Cardinal George Pell has warned lay people against fleeing from the world and becoming preoccupied with church services and tasks of the priesthood.
Speaking in Ireland, the cardinal said the so-called culture wars “are entering a new phase of political struggle which can only be fought by laypeople”.
He urged young people to get involved in political life.
“We don’t need watered down and uncertain priests, and we don’t need lay faithful who seem determined to fill the gap,” he said.
The cardinal predicted future battles over the Church’s right to teach its doctrine in those of its schools which receive public funding.
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