NSW: God and his believers are not to blame: Pell

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2007
NSW: God and his believers are not to blame: Pell

Eds: Embargoed until 0001 AEDT Sunday, December 23



SYDNEY, Dec 23 AAP - Religion has been unfairly blamed for conflicts around the world
in recent years, but Christians should remember the benefits of their devotion, Sydney
Catholic Archbishop George Pell says.

In his Christmas message, the archbishop reminds Christians that the birth of Jesus
is a symbol of helplessness and hope.

"Christians believe that the almighty God has visited us, not just through prophets,
saints and humanitarian heroes, but through sending his son to be born of a virgin in
Bethlehem...," Cardinal Pell said.

"Babies are vulnerable, more helpless initially than any of the animals.

"So too was the son of God, but every birth inspires hope, even when it is only hope
against hope."

The archbishop said God and his believers were not to blame for the world's wars or
crimes and Christians should remember the benefits of their devotion.

"...God has been attacked angrily here and there in the English-speaking world and
believers have been accused of causing most of the wars and crimes in history," Cardinal
Pell said.

"This is an exaggeration as the moral monsters of the twentieth century Lenin, Stalin,
Mao and Pol Pot were atheists and Hitler bitterly hated Jews and Christians.

"But all believers have to acknowledge the downside of their long story, while asking
that their positive contributions are also recorded."

In July, more than 500,000 Christians will descend upon Sydney in celebration of World
Youth Day and a papal visit.

Cardinal Pell said followers would travel much farther than Mary and Joseph did for
the birth of their baby son Jesus in Bethlehem.

"I ask you all to welcome them into your hearts and perhaps, as at the Olympics, into
your homes," he said.

"As we celebrate again the birth of the helpless newly-born Christ child, we should
remember the sick and the sad, the lonely and the angry and reach out to help them."

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