"On June 5 Cardinal Pell stated, “… it is a serious moral matter and Catholic politicians who vote for this legislation must realise that their voting has consequences for their place in the life of the church”."

Well at the rate people are leaving the Church - its pastors are only helping to speed up the progress of decline.

How differently all this appears to the ministry of Jesus.

Kevin, you do realise Jesus drove people out of the temple? Why do people always think Christianity/Catholicism is about tolerance? Loving people, yes. Tolerating evil, no. Cardinal Pell has made a judgment that certain actions/beliefs are inconsistent with the Catholic Church's view of morality. Good on him for sticking to his values, and those of his church.

What Cardinal Pell has done is oppose the greatest medical break through in the history of medicine. The potential for Stem Cell therapy to cure disease and alleviate human suffering is absolutely enormous. So, in short, Cardinal Pell is pro-human suffering and anti-science.

I bet that he also miffed at the latest census results. Nearly a fifth of the Australian adult population do not subscibe to a particular religion. Therefore, over time Catholicism will lose its political muscle in Australian society as this figure grows.

If a more scientifically literate and pro-science society replaces the myopia of religion then this is an overwhelmingly good thing. Human suffering will be diminished.

YngNLuvnIt, do you understand the concept of the separation of the Church and State?

Pell's error is not in voicing his theological views about science he doesn't understand - rather, it is in his open effort to influence the votes of Catholic Members of Parliament along the doctrinaire lines prescribed by his Church.

Fair Go Mr Public Opinion

I'm also a practicing Catholic, and I agree with Rhiannon's POV.

Cardinal Pell, has, IMHO, represented Catholic contribution to Australian social justice issues remarkably. However, on this issue he was a bit heavy handed.

MPs will hopefully follow their conscience, rather than be bullied into voting a certain way. It's not a church state. Having said that, it would take a strong member of the Liberal party to put themselves out like that.

The bill has allegedly legalised the following:

• Human embryo cloning (so-called 'somatic cell nuclear transfer' or 'therapeutic cloning') - which makes a human embryo with only one genetic parent
• Mixing the genetic material of more than two persons - which makes a human embryo with three or more genetic parents
• Fertilizing immature eggs taken from aborted girls with adult male sperm - which makes a human embryo with an aborted baby girl as its genetic 'mother'"
• Creating human-animal hybrids as a test for sperm quality - which makes an embryo with a human and an animal genetic parent.

I am no expert but it seems to me that the Catholic Church would not be the only one to have problems with this. For instance, the production of human embryonic stem cells is prohibited in Germany, and here the Green Party - otherwise a strong critic of established Christian Churches - is one of the most outspoken supporters of the prohibition.

I live now outside of Australia, and have difficulties finding on internet an EXACT quote by Pell, where he says he would refuse - personally and/or via instructions to priests under his jurisdiction - Communion to certain MP’s.

“The Cardinal suggested that the “consequences” could mean that Catholic MPs who voted for the stem cell research bill could be refused communion.” is NOT an exact quote.

The weaker statement “… it is a serious moral matter and Catholic politicians who vote for this legislation must realise that their voting has consequences for their place in the life of the church” seems to be an exact quote but I could not find it on the Archdiocese of Sydney homepage.