Pell become Cardinal
Australian Catholic Arch-Bishop Pell has been appointed a Cardinal. I am not sure what to think of this. Do I complain that once again, someone who throughout his ministry has been outspoken for conservative Christainity has been promoted? Or do I see that the fact remains that if you want to move up the heirarchy in our mainstream instutional Churches, conservatism is a strength and definitely not a liability. Even Pell in this article is quoted as saying “I am a loyal son of the Second Vatican Council and stand with the Pope, I don’t run around making up teachings.”
Is it just me, and I realise that I am twisting words a little, but surely the aim is to be a loyal follower of Jesus and not a loyal son of a Church heirarchy?
September 29th, 2003 at 6:59 pm
To use business parlance, Pell “walks the walk and talks the talk”, which in terms of the business world, makes the Catholic church just another business.
September 30th, 2003 at 4:42 am
“… someone who throughout his ministry has been outspoken for conservative Christainity has been promoted? Or do I see that the fact remains that if you want to move up the heirarchy in our mainstream instutional Churches, conservatism is a strength and definitely not a liability.”
Many conservatives in the U.S. would suggest that, in relation to the WCC, our NCC and our own denominational higher governing bodies, just the opposite is the case. I think that regardless of anyone’s particular theological leanings, hopefully each of us [aims] to be a loyal follower of Jesus and not a loyal son of a Church [hierarchy].