In responding to a series of questions by Jones as to why God would " randomly decide to provide proof of his existence to a small group of Jews 2,000 years ago " , Pell said that , while the intellectual life of the ancient Jews was not the equal of the surrounding great powers like Egypt , Persia and Chaldea , " Jesus came not as a philosopher to the elite . He came to the poor and the battlers " . Jones cross examined Pell over his use of the word " intellectual " and Pell said ( in reference to Biblical times ) that " the little Jewish people , they were originally shepherds . They were stuck . They 're still stuck between these great powers . " Referring to " The Holocaust , to genocide , to famine " , Jones asked why an omnipotent God would permit such events to occur . In response , Pell and Jones had the following exchange : Pell 's remarks were widely misreported and misinterpreted , leading to a clarification from his office – reported by '' The Times of Israel '' as an apology . Pell said , " My commitment to friendship with the Jewish community , and my esteem for the Jewish faith is a matter of public record , and the last thing I would want to do is give offence to either " and that the Holocaust was " a crime unique in history for the death and suffering it caused and its diabolical attempt to wipe out an entire people . " Pell has received much attention for his attitudes to sexuality issues , particularly homosexuality . When installed as Archbishop of Sydney in May 2001 , he said that " Christian teaching on sexuality is only one part of the Ten Commandments , of the virtues and vices , but it is essential for human wellbeing and especially for the proper flourishing of marriages and families , for the continuity of the human race . " Pell says that , outside exceptional circumstances such as relationships involving physical abuse , it is better for individuals and for society if couples do not divorce , particularly where children are involved
The Holocaust
The Holocaust
George Pell