Church-State Relations in Australia

Today The Australian [HERE] reports that a West Australian parliamentary committee will investigate Archbishop Barry Hickey for stating that Catholic public officials who support embryonic stem cell research should not receive holy communion and could face excommunication in the future. Although the archbishop has indicated that his words should not be considered a threat, the Speaker of the state Parliament has reacted otherwise and will commence an investigation of the archbishop. I suspect that most Australians familiar with this development realize that Cardinal George Pell of Sydney made statements similar to Archbishop Hickey within the last several days. My examination of both bishops words indicate that they parallel those made by some American bishops and the Holy Father on the duties of Catholic politicians and receipt of  the Eucharist. While the Speaker of the state Parliament, Mr. Fred Riebeling, may believe that a bishop who is mindful of Church teachings and is prepared to enforce them in the exercise of his pastoral responsibilities threatens Catholic public officials, I wonder if the Speaker views his words and actions as threats to the freedom of the Church? Following the Speaker’s position and line of thinking, one could argue, I suppose, that Bishop Clemens August von Galen “threatened” the National Socialists when he exercised his proper pastoral responsibilities and teaching duties among the faithful.    RJA sj