The archbishop was referring to the prime minister’s failure to apologize on behalf of the government to the so-called “stolen generation” of Aboriginal children who over several decades in the 20th century were forcibly removed by government officials from their families. The prime minister has declared that present-day Australians should not be held responsible for the wrongs of the past.
After a media furor, Archbishop-elect Peter Jensen claimed he had been misunderstood when he told a press conference immediately following his election that Prime Minister Howard was wrong in his steadfast refusal to issue the apology.
Jensen said at the press conference on June 6: “I think his [Howard’s] view is too individualistic and there should be a recognition of the Christian understanding which is that we belong together.” Asked by journalists whether he thought the prime minister was out of step with the community, Dr Jensen said: “It doesn’t worry me if Mr. Howard’s out of step with the community. The question is: ‘Is he out of step with God?’ We’ve got to point him to Jesus in the same way we point all our communities to Jesus.”
In the days after Jensen’s press conference, Howard attacked him for presuming to know the views of “the Almighty.”
Other church leaders supported Prime Minister Howard. The recently-appointed Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, George Pell, who, like Jensen, is seen as a doctrinal conservative, said that Australia was fortunate to have Howard, and the leader of the federal opposition, Kim Beazley, as leaders who were “exemplary, good men.”
The head of the Anglican Church, Peter Carnley, who is also Archbishop of Perth, said that Howard was committed to “practical reconciliation” with Aboriginal people through the provision of health and education services. He said reconciliation with Aboriginal Australians could mean many different things.
Jensen has now claimed that he did not mean to suggest that Howard was out of step with God, but rather that he needed to “think these issues through before God.” He said he admired the prime minister “very much.”
The controversy over Jensen’s remarks is the latest involving the church-state divide in Australia and the Anglican Church. In April John Howard was criticized for appointing the Archbishop of Brisbane, Peter Hollingworth, as governor-general—Australia’s head of state and representative of Queen Elizabeth II, Australia’s monarch.
John Howard is an Anglican who attended a Methodist Church as a child, and is generally seen as having classic Protestant ethics. As a resident of Sydney, he is at least in principle part of Jensen’s new flock.
At the controversial press conference, Dr Jensen also criticized the prime minister’s approach to illegal immigrants, and the reluctance of state governments to tackle gambling. Most state governments now draw considerable revenue from gambling taxes.
The prime minister’s office responded with a statement saying that “on sensitive issues, community leaders should not presume to interpret God’s will too narrowly.” The statement added that the prime minister believed there were a range of views within the Anglican community, and that many would agree with the prime minister’s emphasis on “practical reconciliation,” which stressed provision of services rather than emphasis on symbolism and rights.
Copyright © 2001 ENI.
Related Elsewhere
Anglican Media Sydney offers a transcript of Jensen’s press conference in which he made the comment, while the Prime Minister’s official site has a transcript of Howard’s press conference in which he responded.Jensen responded to the controversy in The Sydney Morning Herald (which also had a news article on the clarification).
Recent mainstream press articles on Australia’s Anglicans include:
Australia’s Anglicans launch merger talks with Uniting Church | But the Sydney diocese of the Anglican Church says any union is decades away. — The Sydney Morning Herald (June 14, 2001)
Chapel for Australia’s next Governor General | After Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane Peter Hollingworth takes the post July 1, he’ll still wear a clerical collar on Sundays — The Advertiser, Adelaide (June 13, 2001)
Rev Dr Peter Jensen: the interview — The Religion Report, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (June 13, 2001)
Go tell it on the mountain, with the volume down | It’s a fine thing, religion. But enough already of the public biblical lather and let the non-believers get on with their lives — Peter FitzSimons, The Sydney Morning Herald (June 12, 2001)
The word is going forth—and it shall be uncompromising | The Anglicans’ Archbishop-elect has already ruffled the Prime Minister’s feathers, and God-bothering is firmly on the agenda —The Sydney Morning Herald (June 11, 2001)
Sydney diocese faces split with Canterbury | New Australian archbishop says he wants to permit unordained people to preside at Holy Communion. — The Daily Telegraph, London (June 10, 2001)
Spong banned from Anglican churches in Brisbane, Australia | Interdiction comes from archbishop/governor-general-designate — The Courier-Mail, Brisbane (June 8, 2001)
If I’m parasitical, he’s irrelevant, says Spong — The Sydney Morning Herald (June 9, 2001)
You, too, can be an archbishop | Shock, horror. Archbishop believes in his own faith — Padraic P. McGuinness, The Sydney Morning Herald (June 9, 2001)
Jensen defends pounding PM on reconciliation — NineMSN (June 8, 2001)
Other Christianity Today articles about Australia include:
Australia’s Churches Call On Nation to Acknowledge ‘Stolen Generations’ | Country’s National Council of Churches demands apology, compensation to Aboriginals. (June 4, 2001)
Australia’s Church Leader’s Views on Sexuality Ignite Controversy | Head of country’s Anglicans calls for blessing of same-sex “friendships” (June 4, 2001)
Australia’s Leading Catholic Conservative Archbishop Gets a Promotion | Appointment of George Pell to archdiocese comes as surprise to parishioners—and to Pell himself. (Apr. 3, 2001)
Olympic Chaplains Not Taken Seriously, Christians Claim | Australian Christians say the Olympic committee views chaplains as just another group of volunteers. (Sept. 18, 2000)
Church Leaders Take a Desert Trek to Bridge Australia’s Divisions | Questions over apology strain reconciliation efforts between aboriginal and white populations. (June 15, 2000)
Australian Archbishops in Public Row over Christ’s Role | Head of church accused of denying significance of resurrection and Christ’s uniqueness (May 1, 2000)
Australian Church Agrees to Run Controversial Room for Injecting Drugs | Uniting Church steps in after Catholics withdraw under Vatican pressure (Dec. 9, 1999)
Australia’s New Anglican Leader Promises to Remain Outspoken | Peter Carnley was first to ordain women priests—before female ordination agreed by General Synod. (Feb. 7, 2000)
Christians Oppose Threats to Welfare (Apr. 26, 1999)
Christians Want Shock Rocker Manson Banned (Jan. 11, 1999)
Party Calls for Immigration Cuts (Oct. 5, 1998)
Racing Fans Can Find Faith at Track (Sept. 7, 1998)
Prostitution Museum Prompts Protests (Apr. 27, 1998)
Aboriginals, Whites Seek Reconciliation (Dec. 8, 1997)
