2LT International News

MEBLOURNE, Victoria – In a decision that has shocked Australia and the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal George Pell, the former Archbishop of Sydney, has been found guilty of sexual abuse of two boys aged 13, and almost certainly will be jailed.

Pell is the highest placed official within the Catholic church to be charged with sexual abuse, as until he was charged he was the Treasurer to the church, based at the Vatican.

He was also a close confidant of Pope Francis and had been largely credited with sorting out the Vatican’s finances after a string of scandals, misappropriations, and poor financial management.

The sexual crimes Pell was found guilty of are historical, having occurred in 1996 when he was archbishop of Melbourne.

He was found guilty of abusing two choir boys after Mass one Sunday at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne. He is alleged to have found the boys in the sacristy drinking altar wine.

One of the boys told the court by video-link he had been instructed to give the then-archbishop oral sex. He said Pell also molested his friend and masturbated while he groped him.

The man now in his 30s provided the only evidence of the crimes, as the other victim died in 2014 of a drug overdose. Prior to his death the second man denied ever being molested by any priest.

Pell looked stunned when the verdict was handed down, as did his lawyer. The decision is subject to an appeal lodged by the Pell defence team. Pell continues to maintain his innocence.

The verdict given by a jury took three-and-a-half days to deliberate. It was handed down in December but due to a suppression order, it was not publicly disclosed until Tuesday.

The trial which had concluded in December, began in November 2018 and took 5 weeks to complete.

The judge handling the case announced another trial addressing other charges, that the cardinal had abused boys in a swimming pool in the 1970s in Ballarat would not be proceeding, as certain evidence that had been offered was ruled by the judge as being ineligible. This the alleged victims of that case saidhad made made it impossible for the alleged victims to present their case.

The cardinal was convicted on five counts, one of sexual penetration of a child which related to the oral sex incident, and four charges of molesting. One of those occurred after some months, according to the victim.

Pell’s defense team had argued it would have been impossible for the cardinal to have done what he was being accused of. His lawyer, Robert Richter QC, said he would not be able to expose himself while wearing his robes, which his accuser said he did; he said the then-archbishop was always accompanied, and in any event there were hundreds of parishioners milling around after Mass; and that he would have to be “a mad man” to have done what he was accused of.

The man who made the claims against Pell issued a statement through his lawyers on Tuesday. He has not been named at his request.

He thanked his family for their support and the wider public for their interest in the case.

“Like many survivors I have experienced shame, loneliness, depression and struggle. Like many survivors it has taken me years to understand the impact upon my life,” tthe man said.

“At some point we realise that we trusted someone we should have feared and we fear those genuine relationships that we should trust.”

“I would like to thank my family near and far for their support of me, and of each other,” the man said.

“I am a witness in a case brought by the State of Victoria. I have put my trust in the police and the criminal justice system. The process has been stressful and it is not over yet.”

“I need space and time to cope with the ongoing criminal process,” the unnamed victim said Tuesday.

“I am not a spokesperson about child sexual abuse. There are many other survivors and advocates who bravely fill this role.”

“I am just a regular guy working to support and protect my family as best I can,” he added.

The current Archbishop of Melbourne Peter Comensoli acknolewdged the verdict but said there would be no clomment until after the legal process is completed, referring to the appeal.

“As is now publicly known, Cardinal George Pell has been found guilty of historical sexual crimes relating to two young people at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne. This follows two trials, the first of which could not reach a verdict,” the archbishop said in a statement rtelweased on Tuesday.

“While acknowledging the judgement of the jury, I join many people who have been surprised and shaken by the outcome of the second trial.”

“I fully respect the ongoing judicial process, noting that Cardinal Pell continues to protest his innocence. An appeal against the verdict has been lodged. It is important that we now await the outcome of this appeal, respectful of the ongoing legal proceedings,” the archbishop said.

In Rome, a similar approach is being taken with media topld the Pope would not comment after after the judiocial process is completed.

According to reports circulating in Rome the Australian decision has been met with disbelief.

“Most people here don’t believe the verdict,” Ed Pentin, the Rome correspondent for the National Catholic Register was quoted as saying on Tuesday. “Most here believe Pell is innocent, certainly those who worked with him.”

“Pell was extremely unpopular in parts of the Vatican, particularly the old guard keen on keeping the old system running because they were doing so well out of it,” he said.

“There is this constant suspicion that the timing was not coincidental and there were some backroom dealings to get him out.”