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Greens lobby Vatican to reject Pell
Wednesday 13 April 2005
Following reports that George Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney, has emerged as a dark horse to become the next Pope, Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has written to the Vatican urging the Catholic Church to deny the ultra conservative leader a promotion to head the church.
"Who can forget his infamously offensive slur when he told church goers 'abortion is a worse moral scandal than priests sexually abusing young people'?" Ms Rhiannon said.
"His tenure has been marked by division, where progressive elements of the church have been stymied at every turn.
"Pope Pell would be a retrograde step for global health as he still opposes the use of condoms that help protect people from HIV AIDS.
"His ultra conservative agenda has opposed loving same sex couples being able to marry, as well as safe injecting rooms that save lives.
"Surely there is a more progressive option than George Pell, after all it wouldn't be difficult", Ms Rhiannon said.
