Sydney Catholic Schools in talks to remove George Pell plaques

Plaques honouring Cardinal George Pell are being ‘reviewed’ by Catholic schools after he was sentenced to six years’ jail for sexually abusing two choir boys.

Catholic schools are “reviewing” whether to strip plaques honouring Cardinal George Pell from their campuses after he was sentenced to six years jail for sexually abusing two choir boys.

The peak body representing more than 150 schools in Sydney has confirmed it is reviewing whether to remove the plaques.

Sydney Catholic Schools executive director Dr Dan White said the organisation would work with school communities to “take appropriate action”.

“Our priority is to ensure victims, survivors and our communities are well supported at this time,” Dr White told News Corp this afternoon.

(FILES) In this file photo taken on February 26, 2019 Cardinal George Pell (C) leaves the County Court of Victoria court after prosecutors decided not to proceed with a second trial on alleged historical child sexual offences in Melbourne. - Disgraced Australian Cardinal Pell was sentenced to six years in jail for child sex crimes in a Melbourne court on March 13, 2019, with a non-parole period of three years and eight months. (Photo by Asanka Brendon Ratnayake / AFP)

“We hope to discern a resolution which respects the needs of our communities and acknowledges the pain and distress of victims of child sexual abuse.

“The impact it has had, and continues to have, on their lives must not be minimised.”

Sydney Catholic Schools represents 114 primary schools and 38 secondary schools across the city.

Pell was sentenced to six years’ jail today, with the option for parole after three years and eight months.

He will also be placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Cardinal Pell could also be defrocked by the church and stripped of his Order of Australia honours.

Principal Br Nicholas Harsas with Dr Dan White (right). Picture: Supplied

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has already indicated he will push for Cardinal Pell’s Australia Day honours to be stripped if his appeal is unsuccessful.

St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney is also waiting until after the appeals process to make a decision on its plague of Cardinal Pell.

The Cardinal’s former school, St Patrick’s College, has already declared it will rename a building which had been named in his honour.

It will also strike his name from the College honour board.

Originally published as Sydney Catholic Schools in talks to remove George Pell plaques