At 10:21 AM 29/08/2003 +1000, Stephen wrote: > > from today's editorial in the oz: > <http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,7094017%255 > > E7583,00.html>http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,574 > 4,7094017%255E7583,00.html > > Religious pulpit is no political bull-pit > > ALEXANDER Downer has issued a long-overdue jeremiad against church leaders > who seek headlines by spouting forth on political issues about which they > have no expertise.
Greetings, Not all would be critical apparently from Catholic News <http://www.cathnews.com/news/308/161.php>http://www.cathnews.com/news/308/1 61.php Pell says Downer had a point Sydney Archbishop George Pell went against the tide of church opinion yesterday in praising Foreign Minister Alexander Downer�s Wednesday lecture which criticised church leaders for speaking out on public issues while neglecting their pastoral duties. "I have read the full text of Mr Downer�s Sir Thomas Playford Annual Lecture," he said. "It is an excellent talk; worth studying." Dr Pell maintained that "all religious leaders in a democracy like Australia have a right and duty to speak out on public issues", stressing that "Mr Downer is not denying this." Downer said in the speech: "I will always defend the right of the Churches to enter the political debates of our time." But he added the qualificaton that in speaking out, church leaders have "responsibilities � to the facts, to their congregations and to their faiths". He went on to detail how he believes the Churches are neglecting these responsibilities. Pell said that although he does not commit himself to agreeing with every judgement Downer expressed, "he is correct to point out that some ecclesiastics can get it wrong. One or two do so frequently". [Snip} Regards, Bruce Bruce Mullan 12 Renfrew Drive Highland Park Qld 4211 Australia Office 61 7 3377 9737 Home 61 7 5574 8282 Fax 61 7 3871 0061 Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------ - You are subscribed to the mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put in the message body 'unsubscribe insights-l' (ell, not one (1)) See: http://nsw.uca.org.au/lists.htm ------------------------------------------------------
