Editorial opinion
Editorial opinion
July 17, 2008
Section: Opinion
By Amanda Beadman, Editor.
It doesn’t take much to recognise that many people, locally and globally, are struggling with economic hardship brought about by rising food, petrol and accommodation costs.
The increase in cost is due to the fact that there are simply not enough resources.
The global population has been consuming more food than it has been producing for a number of years and this is further complicated by the challenges of global warming.
Second to the matter of survival is the issue of quality of life.
Many parents are struggling to cope with mental health issues and drug addiction because of the stresses of daily life – and DoCS statistics show that their children are suffering as a result.
Into this equation waltzes Cardinal George Pell – a man who has the ears of millions of wide-eyed devotees as he tells them of an urgent need to go forth and multiply, populate or perish.
Many will see this as irresponsible advice that is the complete opposite of what really needs to be done to ensure the possibility of prosperity and happiness for future generations.
Any new additions to a population beset by so many logistical challenges should be made out of thoughtfulness and with careful consideration - not out of a misplaced, erroneous fear that the human race is facing extinction.
If even half the pilgrims Pell addressed take his advice on board, it is difficult to underestimate the damage that will be done to a world where we are already unable to feed, clothe and protect vast numbers of adults and children.
It will give the Pope something new to apologise for.
- Jul 24, 2008 @ 10:57am
So if he's telling us to go forth and multiply, he couldn't really be against cloning could he? I mean, if the technology gets better and cloning was suddenly an efficient and faster way of producing white people - sorry - Catholics, and given how urgent this situation of needing more Catholics is, how could he argue against it? Then that would leave sex for just pleasure wouldn't it.
- Jul 23, 2008 @ 03:06pm
I think George Pell's standing in the Sydney community threatens to undermine any of the good work the Catholic Church may have achieved during World Youth Day. He seems out of touched and not well liked.
- Jul 22, 2008 @ 06:39pm
Cardinal Pell has been out of touch with the average Australian for years - I mean really, what sort of religion encourages the spread of HIV and AIDs through its ban on condoms?
- Jul 22, 2008 @ 06:18pm
Although I have not been privy to the exact phrasing of Cardinal Bell's comments - I agree that, with so many children in need of adoption and good homes, it seems needless to encourage families to have more children. Of course, many will still choose to have their own kids and this is their right, but seriously half the existing world is perishing from starvation, abuse and neglect already. Even if a person can't adopt or doesn't want to, there are options like sponsorship available, which I would seriously encourage people to investigate.
- Jul 22, 2008 @ 06:07pm
I recently watched the broadcast of an ABC Current Affairs Commentator and a South African Bishop discuss this very matter. The South African Bishop quoted statistics to support Cardinal Pell, the ABC commentator quoted what seemed intuitive sense. The unfortunate aspect of the debate for the Bishop is that the Catholic Church has always promoted unbridled proliferation. Coupled with their stance on condom useage (cultural change not quick fix, quoth the Bishop...) I'm having troubles retaining faith in the Bishops statistics (which we all know are easily manipulated when applied to such a generalised topic). The point being, the Bishop is wrong on a basic level; "the world is dangerously over-populated", i.e. we're running out of room. So, in the shallow form of an argument sans multi-faceted studies and expert opinion, I'm going with the ABC Current Affairs commenter on this one. Put a condom on kids, for the love of God.
- Jul 22, 2008 @ 03:23pm
It's important to remember that Pell's primary motivation for a statement like this is not necessarily for future generation to be happy and properous. Instead, his endeavours are strictly in aid of the Catholic church and its proliferation. Pell encourages relgious breeding in aid of relgion, not of humanity. Also, isn't it interesting that World Youth Day has long been synonymous with outbreaks of Chlamydia. They're clearly trying! Haha
Comment count: 7
I couldn’t agree more Amanda! Pell seems to be confused and his array of mixed messages throughout the WYD celebrations couldn’t make my head spin any faster! Pell paid tribute to the ideas of young people in reinvigorating the Catholic church to make it more appealing to the youth of the world. However when addressing youth there were two messages delivered, he urged young students to stick by their morals and not be swayed by their university peers as some Catholic students turned their backs on their faith to focus on studies and to help fit in with their social life. And secondly and more shockingly the WYD event was pro-sex when Cardinal Pell delivered the message to go forth and populate. Was he really talking to Students and the young up and coming generation of Catholics? Sexpo jumped aboard and claimed “It is a place where young adult pilgrims can procreate and get in touch with their sexuality without feeling ungodly," I’m more surprised that the wedding planners of Sydney have not jumped in to wave the Catholic flag in honour of the sanctity of sex after marriage! Will we see a spate of quickie weddings over the next few years? Pell’s encouragement for sex may seem shocking to me, but to the sex abuse victims that the church has left behind, they must be devastated.