Sydney, Australia, Oct 30, 2007 / 08:11 am
Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia launched his new book titled "God and Caesar" yesterday evening. The book contains various essays on the topics of bioethics, secularism, and the relation between faith and politics.
Cardinal Pell criticized the idea that religious concerns can be excluded from public debate because it is "not a native plant."
"The Australian idea of life in common is often generous and always capacious," he said. "A bit more religion here and there is something most will easily take in their stride, and probably nearly as many would be uneasy if religious voices were completely silent," he continued.
The cardinal particularly criticized the inconsistent way that religious involvement is welcomed in politics: "The separation of church and state is sometimes invoked as a principle when politicians or others disagree with what church leaders or agencies have said on social justice, government policy, or moral issues, but when they agree with church statements this principle is not mentioned."