Vatican Treasurer Pell found guilty of abusing two choir boys 22 years ago

[webfact]

Vatican Treasurer Pell found guilty of abusing two choir boys 22 years ago

By Sonali Paul

 

FILE PHOTO - 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 has found Cardinal George Pell, the Vatican Treasurer and a former top adviser to Pope Francis, guilty on five charges of child sexual offences committed more than two decades ago against 13-year-old boys.

 

The verdict was made public on Tuesday following the lifting of a suppression order on the case. A jury in the Country Court of Victoria in Melbourne had found Pell guilty on Dec. 11 last year following a four-week trial.

 

Pell becomes the most senior Catholic clergyman worldwide to be convicted for child sex offences. He had pleaded not guilty to all five charges.

 

He was convicted of five sexual offences committed against the 13-year-old choir boys 22 years earlier in the priests' sacristy of St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne, where Pell was archbishop. One of the two victims died in 2014.

 

Each of the five offences carries a maximum 10 years in jail. Pell is due to be sentenced in early March.

 

The verdict has been made public as the Catholic church tries to deal with a growing child sexual abuse crisis, following scandals in the United States, Chile, Germany and Australia.

 

Pope Francis ended a conference on sexual abuse on Sunday, calling for an "all out battle" against a crime that should be "erased from the face of the earth".

 

The Vatican said in December that Francis had removed Pell, 77, from his group of close advisers, without commenting on the trial.

 

Pell, who took indefinite leave in 2016 from his role as economy minister for the Vatican to fight the charges, was not called to the stand in the trial.

 

Instead, the jury was shown in open court a video recording of an interview Australian police held with Pell in Rome in October 2016, in which he strenuously denied the allegations.

 

The jury was also shown a video recording of the surviving victim's testimony behind closed doors.

 

The court had issued a suppression order on the trial out of concern that a second trial Pell faced could be prejudiced by the outcome of the first case. But prosecutors dropped the charges on Tuesday.

 

Judge Peter Kidd had extended bail for Pell, who had been walking with a crutch throughout the trial, to allow him to undergo double-knee surgery in Sydney in December. His bail had been extended since then.

 

(Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Sam Holmes and Neil Fullick)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-26

[madmen]

Lock him up and throw away the key! what is it with the Vatican and pedos? Is it some sort of prerequisite ?

[SammyT]

One of the best lines I saw on a TV show the other day

"Social media has been great for paedophiles - they can have easy access to kids without having to go to all the hassle of joining the Catholic Church"

[samran]

Tony Abbot and the lunar right of the liberal party were big fans of this bloke. 

 

Total silence from them this morning. 

[sammieuk1]

The rest of the clergymen said now let us pray we don't get caught????

[colinneil]

Disgusting, clergymen are supposed to be people you look up to.

Yet when these creeps were supposed to be praying, they were PREYING on young boys.

[DM07]

5 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Disgusting, clergymen are supposed to be people you look up to.

Yet when these creeps were supposed to be praying, they were PREYING on young boys.

That is exactly the point: abuse of power!

[marcusarelus]

I wonder if there are any NGO's to rescue Australian Choir boys. I'd donate. 

[mfd101]

Anyone remember 'recovered memory syndrome'? All the rage in Usofa about 20 years ago - screams 'n sobs, families broken up, accusations of adult children against their startled parents, law cases galore ... And then, after several years of hysteria, it all went away, as the lawyers & psychiatrists realized that an honest man or woman - even (or perhaps especially) a deeply traumatized one - may be mistaken & may fabricate all sorts of bizarre stories.

 

I have no way of knowing the truth or falsity of the charges against George Pell. But the handling of the case by the Victorian Police and the media, & noting the peculiar repeat court proceedings, has all the marks of a witch hunt. It will be fascinating to follow the appeal process. Given the 22-year old events alleged, with no evidence to support, and given the small but sensible arguments against the very possibility of what is alleged, I think if I had been on the jury I would have found it difficult to find guilt BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT.

Edited February 26, 2019 by mfd101

[marcusarelus]

Where is the hang em high brigade?  Not out in force on this one? 

[car720]

Ah, the Roman Catholic church.

Just following in an ancient tradition.

When the Roman soldiers of any note went off to war they always left their wives at home and took their boyfriends with them.

Nothing has changed significantly.

[samran]

15 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

Where is the hang em high brigade?  Not out in force on this one? 

No need. His new cell mates will give him a warm welcome. 

[Benmart]

13 hours ago, madmen said:

Lock him up and throw away the key! what is it with the Vatican and pedos? Is it some sort of prerequisite ?

Look up the definition of "pedo". Thirteen is generally post-pubescent if you can get past your mouthing the undereducated.

[Spidey]

My uncle was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic church for the crime of divorcing his wife and remarrying.

 

Absolutely no sign of this paedophile being excommunicated.

 

Corrupt paedophiles from top to bottom. The Pope, in refusing to deal severely with this paedophile is complicit in his crimes, no better than him. In fact, if I were a betting man, I'd put a few quid that he's done his fare share of kiddy fiddling in his time.

Edited February 26, 2019 by Spidey

[Spidey]

32 minutes ago, Benmart said:

Look up the definition of "pedo". Thirteen is generally post-pubescent if you can get past your mouthing the undereducated.

Wow! A paedophile apologist. Not the first time that I've seen that on this forum, unfortunately.

 

In British law, a paedophile is defined as anyone who commits a sexual act with anyone under the age of consent. 16 in the UK.

[Scott]

8 minutes ago, Spidey said:

Wow! A paedophile apologist. Not the first time that I've seen that on this forum, unfortunately.

 

In British law, a paedophile is defined as anyone who commits a sexual act with anyone under the age of consent. 16 in the UK.

Pedophilia is generally a psychiatric disorder that is, in part, the sexual attraction to pre-pubescent children.   The age of consent is a legal term and varies from country to country.  

 

I think splitting hairs is going to derail the topic.  

[Thechook]

He'll die in jail surrounded by his peers.  The death sentence is the only justice for vile paedophiles.

[Thechook]

4 hours ago, Scott said:

Pedophilia is generally a psychiatric disorder that is, in part, the sexual attraction to pre-pubescent children.   The age of consent is a legal term and varies from country to country.  

 

I think splitting hairs is going to derail the topic.  

The good thing is that in Victoria, paedophiles can't use the mental illness defence in court.  Mental illness isn't recognised when it comes to paedophilia or other sexual offences.  

[Scott]

1 hour ago, Thechook said:

The good thing is that in Victoria, paedophiles can't use the mental illness defence in court.  Mental illness isn't recognised when it comes to paedophilia or other sexual offences.  

In most developed countries, if not all, it can't be used as a defense.   It is a condition and an attraction, but a person is aware of it and you can be a pedophile and not act on the impulses.  

[balo]

Priests with power, same with teachers, and other activities involving adult leaders and kids. 

Kids are at risk of being abused. 

 

The good thing about social media is its easier to catch the perverts. Easier for the police I mean. 

[simple1]

2 hours ago, Thechook said:

He'll die in jail surrounded by his peers.  The death sentence is the only justice for vile paedophiles.

Pell is going to appeal, thereby once again putting his accusers through the ringer. I wouldn't hold my breath for an extensive jaii term if his appeal fails, he has plenty of high profile supporters who have invested a great deal of cash to support the extensive legal processes to date.

[marcusarelus]

2 hours ago, simple1 said:

Pell is going to appeal, thereby once again putting his accusers through the ringer. I wouldn't hold my breath for an extensive jaii term if his appeal fails, he has plenty of high profile supporters who have invested a great deal of cash to support the extensive legal processes to date.

Who are his supporters?  The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney.  Should put all of them in jail too.

Edited February 27, 2019 by marcusarelus

[Spidey]

9 hours ago, Scott said:

Pedophilia is generally a psychiatric disorder that is, in part, the sexual attraction to pre-pubescent children.   The age of consent is a legal term and varies from country to country.  

 

I think splitting hairs is going to derail the topic.  

I think apologising for paedophiles is definitely going to derail the topic. Don't expect decent posters to take that on the chin.

[simple1]

49 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

Who are his supporters?  The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney.  Should put all of them in jail too.

Agree those protecting these people should also be facing the Courts. Cannon Law should be nullified for alleged criminal offences, at the moment, in effect, we have two systems of law, the exact same issue why in Western societies Sharia Law for criminal offices is banned or for civil matters Common Law is the overriding system of law.

 

Supporters are Catholics who are paying for his defense costs, politicians saying what a good he is etc etc

Edited February 27, 2019 by simple1

[DM07]

21 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Anyone remember 'recovered memory syndrome'? All the rage in Usofa about 20 years ago - screams 'n sobs, families broken up, accusations of adult children against their startled parents, law cases galore ... And then, after several years of hysteria, it all went away, as the lawyers & psychiatrists realized that an honest man or woman - even (or perhaps especially) a deeply traumatized one - may be mistaken & may fabricate all sorts of bizarre stories.

 

I have no way of knowing the truth or falsity of the charges against George Pell. But the handling of the case by the Victorian Police and the media, & noting the peculiar repeat court proceedings, has all the marks of a witch hunt. It will be fascinating to follow the appeal process. Given the 22-year old events alleged, with no evidence to support, and given the small but sensible arguments against the very possibility of what is alleged, I think if I had been on the jury I would have found it difficult to find guilt BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT.

 

15 hours ago, Benmart said:

Look up the definition of "pedo". Thirteen is generally post-pubescent if you can get past your mouthing the undereducated.

What is wrong with you?

Seriously: what the hell is wrong with you?

????

[Spidey]

1 hour ago, DM07 said:

 

What is wrong with you?

Seriously: what the hell is wrong with you?

????

I'll give you one guess.

[mfd101]

www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/george-pell-result-the-catholic-church-never-expected/news-story/eddd4fc3a4b8289b0067dce8b4618186

[worgeordie]

He will take a wobbly and will attend the next court session in a wheelchair

or at the very least a stick,and try to play the I am too sick and frail to go

to prison,card

regards worgeordie

Edited February 27, 2019 by worgeordie
add on

[malagateddy]

Howsabout chemical castration???

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[marcusarelus]

11 minutes ago, malagateddy said:

Howsabout chemical castration???

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

You do know he's 77.  Take away his viagra.