Anglican Dean of Sydney Reverend Phillip Jensen has spoken out strongly against Catholic doctrine at the same time as defending government support for the upcoming World Youth Day event. In an article in The Sydney Morning Herald Phillip Jensen, the brother of the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, said the nature of Protestanism was to protest against Roman Catholic claims to authority.
"We object to the Pope claiming to be the Vicar of Christ. We reject all claims to authority that imply the insufficiency of scripture. We reject any implication that Jesus's work on the cross was insufficient or is received by more than faith or requires some other mediator," Reverend Jensen said.
"There is nothing in modern Roman Catholicism that reduces our need to protest. They have not repented of their Reformation errors."
But while Mr Jensen said he would "not be welcoming the Pope, going out to see him or waving a flag" he did not "pray for rain on his parade."
He defended the event, as well as state and federal governments that have contributed more than $120 million to help stage July's World Youth Day.
He said Catholics had "every right to enjoy a gathering of their people" and it was "an honour for our city to host people from all over the world", even those with whom "we disagree."
"It is perverse to think that the Government is helping promote Roman Catholicism by assisting World Youth Day as they are. If this were the world Jehovah Witness day or the world yoga conference, the government support would be the same," he said.
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