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God knows you should say sorry, new archbishop tells PM

By Kelly Burke

8 June 2001 - Is the Prime Minister out of step with God? Possibly, according to Sydney's new Anglican archbishop, at least over Aboriginal reconciliation.

In his first public address as archbishop-elect, the Rev Dr Peter Jensen accused Australia yesterday of continuing to live off the proceeds of the crime of dispossession, and called on Mr Howard to examine his conscience over whether he should say sorry to the stolen generation.

"I think he is wrong and I will indicate that to him," Dr Jensen said. "I think he has a view [on reconciliation] which unfortunately is not communal enough. I think his view is too individualistic."

When asked if Mr Howard's view might be out of step with the community's, he replied:

"It doesn't worry me if Mr Howard is out of step with the community. The question is, is he out of step with God? ... I'd say to Mr Howard if he were here today, please Mr Howard, keep reading your Bible, keep saying your prayers, keep listening to God."

Mr Howard responded later by questioning the existence of a single view on reconciliation within the Anglican Church.

His spokesman, Mr Gary Dawson, said: "It is important with difficult and sensitive issues that community leaders should not presume to interpret God's will too narrowly. I am sure that within the Anglican Church there would be a range of views on indigenous issues. Many Anglicans would favour the Government's strong support for practical reconciliation."

The rector in charge of Mr Howard's pastoral care in Sydney declined to speculate on the state of relations between God and the Prime Minister.

"You'll have to ask Mr Howard himself," said the Rev Greg Olliffe of St Giles, Greenwich.

Dr Jensen's forthright comments took many by surprise at the press conference, called less than 48 hours after his election victory. As principal of Moore Theological College for the past 16 years, his image has generally been one of a theologically conservative scholar, not strident political and social commentator.

But yesterday he also prodded the Government over the treatment of illegal immigrants.

"I'm very sympathetic to the Government ... I don't believe there are simple solutions," he said. "But I believe if we want to know whether our community is travelling well, we need to go to places like Villawood ... and ask ourselves, how we are treating the alien and the stranger in our midst? ... It seems to me that the Federal Government could improve its game in this area."

Uniting Church backs up Jensen

8 June 2001 - AAP - Uniting Church minister Harry Herbert today urged Prime Minister John Howard to listen to criticism from the Anglican Church and say sorry to Aborigines.

Sydney's Anglican Archbishop-elect Canon Peter Jensen yesterday said Mr Howard was wrong on reconciliation and questioned whether he was out of step with God.

Reverend Herbert today agreed with Canon Jensen but said it may have been better to have a word to the prime minister in private.

"Maybe it's something you do over the phone or face-to-face rather than do it publicly," Mr Herbert told the Nine Network's Today Show.

"But I do hope that the prime minister will hear what is being said, no matter how it's being said, he'll hear it and see that it doesn't matter how many Anglicans in Australia might agree with the prime minister, the fact is that we do need reconciliation and the prime minister needs to say sorry."

Canon Jensen said Mr Howard's views on reconciliation were not communal enough and needed to be a recognition of the Christian understanding.

Mr Herbert said he was pleased with Canon Jensen's comments because it was a longstanding issue with all Christian churches in Australia.

It had the potential to alienate Christians, but Mr Howard was an Anglican and there was more sense in an Anglican archbishop making such comments instead of a Uniting Church minister, he said.

"Yes but nevertheless those Christians, along with the prime minister, do need to do what the new Archbishop is suggesting - that is, they do need to think about these issues in terms of their faith," Mr Herbert said.

"Reconciliation, apologies, saying sorry are key elements of Christian belief and they can't be escaped."

Clip from The Sydney Morning Herald

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