Posted on 06/07/2007 1:08:32 PM PDT by Rutles4Ever
Sydney, Jun 7, 2007 (CNA).- Catholic lawmakers in Australia said yesterday they will vote in favor of therapeutic cloning regardless of the directives or warnings issued by the archbishop of Sydney.
Tony Stewart of the ruling Labor Party in the New South Wales state parliament, said he would rather go to hell than take orders on how to vote from Cardinal George Pell. "Maybe I'll go to hell, but if I go to hell I'm going to do so by saving a lot of lives, because that's what this bill is about," Tony Stewart said in a radio interview.
Cardinal Pell said recently that cloning is unethical and “a serious moral matter”, which could see the creation of human and animal hybrids.
“Catholic politicians who vote for this legislation must realize that their voting has consequences for their place in the life of the Church," he reportedly said.
Cardinal Pell was soon joined by Archbishop Barry Hickey of Perth who also issued a similar warning. He said that Catholics who vote for cloning, "are acting against the teaching of the Church on a very serious matter and they should, in conscience, not vote that way; but if they do, in conscience they should not go to Communion."
The both prelates said they are considering refusing Holy Communion to Catholic lawmakers who vote in favor of the bill.
"We don't need a religious leader telling members of parliament what should be done," Stewart said in a radio interview.
Lawmakers are being allowed a conscience vote on a bill to bring the country's most populous state into line with the federal government, which overturned a ban on the so-called therapeutic cloning last year.
The new law would allow excess human embryos from in-vitro fertilization treatment to be used to create stem cells for research.
Both state premier Morris Iemma and his deputy, John Watkins, are Catholics who have said they intend to vote for the bill.
"I've already thought seriously about this legislation, and it passes all the ethical and moral issues that I need passed, and gives people hope," said Watkins, who admitted he is upset about the cardinal’s recent statements.
The Anglican Church is also asking lawmakers to vote against the bill.
Thus spake the clueless mortal on matters about which he knew absolutely nothing.
They can always leave the Church. No one is forcing them to stay.
Strong words, he doesn’t know what he is saying.
I don’t go in for all that Catholic nonsense of mixing church and state, but all the same, this guy’s statement is absolutely ludicrous. Of course, he’s probably never actually read the Bible, nor does he probably actually believe in hell, so why should he be expected to have a clear view of what he’s saying?
This guy is willing to lose his own soul for the sake of a vote. This has really got to be one of the most ignorant comments I've ever seen in my life. Does he think he's a HERO or somethin?
It is certainly NOT what Jesus meant when he said the greatest love is to give one's life for another. He certainly didn't want us to lose our own SPIRITUAL SOULS in saving others. (Physical lives is a whole 'nother matter.)
The irony is that it's still debatable if what he's sacrificing his own soul for will even SAVE the lives of others.
A local UHF chnnel brodcast the episode of the Simpsons where Bart “sells his soul” to Milhouse. Suddenly, automatic doors won’t open, his breath won’t fog mirrors,etc. I think five minutes after this guy is dead, he is going to learn a great deal about the religious faith he was obviously “born into” and not “reborn into.”
What's sad is that the religious leader feels like he HAS to tell the members what should be done, since they seem to dense to understand what's moral and right.
Maybe I’ll go to hell, but if I go to hell I’m going to do so by saving a lot of lives, because that’s what this bill is about,” Tony Stewart said in a radio interview
You know what pal? When you’re burning down there, I think you’ll have second thoughts about your choices up here!
“he would rather go to hell”
As you wish!
I think he has obstinate covered.
The Catholic Church would do well to watch the dealings between the Priests and little boys.
The Catholic Church is no friend of the USA. They are more Liberal European than the worst Dutchman.
Let the Catholic Church watch to their own house before they start to tell me how to run my country. I’m a practicing Catholic. But I believe much less in my church than I do in my God. My God and my church seem almost two different things. When I sense a conflict between the two, I invariable go with the words of my God and find a better path.
I mean; no more purgatory, how many people are burning in he!! because they ate meat on Friday, Priests who can’t marry so that the Church doesn’t have to provide for widows and children, … The list goes on.
Catholics do not mix Church and State. The thing that has always brought persecution and hostility to the Church is actually the fact that it regards itself as separate from the State and not answerable to it, but to God alone.
These politicians are objecting because they feel the Church SHOULD go along with the State in whatever the State feels like doing at a given moment. The bishops are simply telling them that they cannot put the State first in a matter that violates Catholic moral teaching - and expect to be considered good Catholics who can go to Communion. They are public sinners, publicly flouting the moral teachings of the Church, and are being publicly called to come back and accept Church teachings.
That said, they probably don’t believe a darn thing. After all, Bill Clinton claimed to read his Bible every day, and look how it changed his life...not!
Only the Pope, when speaking "excathedra" (from the throne) can rule on matters of faith and morals.
Heck, you don't even have to be a priest to be a cardinal.
“therapeutic cloning” sounds like biological do-overs...
I give up! What ine the H-E-double-tooth-picks is therapeutic cloning!? Can I have a therapeutic clone of my own who can mow my grass and bring martinis to me until I need to harvest body parts so I can prolong my worthless existence? Can I kill my therapeutic clone if he turns out to be my better angel? That isn’t murder is it?
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