The speaker of the West Australian parliament has strongly rebuked Perth Archbishop Barry Hickey for suggesting there could be consequences for Catholic politicians who voted for stem cell research.Archbishop Hickey was reported last week as saying WA's Catholic politicians supporting stem cell research should not take holy communion and may face excommunication.
The Archbishop later denied his comments were meant to threaten MPs.
WA's parliamentary speaker Fred Riebeling tabled in parliament Thursday a letter he sent to Archbishop Hickey as chairman of the state parliamentary privileges committee.
Mr Riebeling notes that comments which threaten MPs may be considered contempt of parliament and punished by the committee.
"It is plain that improper interference with the performance of the duties of Members of Parliament cannot be allowed the occur," Mr Riebeling said.
"The committee considers that irrespective of whether the facts establish that a threat was indeed made, in this instance at least that impression was created."
But Mr Riebeling adds the committee accepts the Archbishop did not intend to threaten MPs and will not take further action.
He warns Archbishop Hickey any future remarks should avoid suggestions of personal consequences for MPs.
Archbishop Hickey's comments mirrored those of the head of the Catholic church in Australia, Cardinal George Pell, who warned of consequences for Catholic politicians in NSW who supported a bill overturning a ban on therapeutic cloning.
The NSW parliament passed the bill last Thursday.
The West Australian stem cell bill is currently in the Legislative Council.
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