Premier Kristina Keneally berates George Pell
Image via WikipediaNew South Wales Premier Kristina Keneally has strongly berated Cardinal George Pell, saying she is greatly “saddened” by his recent comments criticizing Christian politicians who disregard Church teaching. She said she believes Pell risks being “interpreted as condemnatory and threatening.”
Kealey who bills herself as a devout Catholic, opposes Church teaching on homosexuality and abortion.
In an interview with the Herald Sun earlier this month, Cardinal Pell had criticized politicians who “fly under the Christian or Captain Catholic flag” but “blithely disregard Christian perspectives” when facing a vote on moral issues in parliament.
“I read those comments from the Archbishop and, if anything, they saddened me,” Keneally told the Sunday Telegraph.
“Almost every Catholic politician I know takes their responsibility as an elected representative and their faith very seriously,” said the Premier. “Many have really struggled, as have I, when moral issues require us to vote - and particularly when it is a conscience vote.”
On issues of same-sex “marriage” and adoption, as well as abortion issues, Keneally has consistently voiced views contrary to Catholic teaching, although she has claimed that her views are consistent with Catholic morals.
In a speech last fall in the Legislative Assembly on the same-sex adoption amendment bill, Premier Keneally defended her pro-same-sex adoption stance based on her conscience. Selectively quoting Scripture and the Second Vatican Council, Keneally claimed she “must, in my conscience, support this legislation.”
In the Telegraph interview, Keneally further criticized Pell, saying “Politicians of faith often would like to turn to religious leaders for pastoral advice and guidance, and sometimes that’s not available.”
Tony Stewart, Member for Lakemba, joined Kenally’s criticism, saying, “I found those comments from Pell bizarre and straight from the 1950s.”
“Trying to get politicians to vote in accordance to the Catholic Church is really to the detriment of what parliamentary representation is all about in Australia.”
However, Liberal NSW Upper House MP David Clarke said he agreed with the Cardinal. “You can’t just use your religion when you want to,” he said.
In recent years issues such as same-sex “marriage” and euthanasia have been at the forefront of Australian politics. Cardinal Pell has been a consistent and vocal defender of Christian teaching on these issues.
“To the extent that on a significant number of issues you depart from Christian teachings, you know it’s incongruous to be billing yourself as a champion of Christian rights,” he had said to Christian politicians in the Herald Sun interview earlier this month.
