The Herald Sun (Australia)
July 26, 2017 3:51am
CARDINAL George Pell has pledged to fight every charge in a sex crimes case that could run into 2019.
Amid scenes of chaos, the 76-year-old fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for the first time on Wednesday since returning from the Vatican.
His lawyer, Robert Richter, QC, said: “For the avoidance of doubt, and because of the interest, might I indicate Cardinal Pell will plead not guilty to all the charges and will maintain his presumed innocence that he has.”
The hearing made history. Cardinal Pell is the most senior Catholic official to face court on sex offence charges.
Prosecutors told the court that the brief of evidence against the cardinal could be served next week.
But experts warn the case could run for two years, owing to the complexities of hearing historical sex charges and a potential application for separate trials on different allegations.
Details of the charges are yet to be revealed, and Wednesday’s minutes-long administrative hearing shed no further light on the allegations.
Despite that, international interest in the case was huge: media representatives flew in from across the globe.
The cardinal, who was not required to enter a plea, had been under no obligation to attend Wednesday’s hearing.
But he arrived at court shortly after 8.30am, and went through security checks.
In the courtroom, Cardinal Pell simply stared straight ahead for about 15 minutes as he awaited the magistrate, other than for a brief conversation with his lawyers about why a video feed was being beamed to a nearby court.
Court authorities had decided to open the extra room and show the hearing live, owing to the numbers who had turned up to witness it.
Some had arrived at court as early as 4am to ensure they had a seat in the courtroom.
As a result of that interest, magistrate Duncan Reynolds read a prepared statement outlining the hearing’s purely administrative nature.
Senior prosecutor Andrew Tinney, SC, also read a statement, stressing the need for “fair and accurate reporting”.
Prosecutors have until September 8 to prepare a brief of evidence. But Mr Tinney said it was likely the brief would be served by next week.
A committal mention date has been set for October 6.
After the hearing, Cardinal Pell was mobbed during the 100m walk to his lawyer’s offices. A dozen police formed a shield to protect him, amid a barrage of shouted questions and abuse, and yells of support.
One lady held a sign that read, “Thank you for helping my family”.
At one point police had to stop traffic on Lonsdale St.
Since the Herald Sun first revealed in February 2016 that Cardinal Pell was under investigation, he has persistently and vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
Last month, on being charged, he immediately took a leave of absence from his post as Vatican finance chief.
“I’m innocent of these charges. They are false. The whole idea of sex offences is abhorrent to me,” he said that day.
“News of these charges strengthens my resolve, and court proceedings now offer me an opportunity, to clear my name and then return to my work in Rome.
“I am looking forward finally to having my day in court,” he said.
Unbelievable! Just look at the crowds. Media, police and interested citizens.
Cardinal Pell must be having his steaks delivered by “the light of the silvery moon”. Not a peep about what he’s up to, since his “Hollywood” appearance 2 weeks ago.
Maybe he’s over at the swimming pool? Mike.
Australia’s Royal Commission into Institutional Abuse of Children has made a considerable number of recommendations. One of which relates to the Roman Catholic Church and its ‘Sacrament of Reconciliation’ aka ‘Confession’ Its advice is that where sexual abuse is confessed by perpetrator or confessed by victim the confessor is compelled to report to the first responding agencies.
I attach a link. It is from the British publication ‘The Guardian’. It reports that the Archbishop of Melbourne, Most Rev. Denis Hart is, at best. most reluctant to support the Commissions recommendations on this matter.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/18/when-i-was-16-i-went-to-confession-i-wish-the-priest-had-reported-what-id-told-him
It is outrageous of this man to even challenge such a recommendation. Secrecy is the essence of this crime and characters like Hart have been heavily implicated. The Church in Australia is not above the law and Hart has constantly refused to accept the new reality.
In the light of the Barcelona terror attacks we may also need to redefine what exactly we mean by terror and in particular that of used phrase ‘domestic terror’. Could a case be made for the Roman Catholic Church in certain countries to be considered a ‘domestic terror’ threat in the light of the decades if not centuries long attack upon the citizens children under the guise of the Gospel?
Just a thought for consideration
Interesting thought Rachel. “The church in Australia is not above the law” is s true, BUT the church will NEVER accept this recommendation. Within the church ranks, Canon Law just about always trumps civil law. In a lot of cases, it has been the church’s “safety net”.
Secrecy is of absolute importance within the church’s dealings, and appears will continue to be so. Mike.
What I’ve seen and heard about the little confessional box:
First off and the most important one is where first grooming by a pedophile priest starts
A good friend of mine said father Noel asked him if he plays with his body? To which he responded no, I play with little truck. Met several victims that the grooming was so bad that it has to be consider a crime/ sexual abuse!
Another one said father Leger had put all of sudden the crossifix to the screen and said “do you sleep with other men”? She answered no, her husband was part of the conversation and said “if you would have said yes, you would have been in his bed with him by nightfall, I’ve heard before of father Leger dirty doings!
I have not enough fingers or toes to count does who told me while confessing the priest was masterbating…….the last one known and told to me was father Duguay in 1997 !
I know of one case a priest still alive would confess women in their bedroom, with husband in next room and could do nothing!
As to be a member of a secret groupe (mason) one has to give a discriminating story of oneself to be a member! Who can remember, the church had the intire school children marsh and go trough that box ONCE A MONTH!
What sadden me today is that they (church) has brought back the individual confession, some 3 years ago and all of these crimes CAN and will continued!
The church can no more have religious preveledge in hiding these crimes!
More rights to one can not lessen another ones rights, in Canada!
Enough is enough, the law of land must be above any religion brain whashing tacktic!
Baspuits
Thank you Mike and Baspuits for your responses.
Casuistry of the legal and canonical kind is an art oft practiced by clergy to resolve a dilemma they encounter. I am quite sure the canonists can suggest all manner of methods by which the ‘seal of the confessional’ could be bypassed and so permit reporting to the responding agencies.
For Denis Hart to suggest that he is willing to go to prison to defend the principle of the sanctity of the confessional is patently ridiculous. If Hart is to go to prison he should go as a possible unindicted co- conspiritor.
Couldn’t agree more, Rachel. Going to prison in defense of this matter is beyond ridiculous.
Casuistry is alive and well in this lame attempt to deflect from the subject at hand. Denis Hart offering to go to prison to protect the “seal of the confessional” has me laughing hysterically, and short of breath.
Imagine, going to this extent to protect the confessional, and in the same breath spending literally hundreds of thousands of dollars legally attempting to defend the indefensible. Hypocrisy in it’s highest form. Mike.
Go to prison, excuse me, but the hole congregation should be ousted out of my country!
Can you say ” tottering a child’s brain for life, is still permitted??? Be it by suicide, or natural cas ( i still struggle with the term “natural”) comes to ones end!
Please this goes for all religions or Should some one call Trudeau ll and propose only the good part of your/any religion be addmitted and practice in our country, no?
A New religion ” Buffet religion” y’a take what’s you need that helps humanity living a better Day!
Baspuits
How, and why, for heaven’s sake, does Pell continue to claim innocence over the Risdale case?
They were buddies for God’s sake! I have difficulty in believing that Pell was THAT stupid that he didn’t/couldn’t know!
He (Pell) was in a position of authority over these matters, and did NOTHING!
What has our church come to? Mike.
I’ve always said that maybe one bishop got it wrong in how the vatican said to protect children.
But that they all got it wrong, is pretty stupid!
What you allow, will continue……….
Baspuits