theocracy. But that is not what Pell is proposing. He commented on a society where television has broadcast, with little adverse comment, programmes such as one where people were shown with animals as their intimate partners. He also referred to the widening chasm between world and Church on issues such as contraception. The point he was making was that “for secular militants today democracy, more than anything else, means that anything is possible. Freedom today, in its everyday sense, means the limitlessness of possibility: whatever you want, whatever you like, you can do it”. Pell acknowledges the need, voiced already by the likes of the American theologian George Weigel, for a Catholic theory of democracy. “Having a name for this alternative form of democracy would obviously be useful,” he says. “While ‘Catholic democracy’ has some slight appeal for me personally, I don’t think it would help us to corner the market.” His system would be called “democratic personalism”, built on the Pope’s call for recognition of “the transcendent dignity of the human person”. While this clumsy term is unlikely to catch on, Pell is in line with the Pope — and millions of others — in his concerns about the long-term effects of life lived without the transcendent. Speaking to The Times before the Pope became ill, Pell said politics was a matter for lay people. The obligation of bishops and priests was to speak out on the moral dimension of public issues. The Christian churches must dialogue with the world around them. The Pope had got it right, he said. “His basic diagnosis of the Western world was correct. I would hope that line would continue. A new pope will bring new approaches and new perspectives. That is one of the advantages of having new popes, new bishops, new cardinals. But the person of Christ is at the centre of our understanding of faith.” Pell finds the appellation “conservative” unhelpful. The Pope’s strong anti-war stance and his concern for the poor made him more of a socialist than many who call themselves socialists. And although he might not term it such, he supports the Pope’s theological conservatism. While acknowledging the need for the Church to adapt to the modern world, he believes this process has been used as a “Trojan horse” by enemies of the Gospel in Western churches: “Everywhere in the Western world, practising Christians are a minority. The danger is we will be swamped by the neo-paganism around us, just as the Jews in the time of the Maccabees were threatened by Greek culture.” While the Second Vatican Council saw the Church embark on a dialogue with the world, he believes it was over-confident of its ability to influence the world. By contrast, he says, the world has erupted into the Christian churches, as seen most clearly in the Anglican Church’s struggles over homosexuality. Like the Pope, he sees the answer in reaching the young, and in Sydney he is achieving modest success in programmes to do this. At 63 he is young compared to many of his colleagues. He is handsome, media friendly and a regular newspaper columnist, a sportsman and soccer player like John Paul II. He is orthodox where it counts but also in touch with modern mores. He is probably too young to be a serious contender this time, as few want another 26-year papacy — cardinals may continue until they are 80 but Popes carry on unto death. Before the last conclave, few would have guessed that the Holy Spirit would guide the cardinals to choose a Polish Pope. The Australian might yet be destined to be Pope, but it is as a pope maker that he remains a man to be watched. Be Not Afraid by Cardinal George Pell (Gracewing, £12.99) Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell offers assistance Apr 09, 2005 Cardinal Pell has offered assistance to Dr Hewitt-Gleeson. The Cardinal said today that Dr Hewitt-Gleeson's allegations against the ethics of the Salesian order are taken most seriously. (Source unknown, 3 August 2004) He explained that while he has no jurisdiction over the Salesian order, as Archbishop of Sydney he is ultimately responsible for all church matters in the Sydney archdiocese. In a personal message to Dr Hewitt-Gleeson the Cardinal said: I would encourage you strongly to contact the Towards Healing contact line in Victoria on 1800 816 030 if you would like to make a formal complaint. Alternatively you may wish to take this matter to the police. A few days earlier, Michael Hewitt-Gleeson had aken the first step in a campaign to force the Catholic order of Salesian priests and brothers to speak out about the brutalisation of generations of students at their notorious college, Rupertswood, in Sunbury, by launching a stinging attack in The Age on the ethics of the order. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Women will not be ordained "in any lifetime" Apr 08, 2005 After a silent protest yesterday outside Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral by the group Ordination of Catholic Women, Cardinal George Pell said that women will not be ordained "in any lifetime". (Sydney Morning Herald, 21 Mar 2005) Cardinal Pell made the statement to the Sydney Morning Herald, which reports today that "about a dozen protesters, men and women wearing the purple stole, the international symbol for women's ordination, watched in silence as the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, led the Palm Sunday procession at St Mary's Cathedral". The silence was in accord with Pope John Paul II's 1994 ban on debate of the issue within the church. The group told the Herald that no Australian woman has ever defied the papal ban, "but this is not for want of women who want to be ordained". This morning's report says that the 1999 Australian bishops' report on women's participation in the church found strong opposition to the Pope's decree on women's ordination. The report led to the formation of the Bishops' Commission for Australian Catholic Women (CACW). But the Commission's task is to foster a more even gender balance within the Church, not women's ordination. To this end, it is joining the Diocese of Cairns in the sponsoring of next month's National Conference for Women Leaders of Catholic Church Agencies. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Democracy must change to counter Islam Nov 17, 2004 Islam could be the communism of the 21st century if the West does not reform its secular democracy, Australia's leading Catholic has said in a speech in the United States. (The Age, November 12, 2004) Cardinal George Pell said secular liberal democracy was empty and selfish, and Islam was emerging as an alternative world view. In a wide-ranging speech which also attacked his critics for suggesting conservative Christians were a danger to democracy, Dr Pell said communism had showed how the emptiness of the secular approach could be filled with something darker. "The small but growing conversion of native Westerners within Western societies to Islam carries the suggestion that Islam may provide in the 21st century the attraction which communism provided in the 20th, both for those who are alienated or embittered on the one hand, and for those who seek order or justice on the other," he said. Dr Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney, told the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty last month that secular democracy could not solve the rise of intolerant religion, but worsened it. He said democracy was not a good in itself. Its value depended on the moral vision it served. "The past century provided examples enough of how the emptiness within secular democracy can be filled with darkness by political substitutes for religion." Dr Pell said the "democratic personalism" he advocated, based on the dignity of the person, was the last alternative to secular democracy available to the West. He said for a Catholic bishop to speak this way inspired panic and derision in those who had ideological convictions about secularism. Their over-reaction was a bluff, an attempt to silence opposition. He asked: "Does democracy need a burgeoning billion-dollar pornography industry to be truly democratic? Does it need an abortion rate in the tens of millions? "What would democracy look like if you took some of these things out of the picture? Would it cease to be democracy? Or would it actually become more democratic?" Democratic personalism did not mean seizing power, he said, but broadening the imagination. "It is a work of persuasion and evangelisation, more than political activism... It is also about salvation - not least of all the salvation of democracy itself." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Australia's Cardinal Says Catholics are Rallying Worldwide Oct 17, 2004 Cardinal George Pell came this week to Kalamazoo from Mexico, where he braved an earthquake and spoke to the Eucharistical Congress. (kalamazoogazette.com, October 16, 2004) While in southwestern Michigan, Pell spoke during the Newman Seminar lecture series in Kalamazoo and at the annual dinner of the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty in Grand Rapids. In an interview before he spoke to the groups, Pell touched on a range of subjects, from the need to learn more about Islam to the state of Pope John Paul II's health. "The pope is certainly sick and feeble and it has often been stated that he has Parkinson's Disease," Pell said. "But with modern medicines, people with Parkinson's can live for many years." As for the legacy of the current pope, he said, "He has done extraordinary things. He has been able to diagnose what is going on in the world and to offer a Catholic response to it." Quiet but controversial The cardinal has an impressive biography. He gave up a chance to play professional Australian Rules Football to study for the priesthood. A lumbering man with a shy but forceful demeanor, he earned a doctorate in philosophy from Oxford University and had many pastoral assignments in his homeland before being named a bishop in 1987. Pell became and archbishop in 1996 and was elevated to cardinal a year ago. He is a source of controversy as well. He has refused in Australia to give communion to militant homosexuals. He also has been outspoken on pre-marital sex, abortion and contraception, as well as subjects such as euthanasia and illegal drug use. His biggest concern, he says, is how "secularism is biting into Catholic practices. The traditional agencies of family, parish and school are not as effective as they once were." Capitalism, he said, has brought unprecedented prosperity to people around the globe. But this same economic system has made the gap between the rich and the poor wider. As a way to fight against social forces that dilute the significance of the family and spread a message of material instead of spiritual gain, Catholics in many places are rallying. New movements of Catholics are popping up in countries such as Spain and Italy in order to support one another against the march of secularism, Pell said. These lay people are returning to the basics of prayer, penance and service to others as a way to hold onto their faith. At the same time the family is under siege, the world is seeing a clash between Christianity and Islam. "This is of enormous significance," the cardinal said. "There is an overwhelming priority to dialogue with the modern Muslim leadership. We especially need to encourage them in their struggle with the violent fundamentalism" that is expressed by some members of the faith. Currently, he said, there are significant tensions in Africa as both Christianity and Islam spread and pick up members. Looking elsewhere in the world, Pell pointed to China where he sees "Christianity spreading like it did in pagan times. This will be one of the great mission fields of the next century." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell Bans Liberal Catholic Conference Sept 16, 2004 The annual conference of the group, Australian Reforming Catholics, was to have gone ahead next month at McKillop Place at North Sydney, a venue run by the Sisters of St Joseph. (AM, 16 September 2004) The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell has banned a group of liberal Catholics from conducting a conference on church property. The annual conference of the group, Australian Reforming Catholics, was to have gone ahead next month at McKillop Place at North Sydney, a venue run by the Sisters of St Joseph. On learning of the gathering, Cardinal Pell is said to have ordered two Sydney priests not to attend and moved to prevent the Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn Pat Power celebrating mass at the conference. Bishop Power is talking here to AM's Nick Grimm. NICK GRIMM: Bishop Pat Power, as a senior member of the Catholic Church in Australia, are you surprised that this conference has been banned from church premises in this way? Bishop PAT POWER: At one level I am, because we're not really a terribly powerful group and they are a group of people who are trying to give expression to the hopes and aspirations of a group of Catholics that probably are representative of a lot of other people. But certainly they are people that are somewhat on the edges. But I can understand why they might make Cardinal Pell feel a little bit nervous. NICK GRIMM: Now, what has been the response from Cardinal Pell's office? PAT POWER: Well, two of the priests who were to speak at it, who are from the Sydney Diocese, have been asked from him to withdraw from the program. He wrote to me and told me that he would not give me permission to say mass with that group in his diocese. NICK GRIMM: And he's also banned the use of church premises for the gathering? Bishop PAT POWER: Yes, that's the other thing too, yes. It was to have been held at the Sisters of St Josephs at North Sydney. He's directed the sisters not to allow that to happen neither. NICK GRIMM: Why do you think he's done that? PAT POWER: Well, basically I think because of his dissatisfaction with some of the participants in the conference and I'd say particularly the rainbow sash people, and they're the ones that are homosexual people, and also probably the ordination of women people as well. NICK GRIMM: Okay, was any official reason given? Bishop PAT POWER: He just told me that he would not give me permission to say mass for that group in that diocese. NICK GRIMM: So what's going to happen now, Bishop Power? Bishop PAT POWER: I understand that the conference is still going to proceed, but at different and non-Church premises and I've indicated to the group that I'm not able to say mass for them. I was going to attend the conference in a participatory way, but not to actually contribute to the group, but just really to go to listen to what was being said, but I'm not able to do that now. NICK GRIMM: And Bishop Pat Power, how would you characterize Cardinal George Pell's reaction to this? Bishop PAT POWER: I think it probably represents what he believes to be his responsibility towards the Church, to see that Orthodox teaching is consistently presented. I think it really is unfortunate because in many ways we are limiting what it means to be a Catholic and I think more and more people are being excluded from the life of the Church. I believe it's important too that we listen to those voices. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell On Mel Gibson’s Film 'The Passion of Christ' Sept 11, 2004 A strange thing happened this Easter.  Mel Gibson was applauded by many Christian leaders across Australia, even by those who had been silent about the film and by one or two who had refused to see it. By Cardinal George Pell. (sydney.catholic.org.au, 18 April 2004) Reactions to the film were not only various, but contradictory even among Christians. In the U.S.A. anti-religious forces disguised their early hostility by claiming the film was anti-Semitic.  They feared that it would be as effective religiously as it has proved to be.  Certainly too there was a genuine fear that the film would be used by anti-Semites. Predictably those who hate Christianity hated the film.  Others refused to go because they object to so much violence, even when it serves a good purpose.  Their position is understandable and to be respected. One person told me she would not go because she saw in Jesus’ suffering the effects of her sins.  She found every Good Friday service a strain for the same reason.  While she might be urged to stronger belief in God’s forgiveness, her position is also understandable. Some traditional Protestants with their hostility to statues, religious pictures and relics quite logically extended these attitudes to a film about the passion, which was also strongly eucharistic and gave Mary a prominent place. A selection of Catholic viewpoints illustrates the fundamental tension among Christians today and helps explain different Christian reactions to the film.  The more “liberal” the Christians the more likely they are to reject the film.  Those in favour were more likely to reflect the new de-facto alliance on many issues of “bible” Christians in every denomination. One U.S. Catholic professor believed the film gives the wrong answer to the question of why God became man.  The atonement theory needs to be replaced.  Another Catholic writer believed the Passion cannot be called a Christian film by portraying violence against Jesus as a central concern of the Christian faith.  Others found it too negative, too centred on suffering, while one Australian theologian affirmed that there is no deep meaning in Jesus’ passion and death, nothing to be gained from picturing it in our minds. What is at work here?  For some Christianity is no longer personal, about faith in God and his Son, about prayer, repentance and forgiveness.  It is a programme of policies, some good e.g. social justice, some bad e.g. too many “noes” on sex. Others believe in Jesus, perhaps in his divinity, but want a God of creation, positive, not a redeemer.  To quote a famous Protestant critique, they want a creed where “a God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgement through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross”. This brand of Christianity is false to the New Testament and has no young followers.  Nor is it found in Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell Welcomes Muslim Cleric at St Mary’s Cathedral for Interfaith Prayer Service Sept 11, 2004 Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, will welcome Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf to St Mary’s Cathedral for an Interfaith Prayer Service on Thursday 1 April 2004 at 12 noon. By Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese 30 March 2004. Cardinal Pell and Imam Feisal will then offer prayers for peace. Cardinal Pell says “One of the ambitions of Pope John Paul II is to encourage dialogue between mainstream and moderate Muslims, particularly with Catholics, but also with all Christians and all people of good will. For this reason Imam Feisal is welcome at St Mary’s Cathedral. “He has an interesting set of views and we look forward to hearing more from him. “The stakes are very high. In our own small way we are talking about war or peace. Our Catholic and Christian faith compels us to work for peace.” Imam Feisal is visiting Sydney at the invitation of Premier Bob Carr who will also be in attendance at the Interfaith Prayer Service. The Interfaith Prayer Service will commence at 12 noon. Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Thou shalt not Sept 11, 2004 The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, the man widely described as the "bully bishop from central casting", now promises to be tougher on questions of morality. But he will try to do it with kindness. (The Bulletin, 03/03/2004) Wishy-washy is not the way most people would describe His Eminence George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, recent recipient of the red cardinal’s hat which marks him as a prince of the Church and member of the Pope’s inner sanctum. Conservative, yes, and hardline. A lightning rod for controversy. Unyielding on theology and unforgiving on morality, a reputation he cemented when Archbishop of Melbourne by repeatedly refusing communion to homosexual activists. So, wishy-washy? Who says? George Pell, actually. He uses the phrase twice over lunch: the first time, to convey a sense of how he’ll look to many of the younger Catholic clergy coming after him (“they’ll be much tougher in their approach than I am ... they’ll make me look a bit wishy--washy, small liberal”) and the second time, when he’s struggling to explain the impact of being falsely accused of -sexually molesting a 12-year-old boy when he, Pell, was a student priest 40 years ago. It was a terrible charge that hit like a bombshell in August 2002 and Pell stood down immediately until cleared two months later. “I don’t think you can go through an experience like that without being changed to some extent. I’m not sure I can spell it out but I might be a -little more clear-headed about some of the things that are important, and I might be a little bit – when I think the chips are down – I might be a little bit more determined.” Pressed to explain, he says: “I hope I wasn’t too wishy-washy in the past but, you know, when clear issues are at stake, I think I would be less hesitant than I ever was to back off ... I think I’m just saying that more than ever, if I felt that something important was at stake, neither hell nor high water would shift me.” The idea of Pell being more determined, even tougher-minded than he was before the scandal, evokes a certain nervousness. Muscular Christianity scarcely begins to describe his style. Signed as a professional footballer before he joined the priesthood, it’s said that when he was sent as rector to Corpus Christi College, Melbourne, in the mid-1980s, determined to drive out liberalism and restore sound orthodox practice, a couple of the seminarians at his first meetings burst into tears. The arguments he stated then and subsequently – that the church was not “a free-thinking group of do-gooders”, that no organisation could survive “Alice-in--Wonderland individualism” but must follow, precisely, the teachings of the Pope – would not seem to require much strengthening. Pell says today he would like to see Christian moral teaching, already part of the curriculum in Catholic schools – the receipients of substantial federal government largesse this week – extended to the state-school curriculum. But he falls short of a direct call for its inclusion. “Can you imagine the explosion if you did?” I ask. “Yes,” he says, dryly. “I certainly could.” All pretty clear, really. But be alert and sinners be alarmed: there is more. “I’m publishing a collection of my sermons over the past 40 years,” the cardinal says, “and in going through them one of the things that struck me, and I think it’s a failing, is how little I’ve preached on morality, let alone sexual morality, in my Sunday sermons.” I’m somewhat astounded by this claim of omission since, over the course of our pasta and wine, Pell has been more than forthcoming with his views on sexual matters. Nor would they surprise many Catholics, being utterly in tune with Vatican orthodoxy on the subject, to wit: “We’d say that homosexual activity is one type of sexual activity of which the Church does not approve. Heterosexual adultery, the Church doesn’t approve. Pre-marriage sex between a man and a woman, the Church doesn’t approve.” It is not the sin, but wilful persistence in the sin, which is the key issue. Which brings us to the sad and painful case of the cardinal’s sinning cousin. Her name is Monica Hingston, a former Catholic nun who spent 10 years working in the slums of Chile and now lives in Victoria with her lesbian partner, also a former nun. She recently sent a poignant letter to Pell, beseeching him to recognise her individual rights after a Vatican edict that same-sex marriages were gravely immoral and should be outlawed. “My partner and I have just celebrated 19 years together,” she wrote. “To read that the Vatican has declared us to be ‘seriously depraved persons’ has appalled and angered me. Synonyms for depraved are ‘corrupt’, ‘debased’, ‘vicious’, ‘vile’ ... It is hard to imagine you would be able to look me in the eye and tell me any of these -adjectives could truthfully describe me.” She wrote twice to the cardinal, without getting a reply. Hingston then released the letter to a newspaper. Pell has not discussed the matter before but says now the reason for his lack of response – apart from inertia – was that: “I couldn’t think of anything I might say that could placate her or make the situation better. Sometimes, rather than have an argument, it’s better to say -nothing, and I didn’t want an argument.” He says the Vatican statement was not that they were depraved but their actions were depraved. That his own position on homosexuality is well known. “I thought I had nowhere to go. I thought the letter was crafted so I had nowhere to go.” I say she’s his cousin, a person who devoted 26 years of her life to the Church. She wanted his blessing. He replies: “But I can’t – I can bless them as persons, I can encourage them to do better in their weakness but I cannot bless their wrongdoing, any more then I could bless my own wrongdoing.” Was it hard for him? He doesn’t seem unduly distressed. “No, because I think it would make a difficult situation infinitely worse if we did OK that sort of behaviour. I mean I really believe in marriage, the family; a man and a woman and kids. I think it’s built into nature, I think it’s far and away the best delivery system for the next generation and I believe it’s certainly part of Judaeo-Christian teaching. I mean I know the anguish ... I feel for them. But I can’t say what’s wrong is right.” The knee-jerk response to that, the utterly human response is, why not? Isn’t kindness, too, a moral virtue? But it is not the point. The Catholic Church is kind, the cardinal says, pointing to its hospitals, schools and hostels for HIV sufferers. It supports those who struggle but fall short. But it must give no quarter to those who challenge its standards; that would be false teaching. And false teaching, the cardinal says, represents the greatest long-term danger to the Church; more, even, than “the terrible crimes of weakness and passion or even cruelty that Christians might have committed”. This is saying something, given the massive and ugly extent of those crimes: the persistent sexual abuse of children by priests, the cover-up at the most senior levels of the Church hierarchy. To Pell, the scandal proves his argument about the fundamental need to distinguish right from wrong. “Because when we’re tempted, when a person is tempted – especially in sexual matters that concern themselves – the likelihood that you will reinterpret what the regulations are to suit yourself are enormous, that’s just human nature ... whereas if you have clear ideas of what’s right and wrong you should be better placed to do the right thing.” One could – as many have, through this long, corrosive stream of revelations – question the priest’s role as God’s messenger, the potential for corruption that comes with that power, even the concept of celibacy itself. One might puzzle over a church that points to the mote in a sinner’s eye while a steel girder protrudes from its own. But Pell says the structure of his church cannot be blamed, the celibacy ruling is not open to challenge, and while true believers may feel hurt and betrayed by this “major scandal” they will not lose their faith. “The real damage has been done amongst the people who were already a bit hostile to the Church, or people who were on the edge of the Church and weren’t quite sure whether it was the real thing or not.” Certainty is Pell’s strong suit. He carries Truth like a banner behind which all may gather, even wrongdoers (if sincerely repentant) provided they accept it is an absolute truth, interpreted by Rome and unsullied by individual conscience. He could not put it more simply: “I think that if you sign up to be a Christian, you accept what are the basic teachings. If there are enough of them you can’t accept, then I suppose you could say, ‘Well, I’m not a Christian’.” He is courteous, learned and, by some reports, compassionate. When he travelled to Rome for his elevation as cardinal, some 90 friends and family accompanied him, suggesting a strong capacity to inspire. Yet his appointment was criticised publicly by a brother Australian bishop, and The Canberra Times editorialised: “George Pell is the quintessential cleric of the old school, down to his coldness, the moral certainty, the lack of human empathy and the complete want of any pastoral hand.” It’s cruel but gets all the central objections in one sentence. He could be Pope one day. Highly unlikely, of course; Pell has joked that his chances are as high as a country racehorse winning the Melbourne Cup and that the ailing pontiff’s successor (after death, he doesn’t expect a resignation) will come either from Latin America or, perhaps, Africa. Still, he agrees: “If you’re Catholic, and male, and a bishop and a cardinal, it’s possible.” He would not refuse. The fault most commonly attributed to Pell is that he is a bully. He sums it up himself: “The bully bishop from central casting.” It recurs pointedly in his biography, coming from different people at different stages of his career, and is a charge he denies emphatically. “I mean, my style of playing football might have been a bit exuberant, so I’ll leave the football to one side – but one of the things I’ve strived for very conscientiously is to treat people justly ... when you’re big and you’ve got a deep voice you can come across like that but I try very, very hard not to mistreat people – very, very hard – and I wouldn’t plead guilty to too much wrongdoing on that score at all.” Like all church leaders, of all denominations, he expresses lively concern at low rates of church attendance (only 16% to 18% of Australian Catholics go to church). But when I ask him if the perceived rigidity of his church is part of the problem, if a gentler, more pastoral approach might not win back congregations and is he prepared to consider that, he replies briskly: “I think you’re mixing your categories. One is the category of clear teaching and another is how you deal with people. And please God, I strive very hard to be kind to people, and pastoral, and certainly all our agencies do that. But I was looking at the scripture readings for next Sunday and one of them is from St Paul. He says, you know, we have no warrant to change one jot or tittle of what Christ has taught us ... on central sorts of things we haven’t changed, and we can’t change.” All this plays to the familiar picture of Pell as an ultra-conservative, especially when he complains about the lack of emphasis these days on hellfire and brimstone, tempting Australian Catholics to disbelieve that evil will be punished in the afterlife. It will, he says, and “unless there is that niggle there, as to whether you are going to be with the sheep or with the goats, the whole thing becomes a little bit less interesting, a little bit less dramatic, and less personal.” Yet Pell is more than his stereotype. More than 20 years ago, he came out in favour of the republic and predicted “an increasing percentage of Australians will see the British monarchy not simply as irrelevant but also as not being in the best interests of Australia”. He describes the modern market as intrinsically hostile to families and children. His concerns about the coarsening of public sensibilities, his emphasis on values, is implicit in today’s political debate and explicit in the work of former Australian of the Year, child health specialist Professor Fiona Stanley: “and she can’t be dismissed as an old-fashioned Catholic Archbishop lamenting the decline of Christian marriage”. So when Pell talks about upping the ante, of becoming tougher-minded, this is the battleground he’ll be fighting on – whether you call it “values”, or, as he prefers, “Christian moral teaching”. In this sense, the times would seem to be absolutely right for someone such as George Pell; the question being whether he is right for the times. l Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Cardinal Pell Defends Right of Catholic Schools to Discriminate Sept 11, 2004 A left-liberal think tank, the Australia Institute, based in Canberra, has called for the removal of protection from Catholic schools which they accuse of "discrimination." CANBERRA, May 18, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Private schools in New South Wales and Victoria are exempt from anti-discrimination laws that would prevent Catholic schools from upholding and defending their Catholic character. Religious schools are seen as problematic for secular-minded reformers when the schools refuse to adhere to secular values such as abortion and homosexual "rights". In Canada, Catholic institutions have often been forced to cave in to pressure from homosexual advocacy groups and abortion 'rights' supporters on the grounds of "anti-discrimination." The Australia Institute, in conjunction with the Australian Education Union, have called for the exemption to be rescinded. George Pell, Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney, has upheld the right of Catholic schools to be Catholic. Pell says the Catholic Church should not be coerced into implementing other values. Cardinal Pell has defended religious freedom in Australia saying, "We have a right to teach our Christian teachings and to follow out the consequences of that." "Nobody is forced to send their children to Catholic schools," he said, "parents send children to Catholic schools because they know they will get a certain set of values there." Translation (automatic) German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Pell's Heterodoxy Sept 11, 2004 Australian neo-cons are excited by Cardinal Pell’s promotion, because he is a strong pro-lifer and a ‘John Paul man.’ Understandably they take great delight in watching mega-liberals like the appalling Bishop Power of Canberra squirm and squeal over his appointment. (Christian Order Dec 2003) But they conveniently overlook the fact that Pell, regarded by the Holy Father as a model bishop, has voiced heterodox and/or heretical views on the Resurrection, Holy Scripture and the priesthood and consistently revealed an astonishing ignorance of the nature of the crisis within the Church and reluctance to get involved [cf. "Debunking the Deconstructors," March 2002]. His consistent support for the heretical nun who heads his diocesan Liturgy Office is a scandal and his refusals to act on orthodox pleas to clean up liturgically and theologically decrepit parishes, schools and universities legion. Even a life-saving request to prevent morning after pills being dispensed at a major Catholic hospital was waved away. One could go on. "He thinks his new position might help him to do something about the asylum seekers," lamented one of his disenchanted flock. "Shame he can’t do something about the Church!" Yet Cardinal Pell is one of the best neo-con prelates around. "I am a loyal son of the Second Vatican Council," he says defiantly.		24 READERS ONLINE select a cardinal Benedictus XVI. 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Cardinal Cacciavillan, Agostino Cardinal Caffarra, Carlo Cardinal Canestri, Giovanni Cardinal Cañizares Llovera, Antonio Cardinal Carlés Gordó, Ricardo María Cardinal Cassidy, Edward Idris Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos, Darío Cardinal Cé, Marco Cardinal Cheli, Giovanni Cardinal Cheong Jin-Suk, Nicholas Cardinal Cipriani Thorne, Juan Luis Cardinal Clancy, Edward Bede Cardinal Comastri, Angelo Cardinal Connell, Desmond Cardinal Coppa, Giovanni Cardinal Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, Andrea Cardinal Cordes, Paul Josef Cardinal Cottier, O.P., Georges Marie Martin Cardinal Danneels, Godfried Cardinal Daoud, Ignace Moussa I Cardinal Darmaatmadja, S.J., Julius Riyadi Cardinal De Giorgi, Salvatore Cardinal Delly, Emmanuel III (Emmanuel-Karim) Cardinal Deskur, Andrzej Maria Cardinal Dias, Ivan Cardinal DiNardo, Daniel Nicholas Cardinal do Nascimento, Alexandre Cardinal dos Santos, O.F.M., Alexandre José Maria Cardinal Dziwisz, Stanislaw Cardinal Egan, Edward Michael Cardinal Erdõ, Péter Cardinal Errázuriz Ossa, Francisco Javier Cardinal Etchegaray, Roger Marie Élie Cardinal Falcão, José Freire Cardinal Farina, Raffaele Cardinal Fernandes de Araújo, Serafim Cardinal Foley, John Patrick Cardinal Furno, Carlo Cardinal García-Gasco y Vicente, Agustín Cardinal George, O.M.I., Francis Eugene Cardinal Giordano, Michele Cardinal Glemp, Józef Cardinal Gracias, Oswaldo Cardinal Grocholewski, Zenon Cardinal Gulbinowicz, Henryk Roman Cardinal Herranz Casado, Julián Cardinal Honoré, Jean Marcel Cardinal Hummes, O.F.M., Cláudio Cardinal Husar, Lubomyr Cardinal Jaworski, Marian Cardinal Karlic, Estanislao Esteban Cardinal Kasper, Walter Cardinal Keeler, William Henry Cardinal Kitbunchu, Michael Michai Cardinal Korec, S.J., Ján Chryzostom Cardinal Lajolo, Giovanni Cardinal Law, Bernard Francis Cardinal Lehmann, Karl Cardinal Levada, William Joseph Cardinal López Rodríguez, Nicolás de Jesús Cardinal Lourdusamy, Duraisamy Simon Cardinal Lozano Barragán, Javier Cardinal Macharski, Franciszek Cardinal Mahony, Roger Michael Cardinal Maida, Adam Joseph Cardinal Marchisano, Francesco Cardinal Martínez Sistach, Lluís Cardinal Martínez Somalo, Eduardo Cardinal Martini, S.J., Carlo Maria Cardinal Martino, Renato Raffaele Cardinal Mayer, O.S.B., Paul Augustin Cardinal McCarrick, Theodore Edgar Cardinal Medina Estévez, Jorge Arturo Augustin Cardinal Meisner, Joachim Cardinal Mejía, Jorge María Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, Cormac Cardinal Nagy, S.C.I., Stanislaw Kazimierz Cardinal Napier, O.F.M., Wilfrid Fox Cardinal Navarrete Cortés SJ, Urbano Cardinal Nicora, Attilio Cardinal Njue, John Cardinal Noè, Virgilio Cardinal O'Malley O.F.M. Cap., Sean Patrick Cardinal Obando Bravo, S.D.B., Miguel Cardinal Okogie, Anthony Olubunmi Cardinal Ortega y Alamino, Jaime Lucas Cardinal Ouellet, P.S.S., Marc Cardinal O‘Brien, Keith Michael Patrick Cardinal Panafieu, Bernard Louis Auguste Paul Cardinal Paskai, O.F.M., László Cardinal Pell, George Cardinal Pengo, Polycarp Cardinal Pham Minh Mân, Jean-Baptiste Cardinal Pimenta, Simon Ignatius Cardinal Piovanelli, Silvano Cardinal Poggi, Luigi Cardinal Poletto, Severino Cardinal Policarpo, José da Cruz Cardinal Poupard, Paul Joseph Jean Cardinal Pujats, Janis Cardinal Puljic, Vinko Cardinal Quezada Toruño, Rodolfo Cardinal Re, Giovanni Battista Cardinal Ricard, Jean-Pierre Bernard Cardinal Rigali, Justin Francis Cardinal Rivera Carrera, Norberto Cardinal Robles Ortega, Francisco Cardinal Rodé, Franc Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga, S.D.B., Oscar Andrés Cardinal Rouco Varela, Antonio María Cardinal Rubiano Sàenz, Pedro Cardinal Ruini, Camillo Cardinal Rylko, Stanisław Cardinal Saldarini, Giovanni Cardinal Sales, Eugênio de Araújo Cardinal Sánchez, José Tomás Cardinal Sandoval Íñiguez, Juan Cardinal Sandri, Leonardo Cardinal Saraiva Martins, C.M.F., José Cardinal Sarr, Théodore-Adrien Cardinal Scheid, S.C.I., Eusébio Oscar Cardinal Scherer, Odilo Pedro Cardinal Schwery, Henri Cardinal Schönborn, O.P., Christoph Cardinal Scola, Angelo Cardinal Sebastiani, Sergio Cardinal Sepe, Crescenzio Cardinal Sfeir, Nasrallah Pierre Cardinal Shan Kuo-hsi, S.J., Paul Cardinal Silvestrini, Achille Cardinal Simonis, Adrianus Johannes Cardinal Sodano, Angelo Cardinal Stafford, James Francis Cardinal Sterzinsky, Georg Maximilian Cardinal Swiatek, Kazimierz Cardinal Szoka, Edmund Casimir Cardinal Tauran, Jean-Louis Pierre Cardinal Terrazas Sandoval, C.SS.R., Julio Cardinal Tettamanzi, Dionigi Cardinal Tomko, Jozef Cardinal Tonini, Ersilio Cardinal Toppo, Telesphore Placidus Cardinal Tucci, S.J., Roberto Cardinal Tumi, Christian Wiyghan Cardinal Turcotte, Jean-Claude Cardinal Turkson, Peter Kodwo Appiah Cardinal Urosa Savino, Jorge Liberato Cardinal Vallini, Agostino Cardinal Vanhoye, Albert Cardinal Vidal, Ricardo Jamin Cardinal Vingt-Trois, André Armand Cardinal Vithayathil, C.SS.R., Varkey Cardinal Vlk, Miloslav Cardinal Wamala, Emmanuel Cardinal Wetter, Friedrich Cardinal Williams, Thomas Stafford Cardinal Zen Ze-kiun, S.D.B., Joseph Cardinal Zubeir Wako, Gabriel Cardinal Špidlík, S.J., Tomáš INDEX RSS Feed back to the first page printer-friendly CARDINALS in alphabetical order by country Roman Curia under 80 over 80 deceased ARTICLES last postings most read articles all articles CONTACT send us relevant texts SEARCH