Cardinal’s Comment: Light years better, but system’s still tough

The
Catholic Weekly
Online

Sydney
23 May 2004

Swans fly high with Vinnies Appeal

Bishops’ urgent call on detainees

Maronites celebrate new saint

Agencies divided over ‘best’ or ‘cruel’ Budget

It all comes down to love, Susie tells aid luncheon

Boys Town, AA, Grow and Fr Tom

Pitter patter: Why not support groups for dads, too?

Aust bishops commend new Mass translation

Cardinal at All Saints jubilee

Bishop to speak about ‘morning after’ pill

Prayer for end to drought

Cardinal’s Comment: Light years better, but system’s still tough

Dinner tribute to archbishop in Goulburn parish merger

Editorial: A just solution

Letters: We knelt in street

Conversation: Dr Brigid Vout, director of the Life Office - Spreading the message ‘with compassion’

A different Australia

Oilfield justice would be nice, too

Cardinal hears the view of young leaders

Speaking out!

St Patrick’s College proud of $5m makeover

Club has great tradition of service and facilities

Club proud supporter of parish, children

Vale – the ‘soldier’s padre’

Australia’s first trained social worker

Faith plays role for Alan

Girls will sing at St Peter’s

Eaglereach: ultimate wilderness experience

Parish Mass a vital part of Tadgh’s game plan

Cardinal’s Comment: Light years better, but system’s still tough

All Australians have been sickened by revelations that American guards physically and sexually abused Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib prison. They have weakened the argument for the moral legitimacy of our presence in Iraq.

The public execution of American civilian Nick Berg by al-Qaeda fanatics demonstrates what we are opposing, but our own house should be in order.

Prisons are awful places, even when they’re well run. In fact, lawless prisons and prison sectors housing the most violent criminals are as close to hell on earth as any other human situation, except when civilians are caught up in war.

It’s often claimed that the touchstone for the health of a society is the manner in which the poorest and weakest are treated.

Those who are inmates of jails and detention centres are a subset of this most vulnerable group.

+ George Cardinal Pell
Archbishop of Sydney

Thank you for visiting the Catholic Weekly Online. To read this article in full, please subscribe to the print edition, or buy the paper for $1 at your local NSW Catholic church. Click here to email comments to the editor.