The appointment of a conservative Catholic archbishop, George Pell, to the archdiocese of Sydney, has been greeted with a passionate but mixed response, with some clerics and laity predicting an exodus from the church and others claiming Pell will lead a major revival.

Sydney is capital of New South Wales and Australia's most populous city, with about 3.9 million residents. Pell is currently Archbishop of Melbourne, capital of the state of Victoria, with a strong Catholic community making it the country's biggest Catholic archdiocese. The appointment by the Vatican, which will take effect in about two months, is, however, considered both a promotion and a clear indication of the direction in which Pope John Paul II would like the Australian church to move. Archbishop Pell will succeed Cardinal Archbishop Edward Clancy, who is soon to retire.

Archbishop Pell's appointment last week came as a surprise both to him—he told the media that the Pope had informed him only 10 days before—and to most Australian Catholics. There is now strong speculation that Archbishop Pell will be the nation's next cardinal as, traditionally, the archbishop of Sydney is given that rank.

An apparent factor in Archbishop Pell's appointment was the historic Oceania synod, involving all of Australia's Catholic bishops and called by Pope John Paul II two years ago. The result was a scathing Vatican document on the state of the church in Australia, in which the Pope blamed Australia's sense of egalitarianism for contributing to the decline of the authority of the parish priest.

The bishops were told by Rome that Australia was undergoing a "crisis of faith," that they should crack down on errors "in matters of doctrine and morals" and guard against innovations in worship.

Chris McGillion, religious reporter for Sydney's most respected daily newspaper, The Sydney Morning Herald, commented this week: "Virtually all the candidates who had been rumoured to be strong contenders to replace [Cardinal] Clancy … had the right hard-line credentials on at least some of the key points made in the [Oceania] statement. Archbishop Pell had them across the board."

Pell, 59, has won wide and sometimes critical media coverage both for his doctrinal conservatism, and for his willingness to engage in secular politics. In the middle of the last federal election campaign, he issued a press statement refuting claims that Catholics opposed the controversial Goods and Services Tax, the central plank in the conservative coalition government's re-election platform. At a time when many other churchmen were opposing the initiative, Pell said there was no one Catholic position on it.

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This week the prime minister, John Howard, whose taxation reforms are now in place, congratulated Archbishop Pell on his appointment to "the most senior position in the Catholic Church" in Australia, describing him as a "man of great intellect and sincerity."

However, Pell has not been an unqualified supporter of the Howard government. He has said that the prime minister should apologize on behalf of the Australian people to the so-called "Stolen Generations" of Aboriginal children who were taken from their parents by welfare authorities. Prime Minister Howard has repeatedly refused to apologize.

Archbishop Pell has also advocated a more compassionate approach to refugees arriving in Australia, who are detained in remote prison-like centers.

He was also a strong supporter of the Vatican's move in 1999 to prevent nuns—the Sisters of Charity—from opening a heroin injection room in Sydney where addicts could inject drugs under medical supervision.

Last year he angered many progressive Catholics—and won praise from conservatives—when he refused to give Holy Communion at Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne to a group of gay men and lesbians wearing the rainbow sash, a symbol of the homosexual rights movement.

At a press conference this week following his appointment, Pell repeated his opposition to homosexual acts, and contrasted the risks of homosexuality to smoking, saying it was possible to get HIV/AIDS from a single sexual encounter, but not possible to get lung cancer from a single cigarette. Asked whether there was room for homosexual people in the church, the archbishop said: "There's always room in the Catholic Church for every variety of sinner."

He added that people who were "sinning seriously" should not take communion, but repentant homosexuals and lesbians who were not active were welcome.

Asked whether he accepted the label "conservative," he said: "I'm doctrinally conservative. I have no ambition to formulate new doctrines. You'll only get Catholic doctrines from me. I'm prolife and profamily. I'm very much in favor of the poor and the battlers and the recently arrived and doing what we can for relief and development overseas."

Archbishop Pell has been a strong supporter of the Vatican's line opposing the ordination of women. He is also a former member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is dedicated to ensuring orthodoxy within the church.

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Leading lay Catholic Chris Sidoti, who is also a former member of the federal government's Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission, told Australia's government-sponsored television and radio network, the ABC, that the appointment would take the church back to medieval times. "More authoritarian, less tolerant, not permissive of differences of views."

Paul Collins, a theologian, broadcaster, and author who two weeks ago resigned from the Catholic priesthood, told ENI that Archbishop Pell was an authoritarian, and part of the movement in the church that was turning Catholicism into a sect.

Advocates of women's ordination, such as Brigidine nun Sister Mary Mooney, have also expressed reservations about the appointment.

But Catholic author Mary-Helen Wood told the ABC: "You always feel with George Pell that he's very much in touch with current thinking elsewhere. He has a very young attitude to life. He's very good with young people, relates particularly well to little children, to teenagers to young adults. He's at his most comfortable when he's with the young, and they love him."

Conservative organizations, such as the Sydney-based Catholic Advocacy Center, have welcomed the appointment saying that the archbishop's uncompromising defense of core Catholic doctrine would lead to a revival in the church and a refreshment of the faith, and an increase in young men entering the priesthood.


Related Elsewhere


Other articles about Pell's appointment include:
Outgoing cardinal criticises Vatican | Cardinal Edward Clancy says Catholic hierarchy doesn't understand Australia's sense of egalitarianism. — The Age (Apr. 2, 2001)

Critical mass holds fire on Rainbow Sash protest | Pell's supporters say his doctrinal views are similar to Cardinal Clancy's but his approach is more confrontational — The Sydney Morning Herald (Apr. 2, 2001)

Parishioners not willing to cast the first stoneThe Sydney Morning Herald (Apr. 2, 2001)

Mark not so much his words as their timing | Cardinal Clancy doesn't want conservative Catholics to read the appointment of George Pell as a victory — The Sydney Morning Herald (Apr. 2, 2001

A reading from the book of Pell's: take a pew, Sydney | The arrival of a zealous and conservative Archbishop has focused interest on what plans he has for sex, drugs and rock'n'roll reform across the sprawling Catholic school system. — The Sydney Morning Herald (Mar 31, 2001)

For whom the Pell tolls | The arrival of Archbishop Pell is not an issue for Catholics only. He has been sent here to shake up Sydney. — The Sydney Morning Herald (Mar 31, 2001)

Pope chose Pell for the power of his personality | The choice of Sydney's new Catholic archbishop is part of a larger Vatican plan for strong leadership — The Sydney Morning Herald (Mar 30, 2001)

Pell: a baptism of fire | Archbishop moves north — The Age (Mar. 28, 2001)

Prepare to hear lots about that old-time religion | Sydney Catholics can expect a vigorous application of Rome's blueprint — The Sydney Morning Herald (Mar 28, 2001)

The Pope's man hits town | George Pell was sent from Melbourne by the Vatican, and his political clout will reach well beyond church circles as Sydney's next Catholic Archbishop — The Sydney Morning Herald (Mar 28, 2001)

Bully bishop or defender of the faith—a broad church awaits Pell | Catholics will be split over last night's appointment of a new Archbishop — The Sydney Morning Herald (Mar 26, 2001)

Dr Pell is coming to revitalise Sydney's CatholicsThe Sydney Morning Herald (Mar 26, 2001)
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Earlier Christianity Today articles about Australia include:

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)