Sydney, Australia - Cardinal George Pell could be found in contempt of Parliament pending an inquiry into his comments on therapeutic cloning last week.
The Legislative Council Privileges Committee today confirmed it would investigate the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, after he told members of Parliament that voting for a bill to legalise stem cell research "has consequences for their place in the life of the church."
The committee has received its terms of reference and will inquire into and report on Cardinal Pell's comments, determining whether warning of "consequences" constitutes contempt of Parliament.
Cardinal Pell said these consequences could include being "loosened" from the Church community and being unable to take Holy Communion.
The committee have no punitive powers, but could reprimand Cardinal Pell for his actions.
However, Greens MP Lee Rhiannon, who requested the inquiry, has voiced concerns over the objectivity of two Catholic members on the committee - Christian Democrat Fred Nile and Labor member Greg Donnelly.
Despite this, she said the inquiry would act as a warning for Cardinal Pell before the upper house votes on the bill.
The bill was passed through the lower house with a 65 to 26 majority.
Reverend Nile said he would be impartial, but believed Cardinal Pell had not overstepped his boundaries by making the comments.
"If he had kept silent on such an important issue, he would be found in contempt by God,'' Reverend Nile said.
"He has followed his conviction and that's his right as a Catholic leader.''
The newly convened seven-member privileges committee, chaired by Labor MP Kayee Griffin, is expected to meet later this month for the first time since the March general election.
Lower house president Peter Primrose, who agreed to the inquiry today, said he was making no judgment on Cardinal Pell's comments and that acceding to the Greens' request had been purely a procedural matter.
"If I had a complaint about the Dalai Lama or Karl Marx it could be referred to the privileges committee,'' the Labor MP said.