Tony Abbott no ‘fair weather friend’ to George Pell
Tony Abbott has defended his decision to reach out to George Pell after he was convicted, also expressing support for victims.
Tony Abbott has defended his decision to reach out to George Pell after he was convicted of child sexual abuse, saying he is “not a fair weather friend”.
The former prime minister was interviewed by 2GB radio’s Ray Hadley this morning, days after Hadley blasted him and John Howard for their personal support for the convicted paedophile and Catholic leader.
Mr Abbott said he called Pell last week after his conviction because they had been “friends for a long time” but also expressed his support for Pell’s victims — two choirboys in 1996 — and Catholics struggling with the conviction of the Church’s leading figure in Australia.
“I’m not a fair weather friend and this was someone who was going through a very, very bad experience,” he told 2GB.
“I’m not saying he’s the only one going through bad experiences. But he has been a friend of mine for a long time and at a times like this you’ve got to feel for people.
“You’ve got to feel for the victims who have been dreadfully betrayed by an institution they should have been able to trust.
“You’ve got to feel for the people who’ve been dismayed at this verdict, again someone they put up on a pedestal … these are tough times for a lot of people.”
Hadley also asked Mr Abbott about Mr Howard’s decision to provide a character reference post-conviction and a number of commentators who have defended Pell and questioned the jury.
The former prime minister said he “absolutely” accepted the court’s verdict and that he could not speak for his mentor and former boss, Mr Howard.
“There’s a verdict that’s been delivered, a damning verdict against a friend of mine. It is subject to appeal but I absolutely accept the courts and their judgments are the best means we have of coming to the truth,” he told 2GB.
“It was an unanimous conviction … This is a fair point (about commentators defending Pell) but it’s very unusual of Cardinal Pell’s seniority and substance to be on trial like this.
“I’m not a spokesman for John Howard. I’m not a spokesman for the Catholic Church.”
Last week Hadley said Mr Abbott showed “a complete lack of understanding of victims of paedophiles”.
“His electorate would be looking at all this at the moment and scratching their heads,” Hadley said.
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