George Pell: guilty in the dry eyes of the faithful

Graham Richardson has written about George Pell

There was a time in this country when the clergy were esteemed members of our society.

When they visited the homes of Catholic families it was as if God, himself or herself, had entered the house.

The tragic list of paedophile priests uncovered over the past few years has meant many Catholics are frightened to leave their children alone with a priest — and who can blame them?

The most prolific paedophile in this country’s history was Gerard Ridsdale, a priest who shared the presbytery in the Victorian regional city of Ballarat with, among others, George Pell.

Pell rose to not only become the highest-ranking Catholic in Australia but he was also in the very top level of cardinals in the Vatican.

His glorious career ended in disgrace this week. There can be no more serious crime than stealing the innocence of a young boy or girl.

This week the Pope finally weighed in to this issue but his effort was way too late to be taken seriously.

Pell, who was close to the pontiff, may now have bought a one-way ticket to the slammer.

The low regard in which he was held by many of the faithful gives us a clue to the darker side of this man.

Today many Catholics are celebrating Pell’s conviction. It does make you wonder just how many in the clergy are guilty but have managed to avoid detection.

The church seems determined to do absolutely nothing about the biggest challenge it has faced in many decades.

Few priests have been defrocked or excommunicated for their evil deeds.

Even the worst of them still seem to be able to pick up a church pension and a decent retirement home.

I personally know of one priest who raped girls in several parishes as bishops moved him around from parish to parish as was the practice of the church for many decades.

Protecting the good name of the church was a much bigger priority for the hierarchy than protection of children.

Apparently successive popes, cardinals and bishops heard nothing, saw nothing and consequently said nothing.

The full-on protection of paedophiles was the real policy of the church even if this was never officially laid down in church law.

When Pell gave evidence to the royal commission, he could not look his accusers in the eye. After this week’s decision there will be many a dry eye among rank-and-file Catholics.