National News
Abbott denies urging Pell to criticise Labor
© ABC 2004
Abbott denies urging Pell to criticise Labor
6:05 AM October 1
Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott has revealed he met the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, George Pell, days before prominent churchmen spoke out against Labor's schools policy.
But Mr Abbott said he did not discuss Labor's schools plan during the meeting.
On the ABC's Lateline program, Mr Abbott was questioned over whether he had met Cardinal Pell in the days before a number of Catholic and Anglican archbishops, including Cardinal Pell, issued a statement condemning Labor's schools plan.
Mr Abbott immediately said he had not seen Cardinal Pell during the election campaign, but was then quick to clarify. [The question was "Did you meet with George Pell before he made these statements criticising Labor"? Abbot: "Not to my recollection". He was then reminded that the day before Pell made the statements that he actually did meet with Archbishop Pell. He then went on to say....] "Actually now you mention it I did meet with Cardinal Pell - so what, why shouldn't I meet with Cardinal Pell?" he said.
"Cardinal Pell is a fine man, he made a very good statement the other day about the Labor party's education policy." But Mr Abbott says he did not discuss Labor's schools policy with the Archbishop.
"That's a bizarre suggestion," he said.
"I may well have been going to confession to Cardinal Pell - I may well have been seeking pastoral counselling," he said.
Source: ABC
First off, how about some goddamn honesty and accountability? Isn't telling lies against god's teachings? Wasn't Tony Abbot the bloke who started up "Citizens for honest politics" (or something to that effect)?
Secondly, where's the separation between church and state? It's all well and good for the church to air their opinions publicaly, but to take their cue from a minister of cabinet! That's a breach of ministerial conduct, and Pell, who is a tool IMO anyway, should go read his bible and the constitution and count the ways in which he has erred. How can you ever tell when this government is telling the truth........"No I didn't see him". "Yes you did". "Oh yeah, sorry I forgot" Isn't that line reserved for the PM!