Australian court to rule whether Cardinal Pell to face trial on historical sexual offences

[webfact]

Australian court to rule whether Cardinal Pell to face trial on historical sexual offences

By Sonali Paul

 

Vatican Treasurer Cardinal George Pell is surrounded by Australian police as he leaves the Melbourne Magistrates Court in Australia, October 6, 2017. REUTERS/Mark Dadswell

 

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - An Australian court is due to declare on Tuesday whether Vatican Treasurer George Pell should face trial to answer multiple charges of historical sexual offences.

 

Magistrate Belinda Wallington will hand down her decision following a month-long pre-trial hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court. The first 10 days of the hearing were heard in closed session, when Pell's accusers were questioned.

 

Pell, 76, who is due to attend court to hear the decision, is the highest ranking Catholic worldwide to face such charges, the details of which have not been made public.

 

He was not required to enter a plea during the preliminary hearing, but his lawyers have said he would plead not guilty to all charges if the court proceeds to a full trial.

 

The Australian cardinal is on a leave of absence from his role as economy minister to Pope Francis. The pontiff has said he will not comment on the case until it is over.

 

The prosecution alleged during the pre-trial hearing that offences took place at a swimming pool and a movie theatre in Victoria state, a church and other locations.

 

But Pell's lawyer, Robert Richter, wrapped up four weeks of questioning accusers and witnesses by arguing there was no evidence to support the charges against his client.

 

His defence raised questions about police procedure, the reliability of witnesses' memories and their psychological condition.

 

Richter said the evidence showed the worst of the allegations, including an alleged offence at a movie theatre, could not have occurred and he described the other charges as "reasonably insignificant".

 

Prosecutor Mark Gibson said none of the complainants had resiled from their allegations against Pell under cross-examination and Victoria Police Detective Sergeant Chris Reed refuted Richter's suggestions of serious flaws in the police investigation.

 

Pell was called back from Rome to his home country last year to face the charges.

 

Charges associated with two of the complainants have since been dropped, as one of them died in January and the other is medically unable to testify.

 

(Reporting By Sonali Paul; Editing by Jane Wardell and Neil Fullick)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-05-01

[Ulic]

Catholic Priests fall into two categories. Those that are pedophiles and those who have covered up for pedophiles. They all know/knew what was going on and chose to leave the punishment to God. 

[AsiaHand]

30 minutes ago, Ulic said:

Catholic Priests fall into two categories. Those that are pedophiles and those who have covered up for pedophiles. They all know/knew what was going on and chose to leave the punishment to God. 

I hope that the courts put him in prison and he gets to find out being the "cell block bitch". It looks like that he is ready with no teeth left .

[webfact]

Australian court orders Vatican treasurer Pell to stand trial

By Sonali Paul

 

Vatican Treasurer Cardinal George Pell is surrounded by Australian police as he leaves the Melbourne Magistrates Court in Australia, October 6, 2017. REUTERS/Mark Dadswell

 

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Vatican Treasurer George Pell must face trial on charges of historical sexual offences, an Australian court ruled on Tuesday, making him the most senior Catholic official to be tried on such allegations.

 

Magistrate Belinda Wallington handed down her decision that Pell's case will proceed to trial in a Melbourne court, following a month-long pre-trial hearing.

 

In court, Pell pleaded not guilty in a firm, loud voice.

 

In delivering her ruling, Wallington dismissed some of the charges levelled against Pell in the pre-trial hearing, but said allegations of offences at a pool and at a church in Victoria state will be heard. She provided no detail on the date of the trial.

 

Pell, 76, is on a leave of absence from his role as economy minister to Pope Francis. He sat quietly behind his lawyer, wearing a black suit with a clergyman's collar, as the decision was read out.

 

Pell has been directing media inquiries to the Sydney Archdiocese, his last employer before he took the Vatican posting. The Sydney Archdiocese had no immediate comment on Tuesday. Melbourne's Archbishop, Denis Hart, also declined to comment in a statement issued on Tuesday.

 

The pope has said he would not comment on the case until it was over.

 

Pell's lawyer, Robert Richter, had wrapped up four weeks of pre-trial questioning of accusers and witnesses by arguing there was no evidence to support the charges against his client.

 

Pell's defence raised questions during the pre-trial hearing about police procedure, the reliability of witnesses' memories and their psychological condition.

 

Richter said the evidence showed the worst of the allegations could not have occurred and he described the other charges as "reasonably insignificant".

 

During the pre-trial hearing, Prosecutor Mark Gibson had said none of the complainants had resiled from their allegations against Pell under cross-examination and Victoria Police Detective Sergeant Chris Reed refuted Richter's suggestions of serious flaws in the police investigation.

 

Pell was called back from Rome to his home country last year to face the charges.

 

(Reporting By Sonali Paul and Will Ziebell; Editing by Jane Wardell, Rob Birsel and Neil Fullick)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-05-01

 

[overherebc]

Seems two charges have been decided on but no details released.

[Baerboxer]

3 hours ago, Ulic said:

Catholic Priests fall into two categories. Those that are pedophiles and those who have covered up for pedophiles. They all know/knew what was going on and chose to leave the punishment to God. 

 

Catholicism allows all sins to be confessed and forgiven. So the pedos could confess to another priest, who might also be one or not, and be forgiven. Plenty of Hail Mary's, roserie rubbing, and perhaps a bit of self whipping. And voila, good to go!

 

A thoroughly corrupt, very wealthy, society who have corrupted their version of religion and are now being exposed for the number of sadists, cruel, evil and sexually deviants that have been supposedly dispensing Christian charity and guidance. 

[Benmart]

5 hours ago, Ulic said:

Catholic Priests fall into two categories. Those that are pedophiles and those who have covered up for pedophiles. They all know/knew what was going on and chose to leave the punishment to God. 

Critics of Catholic Priests fall into two categories. Those that think they know everything and are judges, and those that think they are judges and know everything.

[F4UCorsair]

I hope that the courts put him in prison and he gets to find out being the "cell block bitch". It looks like that he is ready with no teeth left .

But he hasn't stood trial yet, much less been found guilty.

Chill and allow the legal process to take its course.

Sent from my SM-G610F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[bristolboy]

2 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Catholicism allows all sins to be confessed and forgiven. So the pedos could confess to another priest, who might also be one or not, and be forgiven. Plenty of Hail Mary's, roserie rubbing, and perhaps a bit of self whipping. And voila, good to go!

 

A thoroughly corrupt, very wealthy, society who have corrupted their version of religion and are now being exposed for the number of sadists, cruel, evil and sexually deviants that have been supposedly dispensing Christian charity and guidance. 

Actually not, According to Catholic doctrine the contrition has to be sincere to satisfy God. And supposedly he's infallible in detecting the presence or absence of sincerity.

[Lucky mike]

Justice will be another victim.....

[lvr181]

1 hour ago, bristolboy said:

Actually not, According to Catholic doctrine the contrition has to be sincere to satisfy God. And supposedly he's infallible in detecting the presence or absence of sincerity.

 

1 hour ago, bristolboy said:

Actually not, According to Catholic doctrine the contrition has to be sincere to satisfy God. And supposedly he's infallible in detecting the presence or absence of sincerity.

To hell with their doctrinal beliefs that seems to be about the priesthoods relationship with their "god" rather than that of their followers! I would bet my last baht that he had some knowledge of what was happening (even if he was not involved - but it is suggested he was), he turned a blind eye and/or tried to cover up. Either way he was, I understand, the senior RC clergyman in Australia and remembering that the buck stops at the top, he needs to fall on his sword! That church has been rotten throughout much of its sordid history. 

[JAG]

3 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Catholicism allows all sins to be confessed and forgiven. So the pedos could confess to another priest, who might also be one or not, and be forgiven. Plenty of Hail Mary's, roserie rubbing, and perhaps a bit of self whipping. And voila, good to go!

 

A thoroughly corrupt, very wealthy, society who have corrupted their version of religion and are now being exposed for the number of sadists, cruel, evil and sexually deviants that have been supposedly dispensing Christian charity and guidance. 

Your first paragraph demonstrates a complete misunderstanding of the "Sacrament of Reconciliation" (aka "Confession"), and what is involved for both the penitent and the confessor.

 

The second is your personal opinion.

 

You see - horror of horrors - I am a Roman Catholic!

[lvr181]

7 minutes ago, JAG said:

You see - horror of horrors - I am a Roman Catholic!

  

[rosst]

2 hours ago, JAG said:

Your first paragraph demonstrates a complete misunderstanding of the "Sacrament of Reconciliation" (aka "Confession"), and what is involved for both the penitent and the confessor.

 

The second is your personal opinion.

 

You see - horror of horrors - I am a Roman Catholic!

Yes, so am I and the initial assertion is the teaching of the church.  My religion has failed me, I am still a Christian but I am unable to be a member of any religion. 

I believe he was complicit in the covering up at the very least. 

[Outbackoz]

Great work by fairfax investigative journalist Joanne McCarthy whose tireless efforts were instrumental in Goverment initiating a Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Australia.

[farcanell]

4 hours ago, JAG said:

Your first paragraph demonstrates a complete misunderstanding of the "Sacrament of Reconciliation" (aka "Confession"), and what is involved for both the penitent and the confessor.

 

The second is your personal opinion.

 

You see - horror of horrors - I am a Roman Catholic!

A complete misunderstanding.... or a simplification of the sacrament ? 

 

All the poster missed in the first paragraph was the (wink wink) sincere admission of contrition and vow to not reoffend god (with a conjunctive vow to re confess, in need)

 

lol.... how repentant the “noble” crusaders must have been, forgiven for past, present and future sins... going forward to slaughter other people’s, for the glory of their godly god.... but then, how contrite, could a sinner possibly be, having been handed a 007 licences to kill, by another person? (Go Catholics ?)

 

anyway... lol... the second paragraph is more of an observation than an opinion, and a well documented observation at that ( now... one could, or really should, be forgiven for developing an opinion based on that observation, and in the spirit of forgiveness, one should be forgiven if it’s a false assumptive opinion.)

 

and yes yes yes... we see horror... you are a Roman Catholic.

 

 

 

Edited May 1, 2018 by farcanell

[ThaiFelix]

Surely he could argue that he was only doing his job??

[Lucky mike]

Not just Catholic Church over half a century ago I was in police indecency squad in which we arrested many clergy, politicians, police, teachers and other alleged members of the people paid to look after us.  It was disbanded corruption is still alive and well......

[Stargeezr]

It is just too bad that this old perv, does not spontaneously catch fire and

burn up. It would show that God is not amused!

Geezer

[dick dasterdly]

4 hours ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

It is just too bad that this old perv, does not spontaneously catch fire and

burn up. It would show that God is not amused!

Geezer

Which is one of the reasons why I have no time for religion.

 

Their wonderful god (regardless of faith) has no problem with the pain suffered by their creation, and, even worse (?) - no problem with their religious leaders inflicting suffering on their followers!

 

It will take a few centuries for religion to disappear entirely, but I've no doubt it will happen.  Not that this will help, as a minority of mankind will continue to be as avaricious and uncaring as previously....