>>Only last month Dr Pell stirred controversy when he asserted that the Koran was riddled with "invocations to violence", and Islam was not a tolerant religion.<<
DR.???? Calling Cardinal Pell, Dr. Pell is like calling President Bush, Mr. Bush.
Nothing else to do but backhandedly insult when the truth hurts.
You'll also notice that media references to Martin Luther King Jr. almost always use the title "Dr. King", not "Rev. King" or "Rev. Dr. King". They also do a great job of managing not to quote any of the phrases where he invokes the Almighty when talking about the source of authority for his objectives.
"Dr." is normal British (and hence Aussie) usage in reference to a bishop or senior clergyman, either Catholic or Anglican. It's not meant as an insult.
His Eminence prefers to be referred to as Dr Pell, when he is writing or speaking, or being quoted on matters of general theological knowledge and theory. When talking about Catholic doctrine or matters of pure religion, he, of course, wishes to be referred to by his religious title.
But being a Cardinal doesn't make him an expert on other faiths - his academic status is more relevant in those cases.