Canberra - Australian Prime Minister John Howard defied growing pressure from the church yesterday by dismissing a call from a leading cleric to apologise for past mistreatment of Aborigines.
The Anglican archbishopelect of Sydney, Rev Peter Jensen, joined a voice of protest within Australia and within the church by accusing Mr Howard of being "out of step with God" over his refusal to offer a formal apology to Aborigines.
The National Council of Churches, which represents 10 churches, rebuked Mr Howard last month for failing to acknowledge the suffering of thousands of Aborigines under a past official policy to remove mixed-race children from their families.
But Mr Howard, who is trailing in opinion polls by up to 11 points, was standing steadfastly by his decision not to apologise and accused Rev Jensen of being presumptuous in voicing God's views.