Australian cardinal says state action a victory for religious freedom

Published: 2007-09-26

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- 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. "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 World Youth Day 2008.

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