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Test Everything: Hold Fast to What Is Good
From the new man in Rome, Cardinal George Pell! AT a time when "the God question'' has rarely been as controversial, Test Everything, Hold Fast to What is Good puts the case that: "It is more reasonable to believe in God than to reject the hypothesis of God by appealing to chance. Goodness, truth and beauty call for an explanation as do the principles of mathematics, physics, and the purpose-driven miracles of biology which run through our universe.'' Regardless of whether readers share his values and outlook, Cardinal George Pell has given them a provocative incitement to think and wonder about life's biggest questions that confront us all, sooner or later. Connor Court is proud to publish the Cardinal's new book, a collection of 80 pieces that are incisive, often unpredictable, sometimes sensitive, occasionally hard-hitting, always engaging and never, ever dull. Readers will feel closer to Christ, and feel that they know Him a little better after exploring His life, teachings and what they mean for our lives and our loved ones in the cyber age.
386 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2010
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About the author
George Pell
23 books23 followersGeorge Pell was an Australian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and the inaugural Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, from 2014 to 2019, and was a member of the Council of Cardinal Advisers between 2013 and 2018.
He previously served as the eighth Archbishop of Sydney (2001-2014), Auxiliary Bishop (1987–1996) and Archbishop (1996–2001) of the Archdiocese of Melbourne. He was created a cardinal in 2003.
He previously served as the eighth Archbishop of Sydney (2001-2014), Auxiliary Bishop (1987–1996) and Archbishop (1996–2001) of the Archdiocese of Melbourne. He was created a cardinal in 2003.
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July 22, 2022
I don't like this types of books, whether in a religious or secular context. The "type" here being merely a compilation of pastoral letters, speeches or homilies delivered by Cardinal and later Arch-Bishop George Pell. It isn't a conventional book, but rather (though my wording might be a bit unfair) a somewhat cynical attempt to bolster the writer's bibliography. Some years ago, I read another such books by a retired local priest of mine, and it was certainly no more enjoyable but in fact much less.
But all that being said, it is hard not to find much of this book at least moderately enjoyable. Pell does have some strong moments of beautiful reflection on the Gospel message, and he makes some powerful and relevant critiques against modern Western culture. But there's something I find a bit off-putting about him. And it isn't entirely to do with his greatly tarnished reputation. I'm not sure how many people outside Australia are aware of the very publicised and politicised paedophilia accusations that were made against him. He actually went away for it, serving time in prison for a year or so - I can't remember exactly. But then he won his appeal case with High Court and was exonerated (much to the great chagrin of his many detractors, anti-Catholics and general assholes who seemed desperate to scapegoat him for the crimes committed by Catholic priests irrespective of his own guilt or innocence).
Really, the question of whether the accusations were true or not is not necessarily relevant to this book, but one cannot avoid the unpleasant awareness. In this case, one cannot know, and I think it largely depends on one's predisposition. If you hate the Catholic Church (and much as I dislike that position, the truth is that there was, and perhaps may still be, a deep systemic flaw within the Church's handling of such crimes, which has proved much more harmful to its reputation than any of its external enemies could ever dream of), there is not much incentive to assume the usual "innocent until proven guilty". I saw this shit even in my own family, where my brother (a lapsed Catholic) seems so certain that he's guilty simply because he is a Catholic priest and seems to fix the archetype of a creepy old white man.
Given the obscene nature of the accusations (such as him literally making a boy perform fellatio on him in the sacristy directly after mass, with parishioners literally waiting outside - you know, the sort of shit you'd find in an amateur smut book), I do believe and hope that he is innocent. But I am not 100% convinced either. All I can say is that, if he really did do these things, then he desperately needs to reconsider hiding in his legal innocence, repent and do his utmost to repair the lives he ruined. Call me naïve, but after reading this book, I am even more doubtful that he would have stooped so deeply into sin, let alone not confessed it publicly when faced with justice. My instinct just tells me he can't have been guilty.
Anyway, Pell is an odd and controversial case, and personally I do not really like him, even though I think he has been dealt one hell of an evil turn by the world. But the book, if you are able to read it without feeling too grossed out by the outside (and doubtful) possibility he was really a paedophile, responsible for the suicide of one of his victims, the book is standard fare. For his own soul, I pray he is innocent. And in that case, whatever did happen to his accusers (were they completely lying, telling the truth but wrongly naming him as the perpetrator, or indeed telling the whole truth), one can only pray for them as well.
But all that being said, it is hard not to find much of this book at least moderately enjoyable. Pell does have some strong moments of beautiful reflection on the Gospel message, and he makes some powerful and relevant critiques against modern Western culture. But there's something I find a bit off-putting about him. And it isn't entirely to do with his greatly tarnished reputation. I'm not sure how many people outside Australia are aware of the very publicised and politicised paedophilia accusations that were made against him. He actually went away for it, serving time in prison for a year or so - I can't remember exactly. But then he won his appeal case with High Court and was exonerated (much to the great chagrin of his many detractors, anti-Catholics and general assholes who seemed desperate to scapegoat him for the crimes committed by Catholic priests irrespective of his own guilt or innocence).
Really, the question of whether the accusations were true or not is not necessarily relevant to this book, but one cannot avoid the unpleasant awareness. In this case, one cannot know, and I think it largely depends on one's predisposition. If you hate the Catholic Church (and much as I dislike that position, the truth is that there was, and perhaps may still be, a deep systemic flaw within the Church's handling of such crimes, which has proved much more harmful to its reputation than any of its external enemies could ever dream of), there is not much incentive to assume the usual "innocent until proven guilty". I saw this shit even in my own family, where my brother (a lapsed Catholic) seems so certain that he's guilty simply because he is a Catholic priest and seems to fix the archetype of a creepy old white man.
Given the obscene nature of the accusations (such as him literally making a boy perform fellatio on him in the sacristy directly after mass, with parishioners literally waiting outside - you know, the sort of shit you'd find in an amateur smut book), I do believe and hope that he is innocent. But I am not 100% convinced either. All I can say is that, if he really did do these things, then he desperately needs to reconsider hiding in his legal innocence, repent and do his utmost to repair the lives he ruined. Call me naïve, but after reading this book, I am even more doubtful that he would have stooped so deeply into sin, let alone not confessed it publicly when faced with justice. My instinct just tells me he can't have been guilty.
Anyway, Pell is an odd and controversial case, and personally I do not really like him, even though I think he has been dealt one hell of an evil turn by the world. But the book, if you are able to read it without feeling too grossed out by the outside (and doubtful) possibility he was really a paedophile, responsible for the suicide of one of his victims, the book is standard fare. For his own soul, I pray he is innocent. And in that case, whatever did happen to his accusers (were they completely lying, telling the truth but wrongly naming him as the perpetrator, or indeed telling the whole truth), one can only pray for them as well.
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