Susie O’Brien: Not even our most senior Catholic is above the law
GEORGE Pell’s committal to stand trial on multiple historical sexual offence charges shows that not even the country’s most senior Catholic figure is above the law, writes Susie O’Brien.
Susie O'Brien
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TODAY Cardinal George Pell shuffled from court after facing historical sexual offence charges, was placed on bail, and will report to another court in the morning.
It shows that not even the country’s most senior Catholic figure is above the law.
Today Pell was committed to stand trial on multiple historical sexual offence charges.
Survivors of sexual offending who have fought, not for vengeance, but for justice, might find some faith now in the legal system.
Regardless of the ultimate outcome, the fact that Pell will stand trial is a sign that even the most powerful individuals must face the legal process like anyone else.
CARDINAL GEORGE PELL TO FACE TRIAL
PRELIMINARY HEARING LEARNS DETAILS OF ALLEGED OFFENCES
ONE CHARGE DROPPED AGAINST CARDINAL PELL AS ACCUSER DIES
The court carefully considered the evidence given about events that allegedly took place many years ago. That this happened, regardless of whether charges proceeded or not, will no doubt give other survivors the courage to speak up and be confident they will be heard.
The country’s most tenacious and persuasive defence barrister, Robert Richter, QC was apparently unable to convince magistrate Belinda Wallington that the entire case was the result of a witch hunt, with some of the charges against the Cardinal being sent for trial.
Pell’s team had insisted it was all a ploy to punish him for not doing enough to protect others from sexual abuse by priests in his church.
Richter said the claims were either made-up, or made by mentally unstable accusers.
Although some of the more serious charges against Pell were dismissed, the progression of some of the lesser charges is a serious blow for the church regardless of the outcome.
Magistrate Wallington said there was no evidence the accusers had colluded in their evidence.
The church will now have to face the humiliating prospect of a drawn-out trial, with detailed evidence expected to be given about its most senior official in this country.
It’s an extraordinary development affecting one of the country’s most powerful institutions.
It’s all very well for Catholic Archbishop Denis Hart to say that justice may now take its course, but it is well known that the church for decades denied victims of terrible crimes committed within its ranks justice.
They moved known paedophiles around to escape scrutiny, they ignored and humiliated those who had the courage to complain, and they paid them pitiful amounts of money in exchange for their silence.
In this case, now both Pell and his accusers will have their day in court which is the sort of fair process everyone wants to see.
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