Friday 29th of March 2024

your eminence grise (french for grey) is in a black and white area of moral responsibility...

 

eminence grise...

A specially appointed member of the Vatican's commission on child protection has accused Cardinal George Pell of being "almost sociopathic" in his treatment of victims.

Peter Saunders, himself a survivor of abuse, called for Cardinal Pell to be sent back to Australia and said he had a moral responsibility to appear before the royal commission into child sexual abuse.

Mr Saunders was appointed by Pope Francis last year to the new commission to protect children.

His comments follow the royal commission's latest hearings in Ballarat which last week focused on the crimes of priest Gerald Ridsdale.

Cardinal Pell has denied he tried to bribe a victim to keep quiet and that he was dismissive of victims and their families.

"Personally I think that his position is untenable because he has now a catalogue of denials," Mr Saunders told Channel Nine.

"He has a catalogue of denigrating people, of acting with callousness, cold-heartedness, almost sociopathic I would go as far as to say, this lack of care.

"Given the position of George Pell as a cardinal of the church and a position of huge authority within the Vatican, I think he is a massive, massive thorn in the side of Pope Francis's papacy if he's allowed to remain.

"And I think it's critical that he is moved aside, that he is sent back to Australia, and that the Pope takes the strongest action against him."

A spokesperson for Cardinal Pell condemned Mr Saunders' comments.

read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-01/pell-described-almost-sociopathic-commissioner-appointed-by-pope/6510528

 

a dangerous individual...

Cardinal George Pell is "a dangerous individual" and "almost sociopathic" in his response to child sexual abuse victims, Pope Francis' specially-appointed commissioner for the protection of children, Peter Saunders, says.

In an interview with Channel Nine's 60 Minutes, Mr Saunders said Cardinal Pell had a "moral responsibility" to front the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and address allegations that he knew of priests abusing children in Ballarat and elsewhere but did nothing to stop it. Cardinal Pell has denied these accusations.

"I personally think that his position is untenable, because he has now a catalogue of denials," Mr Saunders said in the interview which aired on Sunday night. 

read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/popes-commissioner-for-child-protection-says-cardinal-pell-is-a-dangerous-individual-and-almost-sociopathic-20150531-ghdl9n.html

pell — always hiding behind "legalities"...

George Pell has threatened legal action after a member of the Vatican’s commission for the protection of children accused him of “making a mockery” of child sexual abuse victims.

Peter Saunders, himself a victim of child sexual abuse, said Pell, Australia’s most senior Catholic cardinal, had an “almost sociopathic” disregard for victims of child sexual abuse through his repeated denial of any knowledge of abuse within the church.

But a statement issued on Pell’s behalf on Monday said: “The false and misleading claims made against His Eminence are outrageous. The cardinal is left no alternative but to consult with his legal advisers.”

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jun/01/pell-seeks-legal-advice-after-vatican-official-slams-mockery-of-abuse-victims

need to explain fully his role...

 

It's a 'tight situation not only for the Cardinal but for the Pope': Francis Sullivan


Francis Sullivan, chief executive of the Catholic Church's Truth Justice and Healing Council, says Cardinal George Pell 'will need to front and will need to explain fully his role in any of the events related to Ballarat'. Mr Sullivan says it's a pity the Cardinal wasn't called earlier by the Royal Commission. He says the future of Cardinal Pell is up to the Pope.

read the transcripts: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-01/its-a-tight-situation-not-only-for-the-cardinal/6510912

 

Cardinal George Pell will be called to the royal commission into child sexual abuse's second hearings in Ballarat, the commission has said.

Cardinal Pell had written to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse saying he was willing to appear before the inquiry.

In a statement released on Monday afternoon, the commission said that he would be called to appear when the inquiry meets again in Ballarat, later this year.

"In the ordinary course, witnesses are summonsed to appear at a hearing," the royal commission said in a statement.

"However a person resident overseas cannot be summonsed.

"The chair has received a letter from Cardinal Pell indicating that he is prepared to come to Australia to give evidence.

"The royal commission will ask him to give evidence in the second of the Ballarat hearings."

READ MORE: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-01/royal-commission-will-call-george-pell-to-second-ballarat/6512842

 

Hopefully, Cardinal Pell won't forget what he said, she said sort of things... Hopefully he won't try to fudge and dance about the horror of what happened to young parishioners...

 

furball at the vatican...

Child sexual abuse victim Peter Saunders will have “set the cat among the pigeons” in the Vatican after calling for Cardinal George Pell to be removed, a lawyer and researcher into sexual assault within the Catholic church has said.

Saunders established the National Association for People Abused in Childhood in Britain 16 years ago and in December he was hand-picked by Pope Francis to lead the Vatican’s commission for the protection of children.

Saunders told Australia’s Channel Nine news that Pell, appointed by Francis to control the Vatican’s finances and one of his most trusted advisors, should be removed from his position given the allegation in the royal commission that he covered up the crimes of paedophile priests.

removed from his position given the allegation in the Royal Commission his alleged that he covered-up of the crimes of paedophile priests.

read more: http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jun/01/vatican-officials-call-for-pell-to-be-removed-will-have-set-cat-among-the-pigeons

meanwhile in minneapolis...

The Roman Catholic archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis and a deputy bishop resigned on Monday after prosecutors recently charged the archdiocese with having failed to protect youths from abuse by pedophile priests.

In statements released Monday morning, the archbishop, John C. Nienstedt, and an auxiliary bishop, Lee A. Piché, said they were resigning to help the archdiocese heal.

“My leadership has unfortunately drawn attention away from the good works of His Church and those who perform them,” Archbishop Nienstedt said. “Thus my decision to step down.”

The resignations come about 10 days after prosecutors in Minnesota filed criminal charges against the archdiocese for its mishandling of repeated complaints of sexual misconduct against a priest and a few days after the Vatican announced the formation of a tribunal for judging bishops accused of covering up or failing to act on cases of child sexual abuse by priests.

Pope Francis has accepted the resignations, and has appointed the Rev. Bernard A. Hebda, an assistant archbishop of Newark, as apostolic administrator to oversee the archdiocese.

read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/15/us/archbishop-nienstedt-and-aide-resign-in-minnesota-over-sex-abuse-scandal.html?_r=0

too old to "reoffend", maybe?...


Why did Richter appear to accept Pell’s guilt at the sentencing hearing?


Many people are understandably confused by Richter’s comments to the chief judge, Peter Kidd, that Pell should receive a lower sentence because he did not have a pattern of offending, had not planned the attack and might have been “seized by some irresistible impulse” when he did it. This may seem an admission of guilt, but Richter is required to argue for a sentence based on the jury verdict, not based on Pell’s not guilty plea and maintenance of innocence. The case has been decided, so arguing Pell is innocent is useless in convincing the judge his client should get the lowest sentence possible. Richter had to accept the verdict in making his arguments.


How important are character references?


There are definitely lawyers who believe character references have no impact on sentencing. But it’s common to try all measures to reduce jail time. Character references may help indicate the likelihood of rehabilitation, repeat offending or the ability to follow court treatment orders. The high profile nature of some of Pell’s character references is unlikely to influence an experienced chief judge such as Peter Kidd, who has a background in prosecuting war crimes.

Does the first trial, in which the jury could not reach a verdict, have any bearing on the outcome of the second?

None at all. It’s irrelevant. Jurors in the retrial were not told about the mistrial.

 

Read more:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/mar/02/cardinal-george-p...

 

 

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