Catholics complain to Vatican about Cardinal Pell

I normally don't like blogging too much on Sundays. Something about the joy and leisure of the day seems to contradict being hunched over a computer following the news of the world.

However, this one is just too good to pass up.

A news story is making the rounds in Australia in the aftermath of Cardinal George Pell's recent involvement in the debate over the abortion pill RU486 in parliament.

"Catholics complain to Vatican over Pell"

Yep, I kid you not:

"A GROUP of leading liberal Catholics has complained to the Vatican that Cardinal George Pell is teaching inaccurate and misleading doctrine."

What fools. They didn't like getting their knuckles slapped.

"The letter said a number of statements by the cardinal about the role of conscience were difficult to reconcile with the priority church teaching placed on conscience. Given Cardinal Pell's prominence, many Australians took his views as representing doctrine."

Though sadly not an absolute rule, in general - trust the Cardinals, folks. You'll be happier for it.

"The letter was signed by 24 Catholics, including Sister Veronica Brady, Professor Max Charlesworth, historian Paul Collins, NSW judge Chris Geraghty and several Melbourne priests."

"Cardinal Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, yesterday said: "This is a real hoot.[!] Such well-known defenders of orthodoxy as Paul Collins, Veronica Brady and Max Charlesworth appealing to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith." He said what was in dispute was not the importance of conscience, but whether conscience must be oriented to truth, to the word of God."

"This is a real hoot!" I LOVE IT. That's sure a quote to remember. I love Cardinal Pell!

Here's another gem of a quote - this time from the liberal Catholics:

"The real role of the church is not to tell people what to do but give them a map, and conscience is the compass."

Wow. This is hilarious. Luckily the Church will always send a St. Bernard your way whenever you get lost in the frozen Alps of pride.

"Mr Purcell said Cardinal Pell was trying to keep people at a lower level of moral development by telling them to do what the church said. "He overemphasises the obligation to follow the church absolutely. That's the Eichmann mentality."

Eichmann was the Nazi leader in charge of exterminating Jews in World War II. What tripe.

Luckily it's Sunday and I'm in a joyful mood. Otherwise I might get mad at these children.