World Youth Day begins in Sydney on the 15 July. If you’re not Catholic, and you’re not young, you may have little or no interest in this event. However, there are a number of insights that you may want to be aware of as this expression of young people jumping for Jesus in the presence of the Pope begins.
Firstly, the New South Wales state government has put in $86 million, and the federal government has put in $20 million. The entire event is going to cost $130 million dollars. The Catholic faithful and the New South Wales taxpayers are going to have to cough up the rest. This is one hell of a lot of money for what is a small section of the community. Yes, the Catholic church makes up the second largest religious denomination in Australia. But it amazes me how much sway the church has, and how much money it can pull in. The justification from both levels of government would be that this event will bring a lot of revenue into not only the New South Wales economy, but also the national economy. I agree completely. But why wasn’t that reasoning used when the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras was in financial trouble a couple of years ago.
All the Mardi Gras committee needed to stay afloat and put the event on, was $100,000. Yes, just $100,000. What did the New South Wales government say to the request? No. This event brings in hundreds of millions of dollars into the New South Wales economy each year not to mention flow on national tourism, but the New South Wales government could not pass with a miserable $100,000. But, along comes the very influential Catholic church, and bingo, $86 million appears from the heavens to shower the Catholic youth of the world.
Thank God for people like Father Peter Confeggi, a Sydney priest who is appalled at the amount of money being spent on this event. Father Confeggi said that:
“The amount of money being spent on every level of it, the publications are of the most glossy material, it just doesn’t resonate with the church where I am a priest.”
The other insight into this event which absolutely astounded me was Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, approving all the tacky merchandise that is on sale, stating, “There’s nothing wrong with a little commercialism.” If another secular event was spending this much money, and was flooding the market with cheap trinkets and commercialised rubbish, Cardinal George would have a field day, and the word ‘immoral’ would be the first word out of his mouth. But, this is for God, so it’s okay. There was once a joke about Pat Robertson, the US evangelist, who said that Mother Teresa ‘wasn’t a real Christian’. The comedian’s answer to that was, “Of course she’s not, Pat. She doesn’t have a tax shelter and a University.”
So it’s a good serve of hypocrisy all around. The christian churches can snap their fingers and everyone comes running. And like Dick Cheney as VP to George Bush, Pope Benedict XVI seems to have more power than any other pontiff in living memory.
“…a chalice, Communion plate and vessel to hold Communion hosts adorned by argyle diamonds being made for a rumoured six-figure sum, would be given to the Pope, who will be in Australia for the event.”
It stuns me that the Catholic Church can command this level of spending, and everyone thinks it’s ok. I applaud Fr. Confeggi for having the balls to stand up to his very powerful boss, and openly criticise what is a disgrace. At least the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has its basis in a human rights protest which originated in the 1970’s. What it has become is a testament to the struggle of those who have gone before us. What is the purpose of this event? To keep our young people narrow minded, conservative, and ignorant.
What I’m going to do is send an email to Fr. Confeggi and thank him for being a beacon of common sense. He is Parish Priest of the Catholic community in Mt. Druitt, one of the most disadvantaged in Sydney. That’s the sort of person that should be leading the world’s Catholics. It’s the closest thing to Jesus’ original vision I have heard in a very long time.
What is even more tragic is that he will probably be called up in front of Cardinal Pell and chastised for going to the media about this. Something tells me that he won’t care.
July 6, 2008
Hypocrisy all around.
Posted by damob under Social commentaryLeave a Comment
World Youth Day begins in Sydney on the 15 July. If you’re not Catholic, and you’re not young, you may have little or no interest in this event. However, there are a number of insights that you may want to be aware of as this expression of young people jumping for Jesus in the presence of the Pope begins.
Firstly, the New South Wales state government has put in $86 million, and the federal government has put in $20 million. The entire event is going to cost $130 million dollars. The Catholic faithful and the New South Wales taxpayers are going to have to cough up the rest. This is one hell of a lot of money for what is a small section of the community. Yes, the Catholic church makes up the second largest religious denomination in Australia. But it amazes me how much sway the church has, and how much money it can pull in. The justification from both levels of government would be that this event will bring a lot of revenue into not only the New South Wales economy, but also the national economy. I agree completely. But why wasn’t that reasoning used when the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras was in financial trouble a couple of years ago.
All the Mardi Gras committee needed to stay afloat and put the event on, was $100,000. Yes, just $100,000. What did the New South Wales government say to the request? No. This event brings in hundreds of millions of dollars into the New South Wales economy each year not to mention flow on national tourism, but the New South Wales government could not pass with a miserable $100,000. But, along comes the very influential Catholic church, and bingo, $86 million appears from the heavens to shower the Catholic youth of the world.
Thank God for people like Father Peter Confeggi, a Sydney priest who is appalled at the amount of money being spent on this event. Father Confeggi said that:
“The amount of money being spent on every level of it, the publications are of the most glossy material, it just doesn’t resonate with the church where I am a priest.”
http://www.theage.com.au/national/with-a-few-cardinal-points-pilgrims-do-business-20080705-32db.html
The other insight into this event which absolutely astounded me was Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, approving all the tacky merchandise that is on sale, stating, “There’s nothing wrong with a little commercialism.” If another secular event was spending this much money, and was flooding the market with cheap trinkets and commercialised rubbish, Cardinal George would have a field day, and the word ‘immoral’ would be the first word out of his mouth. But, this is for God, so it’s okay. There was once a joke about Pat Robertson, the US evangelist, who said that Mother Teresa ‘wasn’t a real Christian’. The comedian’s answer to that was, “Of course she’s not, Pat. She doesn’t have a tax shelter and a University.”
So it’s a good serve of hypocrisy all around. The christian churches can snap their fingers and everyone comes running. And like Dick Cheney as VP to George Bush, Pope Benedict XVI seems to have more power than any other pontiff in living memory.
“…a chalice, Communion plate and vessel to hold Communion hosts adorned by argyle diamonds being made for a rumoured six-figure sum, would be given to the Pope, who will be in Australia for the event.”
http://www.theage.com.au/national/with-a-few-cardinal-points-pilgrims-do-business-20080705-32db.html
It stuns me that the Catholic Church can command this level of spending, and everyone thinks it’s ok. I applaud Fr. Confeggi for having the balls to stand up to his very powerful boss, and openly criticise what is a disgrace. At least the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has its basis in a human rights protest which originated in the 1970’s. What it has become is a testament to the struggle of those who have gone before us. What is the purpose of this event? To keep our young people narrow minded, conservative, and ignorant.
What I’m going to do is send an email to Fr. Confeggi and thank him for being a beacon of common sense. He is Parish Priest of the Catholic community in Mt. Druitt, one of the most disadvantaged in Sydney. That’s the sort of person that should be leading the world’s Catholics. It’s the closest thing to Jesus’ original vision I have heard in a very long time.
What is even more tragic is that he will probably be called up in front of Cardinal Pell and chastised for going to the media about this. Something tells me that he won’t care.
Enjoy your day.