Category: George Pell

The Sins of the Georges – » The Australian Independent Media Network

By Kirsten Tona Note: This article was written before George Pell’s passing. We have kept it in the tense it was written. There’s a moment in the recording of Cardinal George Pell debating Richard Dawkins on QandA that is one of the most revealing statements Pell has ever made; which says more about him and…

Leaving aside the blatant and ugly antisemitism of Pell here, the point I am talking about is the way Pell reveals his utter disdain for “the poor, little people” and his admiration for the “great powers”.

For a man like Pell, only other men of great power are of interest. The little people are just that, little. He reveals his identification with power and dismissal of those who lack it again, in his testimony to the child sexual abuse Royal Commission, when he justifies his reason for glossing over the dangerous sexual proclivities of certain priests, moving them from parish to parish when the complaints got too loud, rather than confining them away from children.

“It was a sad story,” he tells the Commission from his comfortable sinecure in Rome, “and of not much interest to me.

No. George Pell was not interested in those children. George Pell had no interest in the powerless. He was not interested in the abuse or wellbeing of those his church MADE powerless, such as women and children. Only men were of interest to George Pell and of them, only men with power.

Source: The Sins of the Georges – » The Australian Independent Media Network

George Pell ‘Devil Incarnate’ is dead – » The Australian Independent Media Network

The Last Judgement

Content warning: this article discusses rape, sexual abuse and violence. * Support phone numbers at end of this article. Reach out, please.

Source: George Pell ‘Devil Incarnate’ is dead – » The Australian Independent Media Network

God says Cardinal George Pell will go to hell. Unless of course, God’s teachings in the Bible are a lie.Kangaroo Court of Australia

Above is only a small part of the evidence against George Pell and any true believer in God and his teachings should acknowledge that Pell has gone to Hell. That raises the question of why do people including Pope Francis continue to support Pell.

Source: God says Cardinal George Pell will go to hell. Unless of course, God’s teachings in the Bible are a lie.Kangaroo Court of Australia

Pope hails ‘genius’ Pell transparency push – Michael West

Was Pell seeking redemption from the church when he couldn’t find it outside of it?

Pope Francis says he hopes that the recent sale of a luxury London building at the centre of a corruption trial means the Vatican can see the back of financial scandals, praising Australian Cardinal George Pell for helping to clean up the Holy See’s murky finances.

Source: Pope hails ‘genius’ Pell transparency push – Michael West

George Pell: Abuse survivors despair as Pell conspiracy breaks cover

Giovanni Becciu says he categorically denies "interfering in any way in the trial of Cardinal Pell”.

Andrew Bolt has no hesitation suggesting people here were paid however does he offer any proof when he’s prepared to steamroll victims? The answer is an emphatic no!

As Chrissie Foster puts it, whatever comes of Vatican power plays, abuse survivors stay at the bottom of the pile. “It is terrible and for what? For George Pell and his fight with his fellow cardinals? They really do live in another world. That’s what’s wrong with them.”

George Pell: Abuse survivors despair as Pell conspiracy breaks cover

Cardinal George Pell and the Victims of Child Sexual Abuse in Victoria. – CounterPunch.org

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Pell’s offending against the surviving boy (Witness J) goes back to the 1990s. At his trial at the end of 2018, the judge advised the jury that, if they believed the victim, they must convict. After they did, a suppression order restricted reporting on Pell. But his intimidatory, bullying manners are recorded. While his defence before the High Court stressed the unreasonableness of his alleged behaviour in the busy Sunday sacristy, it is possible that such normalities could have been outweighed by his “staggering arrogance” and ‘sense of impunity’. The times are different, in Australia as in Ireland. The quest for justice is strengthened by the Commission’s findings.

via Cardinal George Pell and the Victims of Child Sexual Abuse in Victoria. – CounterPunch.org

No money? No justice for Survivors! – » The Australian Independent Media Network

George Pell has the right to appeal. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Religious Institutions also have the right to appeal.

And here’s where the absolute bloody bullshit of equitable appeal for justice for all here in Australia starts to kick in.

Whatever the source of those dollars, the fact is George Pell’s appeal has been buttressed and supported by a well-heeled appeal fund. Engaging high-flying barristers and solicitors are not cheap.

I, and many other Survivors of the heinous crimes that have been committed against us, would love to have our cases, and our stories, and our quests for justice, heard in the highest court in this land. Of course, we have a snowball’s chance in hell of that ever happening.

The majority of the Survivors of childhood sexual abuse are mired in poverty. They are beaten down not only by their punishing experiences, they are also gutted by years, decades, and in many cases, lifetimes swamped by the negative legacies of depression, and PTSD.

via No money? No justice for Survivors! – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Howard and Abbott’s abhorrent defence of Pell

When Howard describes Pell as of ‘exemplary character’, of ‘strength’, and ‘lacking in hypocrisy and cant’, the back story to those words must include Pell’s extreme and vociferous opposition to any progressive reform within the Catholic Church. It must especially include his stance in relation to gender equality, to contraception, to abortion and women’s rights in general, and including condemnation of homosexuality, gay and lesbian rights and same-sex marriage.

Writing of Pell’s “strength”, Howard would have known of the Ellis case — of Pell’s attempts to shield paedophile clergy from being accountable and treating victims with arrogant dismissal and scorn.

Abbott has likened what Pell has been convicted of as a “mistake”, saying:

“If I look back on my own life … I’ve made many mistakes, we all do.”

It is amazing to consider that we have a recent Prime Minister who regards paedophilia as insignificant rather than a serious crime.

Howard and Abbott’s abhorrent defence of Pell

Charging the cardinal is a tiny part of the story

If the ACT has a policy to go 100% renewable why is Abbott wanting the rest of us to be left burning his “clean coal”? He truly is an oxymoron. (Olddog)

Beyond my legal obligations, I genuinely have no firm view as to the likely guilt or innocence of Cardinal George Pell on the grave charges of child sexual abuse levelled against him, and do not seek to pre-judge the legal process in any way.

Source: Charging the cardinal is a tiny part of the story

Cries of ‘witch-hunt’ ring hollow for Catholic clergy survivors

Finally, to those who jump, without hesitation, to the defence of Cardinal Pell and assume that his accusers are “deluded” or “confused” or hold some maniacal vendetta: As stated above, George Pell is entitled to the presumption of innocence, but that does not mean that his accusers deserve to be summarily dismissed in the way that children almost always had been until the royal commission turned decades of silence and obfuscation and failure-to-believe on its head.

Source: Cries of ‘witch-hunt’ ring hollow for Catholic clergy survivors

‘Goodbye, brave man’: Anthony Foster was a fierce advocate, and a friend – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Anthony Foster was a loving father and husband, a fierce advocate for child abuse victims, and a dear friend. He will be sorely missed, but his legacy will remain.

Source: ‘Goodbye, brave man’: Anthony Foster was a fierce advocate, and a friend – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Cardinal George Pell accused of sexually abusing two choirboys, book claims | Australia news | The Guardian

Vatican’s financial chief, who has always denied wrongdoing, faces fresh allegations of abuse, relating to his time as archbishop of Melbourne

Source: Cardinal George Pell accused of sexually abusing two choirboys, book claims | Australia news | The Guardian

Furious George Pell demands Victoria Police investigation as ABC airs abuse claims

Speaking from Rome where he is based at the Vatican, Cardinal Pell said he refused to be put to a “trial by media” and said the ABC had “no licence” to destroy his reputation.

Source: Furious George Pell demands Victoria Police investigation as ABC airs abuse claims

Was George Pell left in the dark or were we? – The Drum (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Survivors gasped as they heard Cardinal George Pell’s evidence at the Royal Commission and his central thesis that an astonishing list of people had deceived him about what was happening within the Church.

Source: Was George Pell left in the dark or were we? – The Drum (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

David Marr on George Pell: He is not a man to put abused children above the church – podcast | Australia news | The Guardian

In this special edition, David Marr gives his views on the cardinal’s four days of testimony to the royal commission

Source: David Marr on George Pell: He is not a man to put abused children above the church – podcast | Australia news | The Guardian

Five points to help you understand Pell’s testimony – The Drum (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Understanding the terminology used by the church, how its factions work, and the processes they have in place will help you make sense of Cardinal George Pell’s testimony to the child abuse royal commission this week.

Source: Five points to help you understand Pell’s testimony – The Drum (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Once again Cardinal Pell has thrown his men to the wolves – it’s everyone’s fault but his | Kristina Keneally | Opinion | The Guardian

Over and over again, Pell gave evidence that it was others who failed to disclose the crucial details he needed in order to act on child sexual abuse

Source: Once again Cardinal Pell has thrown his men to the wolves – it’s everyone’s fault but his | Kristina Keneally | Opinion | The Guardian

Pell and damnation | The Monthly

Pity poor, persecuted Cardinal George Pell. Australia’s premier primate, a prince of the church and a grandee of the Vatican, the personal representative of the supreme pontiff, has become the helpless and hapless victim of a lynch mob – an army of hatred and rage among his enemies.

Source: Pell and damnation | The Monthly

Cardinal Pell responds to calls to return to Australia for child sex abuse inquiry | Australia news | The Guardian

George Pell promises ‘to co-operate with whatever arrangements’ as the campaign to force him to return to to Australia to give evidence gathers pace

Source: Cardinal Pell responds to calls to return to Australia for child sex abuse inquiry | Australia news | The Guardian

Doctors offer to get Cardinal George Pell back to the Royal Commission safe and sound

WA physician has been taking volunteers for a small medical team who plan to help Australia’s senior Catholic overcome his ill-health and fly from Rome to Melbourne.

Source: Doctors offer to get Cardinal George Pell back to the Royal Commission safe and sound

Victims sick at heart that George Pell won’t front child sex abuse royal commission | David Marr | Australia news | The Guardian

Medical report from Rome kept secret but royal commissioner accepts that travelling to Australia might have ‘serious consequences’ for cardinal’s health

Source: Victims sick at heart that George Pell won’t front child sex abuse royal commission | David Marr | Australia news | The Guardian