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Cardinal Pell on "Diabolical" Porn, a Great New Generation of Priests, and Entering Politics

By John Jalsevac

FRONT ROYAL, VA, May 19, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Australia's Cardinal George Pell, was in Front Royal, Virginia May12-14 celebrating Mass and giving the Commencement address at Christendom College.  LifeSiteNews.com interviewed the Australian Church leader at the college.  This is the final instalment of a three-part interview. (for first two parts see below)

LifeSiteNews.com: Following on that question, you yourself have admitted in the past a certain amount of regret at not having preached more often on moral matters from the pulpit. By this point then you've admitted that you've learned your lesson and altered your tactics. What would your advice be to young priests or other spiritual leaders in regards to moral matters, especially on the issue of sexual morality? How should they engage those?

Cardinal Pell: "Well, I think the pope has given the lead with his first encyclical on love. Love is at the heart of what we're doing, the love of God, love of one another. We can't just appear just as people who are always saying "no".

"Secondly I think that John Paul II's theology of the body is something, at least in Australia, many young faithful Catholics find to do the right thing; sexually they have found it an immense help.

"And then also I think we've got to explain to society at large not just from the point of view of Christian morality but from natural morality the importance of heterosexual marriage, a man and a woman, the immense benefits that brings to society, and the burdens that other arrangements often bring to society. It's built into the nature of man and woman. Therefore a man and a woman, the natural mother and father, are far better carers [sic] and deliverers of love and successful outcomes for their children than any other conceivable option."

LifeSiteNews.com: Do you believe on the whole the priests aren't preaching this as often as they ought from the pulpit. Is that an issue?

Cardinal Pell: "It's probably changing now with the younger ones, the younger priests, who have been trained and educated, more informed about psychosexual development, more informed about theology of the body.

"I think a number of people in my generation reacted and rebelled against an excessive Puritanism-which was a bit too strict and too negative-and often fell silent and didn't give to the generation that was then growing up effective guidelines for love.

"I think the pendulum amongst the serious Catholics is swinging back closer to where it should be. But in society generally it's very wild, and of course now you've got the new growth of pornography, videos, the internet, and all the sort of thing, which is really quite diabolical."

LifeSiteNews.com: Actually, maybe I'll pursue that further. LifeSite has been reporting a lot lately on the effect of pornography on the culture. What's your opinion on that? How has it affected the culture and what can we do to bring it to an end?

Cardinal Pell: "Well, it's so big and so powerful that I'm not sure we're going to be able to bring it to an end. But I think we should talk about it. And we should try to get sociological data that's accurate. Perhaps even from sources that aren't particularly Catholic, and just show how it closes people in on themselves, and makes it hard for them to relate to others, especially if they become addicted to pornography, how destructive that is for their own sexual life as an adult in an ongoing relationship, adult relationship, you know, a man and a woman. As well as giving out clear moral lines, we need to dip into this, find out about this research and tell people about it. Because, if you conform to the natural way of things that brings genuine benefits."

LifeSiteNews.com: Alright, do you think the proliferation of pornography has affected…I mean, the divorce rates are so high right now. Do you believe that pornography is a cause of that?

Cardinal Pell: "I don't have any stats on that. I'd be very surprised if that's not the case. An English magazine that I read, called The Spectator, some months ago had a number of articles on pornography, and one of those was written by a woman whose marriage was being destroyed by her husband's addiction to pornography."

LifeSiteNews.com: What do you believe that the most important thing that we can do, as the common man, to engage this culture of death that is so prevalent right now, and what's the most important thing that we can do to bring about a culture of life?

Cardinal Pell:  "Well that's a big question. But for a university student…do a good course, get into a good job, marry a good woman, and have children. And teach them the right way.

"But I think more generally, I think it's important that a goodly number of young men and women go into politics. In Australia we've got a situation where there are an increasing number of women going into politics, but in one of the parties they have a thing called Emily's list. So to get pre-selection for that party you have to be anti-life. So it makes it very difficult for males if a whole phalanx of women politicians are anti-life. Makes it hard, harder, for males to be pro-life.

"So, we need good men in politics, and we need good women in politics too. And I suspect that would be true also here in the States, as well as Australia. Now politics isn't for everyone. In some ways it's an awful game. But on the other hand it's mightily important. And it's very important that good people go into politics--it's not something for the clergy, it really is a lay responsibility--and that the lay people exercise their rights and responsibility to provide Christian leadership in public life."

The first and second part of the interview can be viewed here:
Cardinal Pell on Sexual Abuse Scandal: "Obviously Connected with Problem of Homosexuality"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/may/06051811.html
Cardinal Pell to Pro-Abortion Politicians: "How come you feel that you're able to go to Communion?"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/may/06051901.html

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