'I would rather go to hell than take orders on how to vote from the Cardinal.'--Australian lawmaker

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Cloning Row Escalates

Comments: 5

Cardinal Pell and Morris Iemma the state premier

Sydney, Australia, Jun 7, 2007 / 09:26 am (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.

Comments: 5

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Grean Villacarlos
Cebu City Phillipines 06/10/2007 11:58 PM EST

This law maker has no idea what he's talking about. Be careful what you wish for Sir, remember, there's no water station in Hell.
Better if you denounce your catholic if you won't change your mind.

Published by: Jack
USA 06/07/2007 01:12 PM EST

He keeps that mind set and he just may go there. Pray for him.

Published by: Judy Watson
Lafayette, IN 06/07/2007 01:07 PM EST

When will these politicians figure out that the Church is trying to save their souls? One has to ask, do they even believe in heaven, hell, or even a God who is not of THEIR making. A lot of people are going to be surprised at their day of judgment when they discover perhaps they should have listened to what the Church advised.

Published by: Carson Weber
Brenham, TX USA 06/07/2007 12:07 PM EST

I believe that Tony Stewart's remarks betray a lack of belief in hell. If he believed what was confirmed by Our Lady of Fatima in 1917, he would not be so rash with his remarks.

On July 13, 1917, our Lady gave a vision of hell to the three children visionaries. As Lucy recounted in her journal: "As Our Lady spoke these last words, She opened Her hands once more, as She had done during the two previous months. The rays of light seemed to penetrate the earth, and we saw as it were a sea of fire. Plunged in this fire were demons and souls in human form, like transparent burning embers, all blackened or burnished bronze, floating about in the conflagration, now raised into the air by the flames that issued from within themselves together with great clouds of smoke, now falling back on every side like sparks in huge fires, without weight or equilibrium, amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair, which horrified us and made us tremble with fear. (It must have been this sight which caused me to cry out, as people say they heard me). The demons could be distinguished by their terrifying and repellent likeness to frightful and unknown animals, black and transparent like burning coals. That vision lasted only a moment, thanks to our good Mother of Heaven".

Mary then asked the children: "When you pray the Rosary, say after each mystery: O my Jesus, forgive us, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are most in need."

So let us pray!

Published by: Warren Anderson
Vancouver, BC, Canada 06/07/2007 11:48 AM EST

Don't politicians get it? In countries where embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) has been conducted, that same research has yielded no benefits (as promised by advocates of ESCR). Whereas, adult stem cell work and umbilical cord stem cell research has yielded excellent results. Those Catholic politicians are as ignorant about stem cell research as they are about their faith.

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