1/
Since #Pell's death concern has been expressed that it may trigger those who suffered & survived childhood sexual abuse.
Now we are witnessing a plethora of church leaders, former politicians & commentators publically singing Pell's praises & ignoring facts & abuse survivors.
Since #Pell's death concern has been expressed that it may trigger those who suffered & survived childhood sexual abuse.
Now we are witnessing a plethora of church leaders, former politicians & commentators publically singing Pell's praises & ignoring facts & abuse survivors.
2/
No person is completely good or completely evil. (Although some might argue) I'm sure Pell did things worthy of praise, but with his passing should the evil he did be ignored?
Some go part of the way to balanced commentary by acknowledging he was tried for child sex abuse.
No person is completely good or completely evil. (Although some might argue) I'm sure Pell did things worthy of praise, but with his passing should the evil he did be ignored?
Some go part of the way to balanced commentary by acknowledging he was tried for child sex abuse.
3/
Yes, a jury did find Pell guilty. Yes, the Court of Appeal upheld the jury's verdict & yes, the High Court overturned those decisions. Whilst many didn't agree, that's our legal system & we have to accept it.
But, should Pell be held up as innocent when the High Court...
Yes, a jury did find Pell guilty. Yes, the Court of Appeal upheld the jury's verdict & yes, the High Court overturned those decisions. Whilst many didn't agree, that's our legal system & we have to accept it.
But, should Pell be held up as innocent when the High Court...
4/
never said he was 'innocent', but did say the complainant wasn't merely credible & reliable based on his evidence, but he was compellingly credible & reliable.
Yes, the verdict was overturned & the Vatican has held Pell up as a modern day martyr.
But is he, really?
never said he was 'innocent', but did say the complainant wasn't merely credible & reliable based on his evidence, but he was compellingly credible & reliable.
Yes, the verdict was overturned & the Vatican has held Pell up as a modern day martyr.
But is he, really?
5/
He might have been the Church's Strong Man, but I doubt he was, 'God's Strong Man'.
Church & Christianity are different.
When he learned of the crimes of paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale was Pell strong?
Did he act to support Ridsdale's victims?
Did he alert law enforcement?
He might have been the Church's Strong Man, but I doubt he was, 'God's Strong Man'.
Church & Christianity are different.
When he learned of the crimes of paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale was Pell strong?
Did he act to support Ridsdale's victims?
Did he alert law enforcement?
6/
Did he remove Ridsdale from ministry?
The answer to all these questions is, 'NO'.
So were these the actions of a strong man?
The church might thinks so, but what would Jesus say?
As an Archbishop when Pell learned of the crimes of Fr Searson Pell repeated the same weaknesses.
Did he remove Ridsdale from ministry?
The answer to all these questions is, 'NO'.
So were these the actions of a strong man?
The church might thinks so, but what would Jesus say?
As an Archbishop when Pell learned of the crimes of Fr Searson Pell repeated the same weaknesses.
7/
Pell may have acted strongly to protect his church, but not so the children.
Then there's the treatment Pell dispensed to the raped children & their families.
Who can forget the evidence of Chrissie & Anthony Foster at the Royal Commission?
Pell may have acted strongly to protect his church, but not so the children.
Then there's the treatment Pell dispensed to the raped children & their families.
Who can forget the evidence of Chrissie & Anthony Foster at the Royal Commission?
8/
After learning of Fr Kevin O'Donnell's repeated rape of their daughters, Emma & Katie, the Fosters went to Pell for help.
Pell again showed his strength, threatening if they took his church to court he'd fight them with highly paid lawyers every step of the way. And he did.
After learning of Fr Kevin O'Donnell's repeated rape of their daughters, Emma & Katie, the Fosters went to Pell for help.
Pell again showed his strength, threatening if they took his church to court he'd fight them with highly paid lawyers every step of the way. And he did.
9/
Pell then held up his, 'Melbourne Response' as a world first, but behind its cover the Ellis defence & misly compensation payments to survivors continued to protect his church's vast assets. Strong men of the church still herald this cruel policy document as ground breaking.🤔
Pell then held up his, 'Melbourne Response' as a world first, but behind its cover the Ellis defence & misly compensation payments to survivors continued to protect his church's vast assets. Strong men of the church still herald this cruel policy document as ground breaking.🤔
10/
Then there's the unresolved allegations against Pell at the Ballarat & Torquay swimming pools & David Ridsdale's evidence of how Pell allegedly ask what it would take to buy his silence about his uncle's offending? I could go on, but I'm sure you get the idea.
Then there's the unresolved allegations against Pell at the Ballarat & Torquay swimming pools & David Ridsdale's evidence of how Pell allegedly ask what it would take to buy his silence about his uncle's offending? I could go on, but I'm sure you get the idea.
11/
Archbishop Fisher said Pell was, "without doubt Australia's most prominent ever churchman, having provided 'strong' & clear leadership..."
Archbishop Comensoli said he was, "a significant & influential Church leader... 'strongly' committed to Christian discipleship."
Archbishop Fisher said Pell was, "without doubt Australia's most prominent ever churchman, having provided 'strong' & clear leadership..."
Archbishop Comensoli said he was, "a significant & influential Church leader... 'strongly' committed to Christian discipleship."
12/
No mention of those who suffered due to Pell's failed handling of child rapists. But, as the Vatican ponders who should become Australia's next Cardinal, their comments shouldn't do any harm.
Former PM Tony Abbott said Pell was, 'a fine man wrestling with a cruel fate &
No mention of those who suffered due to Pell's failed handling of child rapists. But, as the Vatican ponders who should become Australia's next Cardinal, their comments shouldn't do any harm.
Former PM Tony Abbott said Pell was, 'a fine man wrestling with a cruel fate &
13/
...trying to make sense of the unfairness & suffering.'
Considering the
'unfairness & suffering'
of so many child sex abuse victims & survivors, it was an unfortunate choice of words.
Pell's death might not trigger all survivors, but comments like these just might.
...trying to make sense of the unfairness & suffering.'
Considering the
'unfairness & suffering'
of so many child sex abuse victims & survivors, it was an unfortunate choice of words.
Pell's death might not trigger all survivors, but comments like these just might.
14/
This all says more about the organisation, the Church itself, its inability to acknowledge the truth in spite of overwhelming evidence. Without accepting & truely acknowledging its history it is incapable of change.
Pell has left a legacy, but maybe not that intended.
End
This all says more about the organisation, the Church itself, its inability to acknowledge the truth in spite of overwhelming evidence. Without accepting & truely acknowledging its history it is incapable of change.
Pell has left a legacy, but maybe not that intended.
End
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