Comments on: Please don’t, George

By: Mark E

Mark E — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 02:15:26 +0000

Thats a good point Dave, maybe Pell could have voiced his concerns directly and privately to those whose behaviour he was concerned about.

By: Dave Quinn

Dave Quinn — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 06:09:02 +0000

The thing that I wonder about is why Goerge Pell used the media to voice his stance. Was it to raise the issue publicly? Was it to manipulate? Was to to make the churches stance clear? Was it to remind the MPs that they are accountable to God for their decisions? For whatever reason it certainly has people talking about it!

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 08:03:32 +0000

I see where you’re going Bec and I tend to agree with you. The reality is that it would become extremely difficult for any lobby group (eg. the Catholic church) to influence public policy in our system, without banding politicians together and getting them to vote along the same lines.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 07:45:34 +0000

Hi Bec,

You have some awesome pics on your blog. It’s a dream of mine to walk the Overland Track to Cradle Mountain one day, thanks for the inspiration!

Pell’s stance could be seen as manipulative, but I really think it’s an attempt to influence Catholic MP’s to respond to this debate on a higher level. For every action there is a consequence and Pell has spelled out clearly and simply the consequences for Catholic MP’s should they support stem cell research.

Pell has answered the question, “When is a person NOT permitted to participate fully in the fellowship of the church?” It’s a question every thinking Christian needs to tackle and resolve.

By: Bec

Bec — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 06:58:56 +0000

I might just have a blatant disregard for status… but where is it appropriate disciplinary action and where is it simply manipulative? Regardless of the issue and whether stem cell research is wrong. It’s the principle of the thing that gets me.

By: Mark E

Mark E — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 04:29:09 +0000

Ron, we all sin, and needs Gods grace…….everyday…..

But there does come a time when a church needs to discipline its members for blatant behaviour which goes against the teaching and leadership of the Church.
Whether you agree with Pell or not, it not the point to me. The point is, he is the leader of the Catholic Church, and that is their teaching.

If you dont like it, dont be a part of that church! (Btw I am not part of that church)

By: Ron

Ron — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 04:10:21 +0000

If communion is only for people who don’t sin, then surely the lines outside the confessional before mass should be a lot longer than I suspect they are!

By: Mark E

Mark E — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 08:36:18 +0000

If Pell believes that harvesting stem cells is akin to abortion, and if Catholic members are advocating this, Pell has every responsibility to apply some Church discipline…..The Catholic church does not see this as, “an ethical issue” worthy of discussion.

In fact I think the fact he is standing up for something is very attractive to non Christians. It seems to me that non church people support the church a lot more when they are not wishy washy.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 05:31:34 +0000

It IS an across the board standard IF you hold to the view that stem cell research is a sinful attack on the sanctity of human life. Flagrant and unrepentant sin is a black and white issue and does require excommunication without appology.

By: geoff

geoff — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:34:11 +0000

Come now Wayne, that’s hardly a standard that can be applied across the board. Do we really believe that threatening excommunication to anyone who disagrees on an ethical issue is really a valid and appropriate way of acting? This is hardly a nice clear black and white issue, surely we can actually allow an element of acceptance of disagreement in who we sharecommunion with.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 01:05:37 +0000

It sure is a tough situation. I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes having to make these kinds of decisions. Where do we draw the line? Pell has certainly drawn one.

If stem cell research (with the associated cost to human life) is a “sin” then how can Pell and the church allow advocates to participate in communion? That would be hypocritical on both sides.

By: fundamentalist threatens NSW members of parliament (or, ‘will no-one rid me of this troublesome priest?’) at a roll of the dice

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:38:19 +0000

[...] seems pretty obvious (even to religious individuals) that Pell’s approach is unlikely to win him too many friends. The reaction of [...]