George Pell guilty: Prime Minister Scott Morrison ‘deeply shocked’

Former prime minister John Howard says the Catholic Church has its flaws “like any great institution” as Australia’s political leaders react to George Pell’s guilty verdict.

John Howard says the Catholic Church has its flaws “like any great institution”.

The former prime minister was speaking at the UTS Business School tonight when he was quizzed by ABC reporter Emma Alberici if Cardinal George Pell had sought his counsel in recent years after they spoke during his prime ministership.

“As to the position of Cardinal Pell, the facts as they stand at moment are known,” Mr Howard said.

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Former prime minister speaking at the UTS Business School. Picture: Richard Dobson

“He denies guilt and he is appealing and, in those circumstances, it’s utterly inappropriate for me to say any more about those particular charges and I don’t intend to.”

“As to changes within the Catholic church, like any great institution it has flaws, I am not a member of the Catholic church, although as a member of the Anglican church, raised in the Methodist church as I was, I feel a certain identity and beliefs naturally with another branch of the Christian church and I don’t run away from that. I admire enormously a lot of the work, good work the Catholic Church does which is so often unacknowledged by its constant critics.”

“What does that have to do with economics?” someone interjected from the crowd when Alberici was asking her questions.

Cardinal George Pell leaves the County Court after prosecutors decided not to proceed with a second trial on alleged historical child sexual offences. Picture: AFP

Earlier, Prime Minister Scott Morrison issued a statement this evening, saying he was “deeply shocked” at the crimes of which Pell had been convicted.

“I respect the fact that this case is under appeal, but it is the victims and their families I am thinking of today, and all who have suffered from sexual abuse by those they should have been able to trust but couldn’t,” Mr Morrison said.

“Their prolonged pain and suffering will not have ended today.

“While due process continues, our justice system has affirmed no Australian is above the law.

“As a country, we must continue to do everything possible to stamp out child sexual abuse in all of its forms, wherever it takes place.”

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten declined to comment on Cardinal Pell’s conviction but acknowledged today would be a difficult time for survivors of institutional child sex abuse.

“On the specifics of the case, it would be inappropriate of me to comment as they are subject to legal appeal,” Mr Shorten told reporters in Queensland.

Cardinal George Pell, who had risen to the top ranks of the Vatican, with Pope Francis in 2013.

He said he had been shocked by the findings of the royal commission and felt for anyone who had been a victim of clerical or institutional abuse.

“This must bring back a lot of very difficult memories,” he said.

Mr Shorten added: “It is very clear that a lot of institutional sexual abuse was swept under the carpet and too often priests, rather than being punished, were moved between parishes and covered up.”

“I don’t want to comment about the individual case under appeal, but my thoughts are with the victims of clerical sexual abuse. It should never happen. It’s a gross betrayal of trust.”