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| Australian Cardinal George Pell after making a statement at the Holy See Press Office at the Vatican on Thursday. Credit Alberto Pizzoli/Agence France-Presse — Getty Image |
"SYDNEY, Australia — Australia’s senior Roman Catholic prelate, and one of Pope Francis’ top advisers, has been charged with sexual assault, the police in the Australian state of Victoria said on Thursday.
"The prelate, Cardinal George Pell, became the highest-ranking Vatican
official in recent years to face criminal charges involving accusations
of sexual offenses. The case will test the credibility of Francis’
initiatives to foster greater accountability after abuse scandals that
have shaken the church around the world.
"'Cardinal
Pell has been charged on summons, and he is required to appear at the
Melbourne Magistrates’ Court' on July 18, Shane Patton, the deputy
police commissioner, said at a news conference.
"The
charges were served on the cardinal’s legal representatives in
Melbourne. Commissioner Patton said there were multiple complainants but
refused to provide further details about them, including their ages.
"'The
process and procedures that are being followed in the charging of
Cardinal Pell have been the same that have been applied in a whole range
of historical sex offenses, whenever we investigate them,' Commissioner
Patton added. 'Cardinal Pell has been treated the same as anyone else.'
"Cardinal Pell, the Vatican’s de facto finance chief, had been accused in hearings before Australia’s Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
of mishandling misconduct cases against clergy members while he served
as the leader of the Archdioceses of Melbourne and Sydney. Then
allegations surfaced that he had sexually abused minors himself
beginning early in his priesthood and continuing until he became
archbishop of Melbourne. He has repeatedly denied the accusations."
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/28/world/australia/cardinal-george-pell-charged-sexual-abuse.html
If you get a chance, watch the Netflix series "The Keepers." True story. It's all about sexual abuse of children by priests and others. A nun is even killed to keep her quiet. Of course, the Church does all it can to "protect" the priests. The main offender is "protected" until he dies. I know of a similar case here in Racine. The abusive priest was shuffled around to different parishes. Then he retired and died, never facing any consequences for his actions. I bet you that at least a million children have been abused by the clergy worldwide. Once one comes out, other victims usually turn up.
"Cardinal Pell has been treated the same as anyone else." That's what I'm afraid of. In other words, they are going to lie, obfuscate, and bury the truth. I don't know if I ever had much faith in the Church. Now I consider them a criminal organization dedicated to abusing children. The Pope can cry all he wants, they still harbor monsters.
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1 comment:
In old days, religion was used to control the population, now it has a more evil and sinister partner called government. How is that working for ya'all?
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