Susie O’Brien: Charges against George Pell are a sign senior Catholics are not above the law
NO one is #HuntingCatholics. The charging of Cardinal George Pell is a sign the third most senior Catholic is not above the law, writes Susie O’Brien.
Susie O'Brien
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THE charging of Cardinal George Pell with sex offences is a major coup for the Child Sexual Abuse Royal Commission.
It’s not part of a witch hunt, as some are claiming. No one is #HuntingCatholics.
Rather, the charging of the Catholic Church’s third most senior cleric is a legitimate step in a rigorous and extensive process. It’s important to note that Victoria Police stress Pell has been treated no differently to anyone else in the investigation.
This process — which some people are working hard to undermine — started two years ago when more than one man spoke up about abuse they say Pell perpetrated.
After investigation, Victoria Police decided there is enough merit in the claims for Pell to be charged and face trial.
It doesn’t mean Pell is guilty, and this must not be assumed. At this stage this is a victory of the system, not a sign of guilt. Indeed, Pell has said he “strenuously denied all allegations”.
Victims will be grateful Pell is not exempt just because he is Australia’s third most senior Catholic. A feeling has persisted that Pell has been shielded from much of the fallout from the Royal Commission because of his post in Rome.
The thought that he will be forced to leave the sanctuary of the Vatican, get on a plane and face the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court on July 18 is gratifying to those who thought he was beyond the reach of the law.
Pell has previously said he was too ill to give evidence directly to the Royal Commission, which was seen by many as a bid to dodge scrutiny and accountability.
It’s no wonder the men who made the abuse allegations are “over the moon” because I’ll bet they never thought they would see this day.
We still don’t know exactly what Pell has been charged with, or even how many charges have been laid. As the Herald Sun reported back in February 2016, the police have been investigating claims covering the time Pell was working in Ballarat, but also in Melbourne as the Catholic Archbishop — a time span stretching from 1978 to 2001.
Back then Pell had the audacity to mention the Catholic Church’s “transparent” method of dealing with sexual abuse claims. This has been shown to be blatantly wrong through hours of damning evidence presented to the Royal Commission.
The Catholic Church not only ignored and covered up claims of sexual abuse, it moved on priests accused of serious crimes, leaving them to continue abusing others without restraint. It also sold victims short by getting them to sign confidentiality agreements and by capping payments.
Many victims say their handling by the church was a continuation of the abuse they suffered as children.
Let’s hope justice will be done. If Pell is innocent, then he will be cleared and the cloud hanging over him will be removed.
If he is guilty, then this will be a victory, not only for Pell’s alleged victims, but for every child who suffered appalling sexual abuse at the hands of the very people charged with caring for them.
Follow Susie on Twitter: @susieob
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