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Cardinal Pell to Pro-Abortion Politicians: "How come you feel that you're able to go to Communion?"

By John Jalsevac

FRONT ROYAL, VA, May 19, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Australia's Cardinal George Pell, was in Front Royal, Virginia over the weekend celebrating Mass and giving the Commencement address at Christendom College.  LifeSiteNews.com interviewed the Australian Church leader at the college last Friday.  This is the second part of that three-part interview.

Cardinal Pell: " . . . I mean, we believe that Christ is the Son of God and I believe that if we follow what he says, either popular or unpopular, you're much more likely to be blessed than if you set out to tailor His message-cut bits out of it or improve other bits. The Good Lord has made his instructions."

LifeSiteNews.com: Speaking of cutting out teachings from Catholic teachings. There has been a recent problem of Catholic politicians and world leaders, or at least so-called Catholic politicians, who publicly claim that they are faithful Catholics, clearly directly contradicting the faith. What would you say to those politicians, and what can we as lay people do about these?

Cardinal Pell: "Well, I think as lay people…my job as Archbishop is significantly different, and you've got to be a little careful there, not to appear to be just simply politically partisan. But if they're very significant issues, I think the lay people should tell the politicians that they're disappointed, and do it regularly, consistently and reasonably, not with hostility or a lack of charity."

LifeSiteNews.com: What would you say to the politicians themselves who are doing or saying these things?

Cardinal Pell: "Well, I'd say if they do it on a number of really significant issues, you'd have to bring into question just to what extent they are straight up and down the line Catholics, and to what extent they remain Catholic. I mean, if they call themselves Catholics and on every significant public issue they don't line up with us, well at the very minimum I think they should go quiet on the Catholic labelling.

"I mean there are other questions about whether or not they should be refused Communion, and they are difficult questions. I think if a person is regularly supporting pro-abortion legislation in a way that is very, very difficult to divorce that voting from an explicitly pro-abortion attitude I think you should ask them, how come you feel that you're able to go to Communion?"

The first part of the interview can be viewed here:
Cardinal Pell on Sexual Abuse Scandal: "Obviously Connected with Problem of Homosexuality"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/may/06051811.html

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