14 March 2009

Bishop Pat Power the Canberra Citizen of the Year

| johnboy
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It’s a bit late, but one to record for posterity.

Jon Stanhope has announced that Bishop Pat Power is the 2009 Canberra Citizen of the Year.

    “Bishop Power’s commitment extends far beyond the Catholic community. He can always be found providing comfort, companionship and spiritual guidance to those in need, attending to the sick and bereaved, speaking out against prejudice and inequality, or advocating publicly for Aboriginal reconciliation, refugee welfare, peacekeeping, racial respect, the unemployed and the rights of the old and the dying.” Mr Stanhope said.

    “Bishop Power is not only an exceptional example of a priest, but is an extraordinary human being who has spent his life advocating for the betterment of our society.” Mr Stanhope said.

    Mr Stanhope congratulated Bishop Power on the award and said “he is a fitting individual to receive the highest recognition that can be bestowed by the Territory upon one of its own for his sustained contribution to the citizens of Canberra.”

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Zilog said :

He’s at least as decent and nice a man as Brother Kostka. Obviously.

Hey Zilog – I can’t say too much for reasons that will (hopefully) become obvious in the near future, however, given my position with Time For Healing ACT I am hoping to speak to Pat Power soon seeking his position on the Churches ongoing poor handling of current case (i.e the sexual abuse of students at Marist and Daramalan).

On Kostka: he was charged again recently in relation to the sexual abuse of a student at a school in his pre-Marist days.

He’s at least as decent and nice a man as Brother Kostka. Obviously.

Pommy bastard said :

FJ, are you seriously telling me that Bishops and other clerics do not get more attention paid to their views, and a better platform to pontificate from, for being leaders in their sects and/or being better at believing their chosen version of the fairy tales?

For being leaders, yes. It’s hard to actually be a leader if no-one pays you any attention. Darwin meets organised religion. Having said that, I don’t think religious leaders get much press unless the meeja thinks their utterances are controversial enough.

Being better at believing? Probably not. Remember the old Yes Minister line about the number of atheists in the church of england. Better at toeing the party line perhaps.

I think the liberal priests and bishops who are out there arguing for the ordination of women and gays deserve some credit, don’t you? Particularly as the Catholic Church is well-known for kicking out the liberal dissenters, or finding other ways of keeping them quiet. Since the OP is about Pat Power, I’d be interested in whether you can focus your lens a bit on him, to see if you have any evidence that he’s as bad as the rest (e.g. the current pope).

Pommy bastard said :

FJ, are you seriously telling me that Bishops and other clerics do not get more attention paid to their views, and a better platform to pontificate from, for being leaders in their sects and/or being better at believing their chosen version of the fairy tales?

not from atheists.

or daughter.

NoAddedMSG said :

Furry Jesus: I have seen some research which suggests that the way you ask the religion question on the census has an affect on the outcome… that is, some people will read down the list and pick out the first answer that vaguely fits them, tick, then move on. So if you put “no religion” first, you get a higher % of the population ticking that box than you do if you put the “no religion” box last on the list. My understanding is that in the Australian census, “no religion” is put last.

Bless you, my son.

Pommy bastard4:52 pm 16 Mar 09

FJ, are you seriously telling me that Bishops and other clerics do not get more attention paid to their views, and a better platform to pontificate from, for being leaders in their sects and/or being better at believing their chosen version of the fairy tales?

Furry Jesus: I have seen some research which suggests that the way you ask the religion question on the census has an affect on the outcome… that is, some people will read down the list and pick out the first answer that vaguely fits them, tick, then move on. So if you put “no religion” first, you get a higher % of the population ticking that box than you do if you put the “no religion” box last on the list. My understanding is that in the Australian census, “no religion” is put last.

Forget the lions. What about throwing them to WMC and his ‘gang of hard men’?

Furry Jesus said :

Jim Jones said :

Meh, I’d still like to throw some of ’em to the lions though. Just for kicks.

those Hillsong people or anyone at all from the ‘happy happy joy joy’ brigade perhaps?

hillsong against the happy, happy joy joy brigade, then the winner gets thrown to the lions? twice the entertainment.

Jim Jones said :

Meh, I’d still like to throw some of ’em to the lions though. Just for kicks.

those Hillsong people or anyone at all from the ‘happy happy joy joy’ brigade perhaps?

justin heywood said :

Ah, what RiotAct debate would be complete without WMC and his faithful cohort of virtual heroes weighing in with a self-serving and sanctimonious lecture about tolerance, compassion and their ability to sniff out ‘bigotry’ no matter where it hides.

Keep it up, tough guys.

Well said, but remember they are internet tough guys. I’d wager there’s a world of difference between their intestinal fortitude and ‘outspoken-ness’ online and in the actual world.

Because someone is a member of the Catholic Church they must all be demons, they could never do any good apparently.

Sort of gives creedence to the ‘takes one to know one’ schoolyard baiting we all learnt as kids when it comes to the identification of bigots by WMC and his ‘gang of hard men’.

I await the pithy and witty hard man retort

You’re too Aquarian to do something like that.

I don’t believe you, Jim Jones.

: )

Meh, I’d still like to throw some of ’em to the lions though. Just for kicks.

Jim Jones said :

Religion is crap. Some religious people are good.

It’s not so complex really.

Cricket is a fine sport. Privately, Don Bradman had a dark side. John Howard worshipped the mythological DB, rather than the real one, much like the Bish worships the mythological version of my ancestor, not the real one.

I’m with Granny. Freedom good, discrimination bad.

I think freedom of religion is a basic human right. I do. I am glad I live in a society that says that discrimination based on religion is wrong.

peterh said :

AngryHenry said :

So how do they determine a person as being Canberra Citizen of the year?

Is there a vote, if so did anyone who’s commented partake?

Or is it something that the Chief Minister decides?

the chief minister would have a hand in it, wouldn’t he? so that the “wrong” citizen didn’t win…

I did some investigationing, and all I could find out was that you can nominate people, I couldn’t find anything else about voting so I am assuming the CM gets to decide who wins? Unless of course it’s based on the number of nominations they recieve for each person.

Aw hell…

I’m as wise to this as I was when I started.

Pommy bastard said :

Actually no I wouldn’t agree FG, most people who are not practicing believers would give a religion in a census.

That’s FJ to you, unbeliever. Don’t know how many people you talk to about religion these days, but many who don’t practice still name their religion by referring to the church their family identified with (e.g. many of my profoundly lapsed Catholic acquaintances still call themselves Catholic). What qualifies as ‘practising/non-practising’ anyway? So, yes, the ABS don’t say anything about margins of error, false positives etc. However, having actually taken a census, I think their figures are a better guide than your personal assertion about ‘most people’

Pommy bastard said :

And even if they are in a majority, and I have no reason to believe that god botherers are in a majority in this country, it doesn’t mean that each head of a sect should have a platform to espouse their own take on the manual, nor to give their views on anything outside of their sect, nor to tell me and others how we should conduct our lives and who we should condemn..

Does the same apply to leaders of other sectors of the community? i.e. no-one’s allowed to abuse their platform by actually using it to be part of a dalogue about things of interest to the rest of us (apart from you). Of course, then we’d be able to flame them for not speaking out. But us plebs just don’t have the brains to work out for ourselves what we think is worth listening to.

You seem to be quite happy using RA as your platform to bestow your views upon us. What sect do you belong to that entitles you to do what you seem to think Pat Power can’t? I notice that you don’t seem to have any particular Pat Power utterences to use as examples of talking outside of the sect, telling us how to live and who to condemn.

The empty vessel…

AngryHenry said :

So how do they determine a person as being Canberra Citizen of the year?

Is there a vote, if so did anyone who’s commented partake?

Or is it something that the Chief Minister decides?

the chief minister would have a hand in it, wouldn’t he? so that the “wrong” citizen didn’t win…

So how do they determine a person as being Canberra Citizen of the year?

Is there a vote, if so did anyone who’s commented partake?

Or is it something that the Chief Minister decides?

Religion is crap. Some religious people are good.

It’s not so complex really.

I am aware of that, peterh.

My point is that many people of many faiths believe in an invisible god or gods. Even the Aboriginal people have spiritual beliefs involving the existence of unseen entities.

To silence a voice because of a belief seems silly to me. I don’t understand why that is such a threatening thing. You either agree with a person or you disagree, just like everything else in life.

Granny said :

What about Muslims then? What about Hindus?

Hi granny,

The teachings of islam recognise both moses and jesus, but as prophets, the same status that they bestow their founder of religion. (I am not using his name intentionally, that would be direspectful) the two religions, christianity and islam have many similarities, but they don’t define the individual people, they are a part of the whole.

OT,
regardless of what the winner of canberra citizen of the year does for a living, He is a man who has done good things in the community. I don’t care what religion you are, or if you don’t believe at all. If you do things for the greater good of the community, i will applaud you.

Pommy bastard1:41 pm 16 Mar 09

Actually no I wouldn’t agree FG, most people who are not practicing believers would give a religion in a census.

And even if they are in a majority, and I have no reason to believe that god botherers are in a majority in this country, it doesn’t mean that each head of a sect should have a platform to espouse their own take on the manual, nor to give their views on anything outside of their sect, nor to tell me and others how we should conduct our lives and who we should condemn..

Pommy bastard said :

Also, his belief in god/the flying spaghetti monster/fairies gives him a platform to pontificate his views from.

Why should this be so?

Because, PB, the majority of the population are Christians. 64% in the 2006 Census – that’s a statistical majority, wouldn’t you agree? About 19% identified as non-religious, so while we poor atheists are still outnumbered by those recalcitrant believers, their ordained get the privilege of speaking out and having their views made public. Religious leaders get a platform, just like leaders in the other parts of our community. If only we non-believers were as well-organised and had ordained of our own to represent us.

What about Muslims then? What about Hindus?

Pommy bastard1:03 pm 16 Mar 09

Also, his belief in god/the flying spaghetti monster/fairies gives him a platform to pontificate his views from.

Why should this be so?

A Noisy Noise Annoys An Oyster said :

I don’t think he’d be opposed to pedophile priests. After all, the Hitler Youth himself is on record as saying that he (the Hitler Youth) – and the church – regard abortion as a far worse crime than child molestation by priests (and everybody else in the Church of Pedophilia).

WTF? What an idiotic thing to say.

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

I think that his dislike of fairies is one of WMC’s key points, actually.

His religion is only relevant to my argument insofar as it seems to be a get-out-of-jail free card if anybody dares to speak out about his harmful views. If he wasn’t religious, just anti-gay/lesbian, pro-life etc, people would feel free to speak out against him. But because it’s his religion, it’s suddenly hands off or you’re a bigot.

Are you saying that Pat Power actually holds ‘harmful views’ or do you assume he does because the Catholic Church holds them? Let’s make a distinction between the Pells of the world and the silent/silenced dissenters within the ranks. Approbation for the champions of the Church’s retrograde attitudes is well-deserved. As for the ones who don’t agree but don’t speak out, ask them why they don’t up and leave.

Woody Mann-Caruso12:40 pm 16 Mar 09

I think that his dislike of fairies is one of WMC’s key points, actually.

It irks me a little, but I’ll take a decent, hardworking person who champions human rights (all of them, not some of them) and who also believes in Jeebus any day over an atheist who thinks it’s OK to kick blacks, or Jews, or lesbians, or whatever.

His religion is only relevant to my argument insofar as it seems to be a get-out-of-jail free card if anybody dares to speak out about his harmful views. If he wasn’t religious, just anti-gay/lesbian, pro-life etc, people would feel free to speak out against him. But because it’s his religion, it’s suddenly hands off or you’re a bigot.

I think, for someone who holds the sorts of views on abortion and gay marriage that Jon Stanhope has demonstrated in his legislative program, for him to give the Bishop this award then the man’s contribution must have been extraordinary.

It is probably just me, but Pat Power sounds like a superhero power to me.

Superman: Don’t worry folks. I’ll save the day with my ultra-sonic, high-beam Pat Power!

One of the sad things I’ve learned about the Catholic Church over the years is that it’s full of people who believe in (1)abortion (2)contraception (3)gay/lesbian rights(remember the women WMC-they’re not gay) (4)making women priests (5)ending celibacy (6)standing up for the poor and the oppressed…many of them being priests and nuns, not just the wider congregation.

It seems that it’s harder to leave the Catholic Church than many of us, not just atheists like me, can ever understand. I had a friend who was a Dominican nun years ago – she hated the Vatican as a bed of mysogyny and patriarchal reaction, and would often tell me of the all the preists and nuns she knew who would never take their vows if they had it all to do over again.

I suspect that Pat Power is one of them.

justin heywood11:18 am 16 Mar 09

Ah, what RiotAct debate would be complete without WMC and his faithful cohort of virtual heroes weighing in with a self-serving and sanctimonious lecture about tolerance, compassion and their ability to sniff out ‘bigotry’ no matter where it hides.

Keep it up, tough guys.

Pommy bastard9:55 am 16 Mar 09

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

Explain to me again why ‘delusional’ is a value to be tolerated? Or why we should tolerate somebody who discriminates against gay people, or advocates for needlessly prolonging the suffering of the sick because it makes their particular flavour of sky monster happy?

What it boils down to is that you’re saying I should tolerate intolerance. I don’t tolerate it. I abhor it, and I stand against it. Your moral cowardice doesn’t worry me in the slightest.

+1

Actually you’ve got a good point WMC. If you are a representative of an organisation (and a leader of that), then I guess you too should be held to be judged for the conduct of that organisation.
I don’t doubt that the Bishop in question does good work.
but it does prompt the question of what we are willing to turn a blind eye to. What ‘good’ outways the ‘evil.’
I guess with charities even though they are trying to (and often do) do good things, if there core philosophies are not what I agree with then I can choose not to donate.

I know that I am not stating this as clearly as it seems in my head – but it is still early monday morning..

I think that his dislike of fairies is one of WMC’s key points, actually.

But if he its only fairies he believes in Jim, there is no hell and you have nothing to worry about.

Let me get this straight: WMC is a bigot, but someone who represents an organisation that states that gays, people who have abortions or use contraception, and anyone in a different religion are going to hell for all eternity is not?

Woody Mann-Caruso9:39 am 16 Mar 09

Just answer the questions, Sherlock. Explain to me, using what ever limited vocab you can muster, why I should tolerate a man who doesn’t tolerate others because a voice in his head and somebody in Rome tell him it’s OK.

I’m a moral coward? That’s very rich coming from someone who just shouts and tries to use angry words to make a point.

Courage has nothing to do with hiding behind a DSL line my friend, but I guess your just another of those internet ‘hard men’.

You are an insufferable bigot

Woody Mann-Caruso11:02 pm 15 Mar 09

Explain to me again why ‘delusional’ is a value to be tolerated? Or why we should tolerate somebody who discriminates against gay people, or advocates for needlessly prolonging the suffering of the sick because it makes their particular flavour of sky monster happy?

What it boils down to is that you’re saying I should tolerate intolerance. I don’t tolerate it. I abhor it, and I stand against it. Your moral cowardice doesn’t worry me in the slightest.

WMC

Your remarkable lack of tolerance seems to indicate that a bigot may well look straight back at you in the mirror every morning.

According to you no one of religion can do right

How come we have ACT Australian of the Year back in November and now Canberra Citizen of the Year?

What the hell is the difference?

I saw him donate blood at the blood bank. This is all I have to add to this thread.

Woody Mann-Caruso10:07 pm 15 Mar 09

Sorry, Woody Mann-Caruso. I hadn’t realised you DID go around defending the rigeht of the old and dying to take their own life. Somehow, I missed all that good work you did.

Now you know better.

While I’m more than a little skeptical about religion, I don’t see why this guy needs to be flamed. Bigotry is the enemy though, as noted above.

It’s not “bigotry” to call people who believe in imaginary things “stupid”, and it’s not “bigotry” to state that this man:

– proudly represents an organisation responsible for untold misery in the world
– shares, upholds and promotes the beliefs of this organisation that are directly responsible for this misery, including a ban on contraception, a ban on abortion, a ban on gay and lesbian rights and a ban on euthanasia
– thinks it’s ok to do all of this because he believes in fairies.

Saying “Oh, he’s a lovely bloke!” doesn’t change the fact that he’s the bigot, not me.

memberforbelconnen12:39 pm 15 Mar 09

What’s this? civilised conversation on the RiotACT?

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy said :

(VY) “I think it’s good that someone with strong beliefs get recognition. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having a strong moral framework, as opposed to the ‘everything is ok’ void that many people exist within.

Pat is a gentleman, let him have his recognition without some ass launching into stereotypes”

+2

Pommy bastard9:35 am 15 Mar 09

My apologies, I should not have kicked off this thread with that question.

I’ll happily admit that I am anti-religion, and find the catholic church more reprehensible than most.

But I’m sure the bishop deserves his award, and should be respected for his good works.

Again, my apologies to him, and to the RiotAct.

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy7:29 am 15 Mar 09

I think it’s good that someone with strong beliefs get recognition. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having a strong moral framework, as opposed to the ‘everything is ok’ void that many people exist within.

Pat is a gentleman, let him have his recognition without some ass launching into stereotypes

+1

memberforbelconnen3:45 am 15 Mar 09

Sorry, Woody Mann-Caruso. I hadn’t realised you DID go around defending the right of the old and daying to take their own life. Somehow, I missed all that good work you did.

While I’m more than a little skeptical about religion, I don’t see why this guy needs to be flamed. Bigotry is the enemy though, as noted above.

Woody Mann-Caruso12:15 am 15 Mar 09

And by the way, religious vilification is not legal in this country.

“I believe in, and talk to, invisible beings who control the world!”
“Well, it’s hospital for you, my mentally ill friend.”
“No, it’s my religion! Police, arrest that man! I’m being oppressed!”
“Right away, Your Holiness!”

I’m guessing he doesn’t go around defending the rights of the old and dying to take their own life.

vg said :

God forbid a member of the Catholic ministry gets an award. I mean shouldn’t they all be lumped in with the ped priests.

I mean all Muslims are terrorists and all Brazilian women are stunning………aren’t they

Pat is a gentleman, let him have his recognition without some ass launching into stereotypes

I don’t personally know him, but from what I hear, he is a genuine guy who does a lot of good. And I would never, ever, play the “all catholic priests are peadophiles” card.

I do have a problem with all religions. I think that, on the whole, they do more harm than good, but this thread is not the place to discuss it. I probably shouldn’t have made my earlier comment here about that.

Oh and vg, in my experience…all Brazilian women are stunning!!

God forbid a member of the Catholic ministry gets an award. I mean shouldn’t they all be lumped in with the ped priests.

I mean all Muslims are terrorists and all Brazilian women are stunning………aren’t they

Pat is a gentleman, let him have his recognition without some ass launching into stereotypes

nanzan said :

It is okay to be Catholic, it really is. Catholicism is not the enemy. I think bigotry might be, however.

I agree, nanzan. It really wouldn’t occur to me to worry about what religion or political persuasion a person is. It’s none of my business. I care more about who they are than what they believe.

nanzan said :

It is okay to be Catholic, it really is. Catholicism is not the enemy. I think bigotry might be, however.

Why is it that if one person believes in some sort of invisible superbeing that controls everything and sets rules and laws that if you don’t comply with you will be harshly punished they are considered to be mentally ill?

But if a million or more people believe in a similar concept, that is considered a religion?

Anyone who speaks their mind on controversial and difficult subjects – even when this is done with great empathy, love and tact, as is Bishop Pat’s way – is bound to attract great opposition and even animosity, from both within and without the Church.

Bishop Power is a deeply decent, committed, ecumenical, compassionate and humble man. If you have never spoken to him, may I suggest that you take the time to say g’day to him one day and have a chat. He is a great listener…especially for a bishop!!

And by the way, religious vilification is not legal in this country.

It is okay to be Catholic, it really is. Catholicism is not the enemy. I think bigotry might be, however.

Yes, Canberra, Patrick Power is a great person who is trying to represent and emulate a person, whom he knows and loves, who was even greater. A very worthwhile vocation I would have thought.

old canberran6:11 pm 14 Mar 09

Interesting comments. The guy gets an award for services rendered and immediately gets shot down in flames. I get the feeling it was not a popular choice for some reason or another. Perhaps it’s because he’s a St Eddies boy.

A Noisy Noise Annoys An Oyster5:15 pm 14 Mar 09

imhotep said :

Pommy bastard said :

(BP) “What are the Bishop’s stances on contraception, abortion, and paedophile priests?”

Well, given that he’s a Catholic bishop, I imagine he’s against all three. I’m with him on only one of those stances, but he, like anyone, is entitled to his view.

In any event, I think he is being recognised for his actions, not for his beliefs.

I don’t think he’d be opposed to pedophile priests. After all, the Hitler Youth himself is on record as saying that he (the Hitler Youth) – and the church – regard abortion as a far worse crime than child molestation by priests (and everybody else in the Church of Pedophilia).

In any event, I think he is being recognised for his actions, not for his beliefs.

Let’s hope so.

Pommy bastard said :

(BP) “What are the Bishop’s stances on contraception, abortion, and paedophile priests?”

Well, given that he’s a Catholic bishop, I imagine he’s against all three. I’m with him on only one of those stances, but he, like anyone, is entitled to his view.

In any event, I think he is being recognised for his actions, not for his beliefs.

I think that any Canberran nominated will have stances on these issues, but nobody else would get asked that question. If it was Jane Doe from The ACT Society for Sweetness and Light nobody would even think to ask.

I have no idea what his stances are, but is that some sort of mini-checklist that should go on the form? And, if so, should it only apply under, ‘If Catholic’ or ‘If Christian or Muslim’?

And if we make the consequences for holding various ethical and moral beliefs too socially punitory is that really a good thing for free speech in a free society?

Pommy bastard3:54 pm 14 Mar 09

What are the Bishop’s stances on contraception, abortion, and paedophile priests?

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