Cardinal Pell should be honoured with a state funeral

The decision by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to not offer a state or memorial service for Cardinal George Pell because of allegations of sexual abuse and the effects on victims smacks of hypocrisy and failing to endorse the High Court decision.

In case the Premier was unaware, Cardinal Pell had his charges quashed by the High Court. The Premier would have been better to have remained silent on this issue. It is comfort to know that Pope Francis will preside over a mass for Cardinal Pell. I am not a Catholic but I see the injustice in his treatment.

Carryn McLean, Kingsley, WA

George Pell was the most prominent Catholic churchman since Daniel Mannix, who became archbishop of Melbourne in 1917. Mannix was revered by the Irish Catholic people of Melbourne as an Irish republican and as a workers’ hero, educationist and politician. Writer Jim Griffin said of Mannix in his biography Mannix: Beyond the Myths: “Of the dead speak only the truth.” Cardinal Pell, in death, will likely not be afforded that luxury.

Brian Sanaghan, West Preston, Vic

Chris Merritt also could have added Christian Porter to his list of people for whom the principle of innocence until proven guilty beyond doubt should have applied, not withstanding his matter never went to trial.

But the mob and media still brought him down. I concur that a restrengthening of the ancient rule and right is well overdue, as well as compensation for those falsely accused.

Peter Thornton, Killara, NSW

As expected, no one is neutral about George Pell, his death giving rise to equal reams of verbiage on either side of the good guy versus bad guy fence. I have come to understand that the fence is held up by the intertwined wires of “believe the victims” and “believe the falsely accused” – with a topping of “victim of culture wars”, as Pell professed himself to be.

As someone who is immersed in child sexual abuse work, including many years working therapeutically with child-sex abusers including clergy, it is very easy for me to sit clearly and without compromise or doubt on the “believe the victims” side. I also believe it would be a futile waste of time to try to persuade anyone on the other side.

However, I do remain puzzled as to the arguments they employ to help them stay on their side of the fence in the face of the now un-redacted published findings of the royal commission regarding the level of Pell’s knowledge and the extent of his lack of protective action towards the children, rather than his church.

Of course, no argument in their attempts to establish an alternative truth to that of the royal commission will make a skerrick of difference to those of us on the opposite side of the fence. Such a shame when twisted iron fences divide us.

Maggie Woodhead, Swan View, WA

Thank you for your unbiased coverage of George Pell’s life and legacy and for acknowledging the appalling malicious persecution he was subjected to in his later years. As a Catholic, it has been extremely gratifying to read your editorial and other articles that truly reflect his character and achievements as a man and a priest.

Gemma Blok, Haberfield, NSW

Having noticed some journalists reporting Cardinal Pell was charged, then acquitted, the error needs to be corrected. Cardinal Pell was found guilty by a jury and not acquitted.

There is an important difference. It was only after an appeal that the panel of judges quashed the charges, noting the grave possibility that an innocent man had been charged.

Rosemary McGrath, Dulwich, SA

Cardinal George Pell’s fine obituary invites reflection (“Triumph, disaster and the fearless disciple”, 12/10). As expected, written by his biographer, Tess Livingstone, it has the breadth and width needed to understand this polarising cleric.

“Recognising the sharp delineation between church and state”? I am not so assured.

Granted, the church wants to be free of the state. Yet the religious hierarchy does not seek the converse, for the state to be free of the church.

Religion is political to its very soul. Its ideology seeks to encroach on and institutionalise one’s individual spirituality.

Mike Fogarty, Weston, ACT