How is mulesing endorsed by the Bible? How is cutting our forests, our overfishing and ripping the backsides off sheep not about profits? Where is his concern about Creation, and his care of duty, his compassion? We either worship God, or material wealth. This priest is out of his depth!

The good archbishop should stick to the things he knows. Farmers and others are "cruel and uncaring" when they slice the skin from the sheep’s behind. There are other ways to manage fly-strike. Mulesing is the cruel, cheap option. Back to your own flock, archbishop.

Congratulations to Father Mick and to Archbishop Coleridge for their support of the Australian woolgrowing community. A clear demonstration of practical, spiritual and sensible leadership. It is time for all those who believe and support the right of mankind to farm animals to stand up, draw a line in the sand, and protect these rights. Such farming rights are obviously no longer "God given" and must be fought for if we are to preserve our best farming practices. No longer can we take these natural rights for granted. Welcome Father Mick McAndrew and Archbishop Mark Coleridge to the front line. We need all the help we can muster. Chick Olsson AWI Director.

And this man's response to animal cruelty is why millions think the church is outdated, hypocritical and immoral.

Maybe the Archbishop of Canberra would like to test them out on himself first, to see if his blessing is any good and takes away the pain.

How do these PETA people feel about the practise of cutting off dogs tails?. Could there be a double standard here?

Fantastic effort from Archbishop Mark Coleridge!! WELL DONE!!! God bless him. Mulesing is a good option for sheep and anyone with experience in caring and looking after the welfare of sheep is well aware of this. There's a small amount of pain for a massive benefit and it's unfortunate that the minority interest groups oppose a valid husbandry practice. The general public should be reassured by a Man of God endorsing a genuine practice that is aimed at improved animal welfare.

This story helps to put the animal rights groups in perspective. It's their unrealistic ideology vs down to earth, practical solutions. Mulesing will help ensure that Australia's sheep flock is well cared for and should be more widely embraced. No doubt the animal rights people will come up with a thousand unrealistic reasons why mulesing should not be adopted, including references from the Bible quoting the caring of "all creatures great and small" - bring it on. Mulesing DOES care for God's creatures and it's time the animal rights people recognised this. Peter, Paul and Mary

it's about time someone stood up to the looney greenies...william

To Mike: practice what you preach - it is one thing to tell the Archbishop to stck to the things he knows - how about you do the same. I have seen the effects of fly strike - it kills sheep - I have not seen one die from mulesing. I have also not met a "cruel and uncaring" farmer but have met plenty of "uninformed twits" like you.

Blessed are the cheese makers & the big noses and now the mulesers.