Cardinal Pell corrects politicians who claim to be Catholic but vote differently

[Michie]

Sydney, Australia, Jan 5, 2011 / 05:31 am (CNA).- As the country faces intense legislative debate this upcoming year over same-sex “marriage” and euthanasia, Cardinal George Pell of Sydney blasted politicians who claim a Catholic identity, yet consistently defy Church teachings on major issues.

In a Jan. 4 interview with the Sunday Herald Sun, Cardinal Pell gave a sharp rebuke to Australian members of parliament who "fly under the Christian or Captain Catholic flag" but "blithely disregard Christian perspectives" in their actions.

"If a person says, 'Look, I'm not a Christian, I've a different set of perspectives,' I disagree but I understand," he said. "If a person says to me, 'Look, I'm nominally a Christian but it sits lightly with me,' I understand that.”

"But it's incongruous for somebody to be a Captain Catholic one minute, saying they're as good a Catholic as the Pope, then regularly voting against the established Christian traditions."

Cardinal Pell called out politicians who endorse secular stances on issues while insisting that they're Catholics, saying, “if you're espousing something that's not a Christian position, don't claim Christian backing for that."

The Catholic Church “doesn't teach the primacy of conscience,” he said, explaining that a person's conscience doesn't trump Church teaching. “You know if somebody said apartheid was all right, nobody would say, 'Yes you can say that because of the primacy of conscience.'"

Continued- http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-pell-corrects-politicians-who-claim-to-be-catholic-but-vote-differently/

 

[JacktheCatholic]

It makes me proud that we have Bishops like this Cardinal voicing the Truth and that Catholics not be hypocrites.

 

[Michie]

Yes it does the heart good when you start to wonder where the voice of the Church is in these confusing times.

 

[ChristoEtEcclesiae]

God bless Cardinal Pell.

 

[2WhomShallWeGo]

Another bishop whose skull will probably NOT be paving hell.

 

[ebia]

It would be good to see the actual interview.

 

[Blanche51057]

I can't post links, but all you have to do is go the Sunday Herald Sun website and search Cardinal Pell and the article comes up!

 

[ebia]

I can find articles about the interview. I can't find the interview itself.

 

[Assisi]

He's cops a bit of flak here in the press for 'telling people how to vote' so I really like the last sentence:

I'm not telling people how to vote, I'm telling people how I think they should vote. I'm an Australian citizen and I have as much right to do that as any other citizen.

If you were going to find any more it would be here, but I don't see it. It was an interview with the paper. The only publication will be with that paper, I don't think there is any more to read than this.

 

[ebia]

Unfortunately the significance given to what he says when depends on what questions he is answering.

 

[JacktheCatholic]

He's cops a bit of flak here in the press for 'telling people how to vote' so I really like the last sentence:



If you were going to find any more it would be here, but I don't see it. It was an interview with the paper. The only publication will be with that paper, I don't think there is any more to read than this.

You got that right. He is not only a religious figure but a citizen. Does a religious figure lose his right to speech as a citizen? Talk about censorship.

Too many people want the religous to be quiet, starting with their leaders. IMO. They have a voise too and I am very proud to hear a Cardinal using his.

 

[ebia]

Well, the Herald Sun did publish his comments, so one can't bleat too loudly. To what extent they've spun to story to create a "church leader tells politicians how they must vote" beyond +George's intentions is impossible to tell without a transcript of the interview. I suspect significantly - it smacks to me like they're creating a story.

 

[Andy Hardy]

You got that right. He is not only a religious figure but a citizen. Does a religious figure lose his right to speech as a citizen? Talk about censorship.

Too many people want the religous to be quiet, starting with their leaders. IMO. They have a voise too and I am very proud to hear a Cardinal using his.

The good Cardinal can say anything he wants. This is true.

But...

...since the Church pays no taxes in return for not getting directly involved in politics, a deal that goes back to LBJ, he does and should expect to put his tax free status at risk

and...

He should not expect (as most Catholic Bishops and Cardinals apparently do) that other people will differ to them and simply not take advantage of their own free speech rights to assail the bishops opinions.

Play hard ball if you like, I have no objections, but the thing about playing in the big leagues: everyone gets a turn with the bat.

 

[ebia]

...since the Church pays no taxes in return for not getting directly involved in politics, a deal that goes back to LBJ,

Um, this Australia. Cardinal Pell is an Australian Archbishop speaking in an Australian context to an Australian newspaper about Australian politics.

 

[Basil the Great]

Church teaching says that a woman who obtains an abortion is automatically excommunicated. Pope Pius VII, in 1949, excommunicated all members of the Communist Party and also anyone who aided or abetted them. By implication, perhaps the Church should issue a Papal decree stating that effective immediately, any Catholic politician who votes to make abortion legal is automatically excommunicated? Such a move would create a firestorm of controversy like we have not seen in modern times re: religion and politics. However, if abortion is really murder, then is not a Catholic politician who votes to make abortion legal aiding the cause of murder? If it is important to excommunicate those who aid the Communist Party, then how about those who aid the cause of abortion by voting to make it legal?

 

[ebia]

I think Benedict has enough sense to realize there are plenty of places where, if such was enacted, would make Catholic unelectable and thereby reduce the Catholic influence in all issues. He understands that it's better to let local bishops work with their local political landscape in whatever way is most effective in that landscape.

 

[Basil the Great]

It is almost impossible for one to disagree with your analysis of why the Church has not pushed the abortion issue to the ultimate with Catholic elected officials.

 

[WarriorAngel]

Here is another Cardinal.... speaking.

YouTube - Cardinal Arinze on Pro Abortion Politicians

He makes his point with a bit o' humor.

 

[2WhomShallWeGo]

Many people misunderstand the meaning and intention of the USAs founding fathers when they talked about seperation of church and state. The original colonies religious tolerance is also often misunderstood.

I'm glad the cardinal does not make these mistakes. And damn the consequences if a cardinal can't speak about morals than there is no religious liberty anyhow.

 

[JacktheCatholic]

Here is another Cardinal.... speaking.

YouTube - Cardinal Arinze on Pro Abortion Politicians

He makes his point with a bit o' humor.

Using humor is a good thing at times. It keeps people from shutting their ears to some things.