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’
Editorial: Be not afraid
COURAGE is a prerequisite quality for any effective leader, secular or spiritual.
History is scattered with great leaders whose fearlessness in times of adversity and challenge achieved great things for them and their people.
It was to the Israelite leader Joshua that God gave the command and assurance: “Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua needed all the courage he could get, leading his people into the Promised Land after the death of Moses.
Pope John Paul II made a similar entreaty to the 30 newly created cardinals at their recent consistory; he asked them to be “fearless witnesses of Christ and his Gospel”.
It is a request that is certain to be obeyed by them all, not the least of whom is Australia’s new “prince of the Church”, George Cardinal Pell.
It is fitting, indeed, then that his motto is Be not afraid.
Cardinal Pell has already demonstrated his role as a brave pastor. Even those who disagree with him, both inside and outside the Church, must acknowledge and respect him for his sincerity and forthrightness and the courage of his convictions.
That resoluteness to defend and advocate the precepts of the Church is based on a strong faith and a love of what the Church teaches – “the truth of the Gospel”.
Such courage is sometimes hard to maintain in the face of heavy criticism and hostility; it should impress and inspire all the faithful; it should particularly appeal to young people, so desirous and in need of leadership and direction in an age when, as Cardinal Pell says, there are “very easy slack rules ... very little regard for clear moral teachings ... the sort of mix that is breeding a lot of unhappiness in the Western world”.
Cardinal Pell’s motto – Be not afraid – is one we should all take up as we follow his leadership in hope and confidence.