The
Catholic Weekly
Online
Sydney
2 November 2003
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Christ’s message holds key, says Cardinal Pell
New cardinal-electors
Cardinal is ‘honoured and delighted’
New managing editor for Catholic Weekly
Wiggles help Vinnies
Change to super laws rejected
Service commemorates Night of broken glass
Don’t leave HSC study to the last minute
Poverty forum call
Italians come clean over holy water
‘Don’t change Medicare’
Hope on Smokey Mountain
New dean of education
‘Give generously’ appeal call
Passion added to atmosphere for players
Mother Teresa
Editorial: Be not afraid
Letters: Biblical errors?
Conversation: Donna Mulhearn, human shield and crusader for kids - Back to Iraq
with ‘lots of love, hugs and care’
The freedom of God
Jesus ‘Lord and healer’
Oath of Fidelity
Sandhills and history
The Italian connection
New deal for deaf high school students
New college Campus
US post
115 years in the sun
Rose Bay victory
Life of the ageing priest
Companions on a Redemptorist’s journey to his final vows
‘Richest year of my life’
Christ’s message holds key, says Cardinal Pell
Cardinal George Pell kisses the Pope’s ring after receiving his red biretta at a Vatican ceremony
The only way to guarantee the continued growth and fidelity of the Catholic Church is by preaching the message of Christ and clearly presenting Catholic teaching, says Australia’s newest cardinal, Cardinal George Pell.
Cardinal Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, said he did not need to receive a red hat to feel vindicated for his support of traditional Church teaching.
“I think my stances are vindicated when they mirror the teachings of Christ and of the Catholic Church,” he said after he was inducted into the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II in a ceremony in St Peter’s Square.
Cardinal Pell said his new title would not make a great change in how he exercises his ministry in Australia.
He said he was and is called “to present Jesus Christ, the Catholic teaching, to try to strengthen the Catholic community and, equally importantly, to strengthen the Catholic contribution to Australian life”.
As in many parts of the Western world, Australia has suffered “a slow erosion in Church practice” with only about 18 per cent of the nation’s Catholics going to church each week, he said. The way to change the situation is “to practise what we preach, and we have to work as well as we can so that the flame of faith will catch, especially in the hearts of young people”.
The Catholic faith is attractive to people when it is shown clearly, fully and faithfully to match what Christ taught, he said.
Christian communities that promote traditional teachings and practices, offer real service and create genuine communities “are actually going better” than those communities with a much more liberal approach or radical approach.
“Many of those are just slipping away and dissolving,” he said.
“A lot of people find it quite attractive to be conservative.”
Strict adherence to Church teaching works much better than the neo-pagan mix, which is superficially attractive, he said.