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With Cardinal George Pell’s Appeal Dismissed, Vatican Reminds He Has ‘Maintained His Innocence’ and Has Right to Appeal to High Court
Also Expresses ‘Respect’ for Australian Courts and Closeness to Victims
In March, Cardinal Pell was given his sentence of six years, with possible parole after three years and eight months. The Cardinal’s appeal was heard by a panel of three judges of the Supreme Court, June 5-6. Today, Aug. 21, at 9:30 a.m. in Melbourne, the judges handed down a two to one ruling, dismissing the appeal.
The Cardinal maintains his innocence and will appeal their decision to the High Court of Australia.
The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, issued the following statement in Italian and English this morning, which reaffirms ‘respect’ for the Australian judicial system and closeness to victims of abuse, but reminds that Cardinal Pell “has maintained his innocence” and “has the right to appeal to the High Court.
Here is the full text:
“While reiterating its respect for the Australian judicial system, as stated on 26 February after the first instance verdict was announced,” the statement began, “the Holy See acknowledges the court’s decision to dismiss Cardinal Pell’s appeal.”
“As the proceedings continue to develop,” it reminded, “the Holy See recalls that the Cardinal has always maintained his innocence throughout the judicial process and that it is his right to appeal to the High Court.”
“At this time, together with the Church in Australia, the Holy See confirms its closeness to the victims of sexual abuse and its commitment to pursue, through the competent ecclesiastical authorities, those members of the clergy who commit such abuse,” the statement concluded.
#VATICAN STATEMENT on #CARDINAL #PELL, pronounced by Director of @HolySeePress, Matteo Bruni: affirms ‘respect’ for Australian courts, closeness to victims, But remembers #Cardinal #Pell has maintained #innocence, has right to #appeal to High Court (video -Zenit’s @DeborahLubov) pic.twitter.com/MVdlKOPG3L
— Zenit English (@zenitenglish) August 21, 2019
Cardinal Pell’s spokesman also issued a brief statement after this ruling, confirming they will appeal and he maintains his innocence.
“Cardinal Pell is obviously disappointed with the decision today. However his legal team will thoroughly examine the judgement in order to determine a special leave application to the High Court.
“While noting the 2-1 split decision, Cardinal Pell maintains his innocence.
We thank his many supporters,” it concluded.
The Australian Bishops Conference also issued their own statement, along with its president, Cardinal Mark Coleridge; Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney; and Archbishop Comensoli of Melbourne. Each of the statements can be found at the end of this article.
In response to journalists’ inquiries, Matteo Bruni, later this morning, also clarified questions on the progress of the internal Church investigation that had been opened by CDF, following the sentence.
“As in other cases,” he stated, “the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is awaiting the outcome of the ongoing proceedings and the conclusion of the appellate process prior to taking up the case.”
“As was stated by the Holy See Press Office on 26 February, the Holy Father had already confirmed the precautionary measures imposed on Cardinal Pell upon his return to Australia, that is, as is the norm, the prohibition from exercising public ministry and from any voluntary contact whatsoever with minors,” it concluded.
On Feb. 26, the Holy See Press Office Director ‘ad interim’ Alessandro Gisotti said that with maximum respect to Australian authorities and the country’s judicial system, the Holy See awaits the results of the appeal process, , in response to the court judgments in Melbourne, Australia, regarding the Australian Cardinal who had been Prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy, until his term expired the month before.
Cardinal Pell has insisted that he has returned to Australia to clear his name of false sexual abuse charges against him. Cardinal Pell is no longer an advisor or member of the Pope’s Council of Cardinals. The Pope has thanked him for his service. The court had found him guilty of historic sexual abuses against minors. The statement stated that this is “painful news, that as we are well aware, has shocked numerous people, not only in Australia, and that “as already affirmed in other occasions, we reiterate maximum respect for the Australian judicial authorities.”
“Always with this respect,” it continued, “we now wait for the outcome of the appeal process, remembering that Cardinal Pell has reiterated his innocence and has the right to defend himself until the last level.”
The statement did also note though, that while the cardinal is appealing his appeal, until there is a definitive ruling, “Cardinal Pell is prohibited from public ministry” and “contact, in any way or form, with minors.”
Vatican Press Office, Greg Burke, on May 1, 2018, in response to the court judgments in Melbourne, Australia, had stated: “Last year, the Holy Father granted Cardinal Pell a leave of absence so he could defend himself from the accusations. The leave of absence is still in place.” The text was published that morning in Rome, after the decision of the Melbourne court to have the Prelate appear before a tribunal.
At that time, the court dismissed several charges but still was still having him stand trial. The Cardinal rejected the accusations brought against him and plead not guilty. The nature of the alleged cases was not identified.
This was Greg Burke’s declaration: “The Holy See has taken note of the decision issued by judicial authorities in Australia regarding His Eminence Cardinal George Pell. Last year, the Holy Father granted Cardinal Pell a leave of absence so he could defend himself from the accusations. The leave of absence is still in place.”
Before leaving for Australia to defend himself, Cardinal Pell explained his decision in the Holy See Press Office with journalists. The Holy See Press Office issued a statement regarding the cardinal and the situation.
“The Holy Father,” it noted, “having been informed by Card. Pell, has granted the Cardinal a leave of absence so he can defend himself.’
“The Holy Father,” it added, “who has appreciated Cardinal Pell’s honesty during his three years of work in the Roman Curia, is grateful for his collaboration, and in particular, for his energetic dedication to the reforms in the economic and administrative sector, as well as his active participation in the Council of Cardinals (C9).”
“The Holy See expresses its respect for the Australian justice system that will have to decide the merits of the questions raised. At the same time, it is important to recall that Card. Pell has openly and repeatedly condemned as immoral and intolerable the acts of abuse committed against minors; has cooperated in the past with Australian authorities (for example, in his depositions before the Royal Commission); has supported the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors; and finally, as a diocesan bishop in Australia, has introduced systems and procedures both for the protection of minors and to provide assistance to victims of abuse,” it concluded.
Read the source: https://zenit.org/articles/with-cardinal-pells-appeal-dismissed-vatican-reminds-he-has-maintained-his-innocence-and-has-right-to-appeal-to-high-court
Photo By Zenit – Cardinal Pell Speaking To Press About His Returning To Australia To Defend Himself
Cardinal Pell Loses Appeal to Victoria Supreme Court
Cardinal’s Lawyers Have 28 Days to File Final Appeal
Cardinal Pell became an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Melbourne in 1987 and was installed as its Metropolitan Archbishop in 1996. Pope Francis appointed him as a member of the Council of Cardinals in April 2013 and as Prefect for the newly created Secretariat for the Economy in February 2014.
After being under investigation for two years in Australia, Cardinal Pell was formally charged at the end of June 2017 with multiple counts of “historical sexual assault offenses” in two separate cases.
In a statement issued at the time, Cardinal Pell declared he was “innocent of these charges”, calling them “false”, adding that “the whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me”. He then announced that he would return to Australia to “clear his name”.
The Holy See issued a statement the same day announcing that Pope Francis had granted the Cardinal a “leave of absence” so he could return to Australia and “defend himself”. According to a statement released in February 2019 by the Holy See Press Office, the local Ordinary imposed “precautionary measures” on Cardinal Pell as soon as he returned to Australia. The Holy Father confirmed those measures which included the prohibition “from exercising public ministry and from having any voluntary contact whatsoever with minors”.
On May 1, 2018, he entered a “not guilty” plea in Melbourne’s Magistrates’ Court and was ordered to stand trial. The charges brought against Cardinal Pell resulted in two trials dubbed the “cathedral trial” and “the swimmers trial”.
In the first case, Cardinal Pell was accused of indecent acts and sexual assault of two choir boys in the sacristy of Melbourne’s Cathedral after noon Mass sometime at the end of 1996 and again at the beginning of 1997.
The charges in the second case were indecent assault of two boys who accused Cardinal Pell of touching them while in a swimming pool in the late 1970s.
Deliberations by the jury regarding the “cathedral trial” which had begun in August 2018 resulted in a hung jury because jurors were unable to reach either a unanimous or a majority verdict. A retrial began in November with a new jury which came to the conclusion in December that Cardinal Pell was guilty based on evidence presented in court.
Due to a suppression order meant to protect the Cardinal’s right to a fair trial regarding the “swimmers trial”, which had not yet been tried in court, the verdict was not announced until February 2019. At the same time, it was made public that the second trial that had been set for April would not go forward due to the lack of admissible evidence.
In a December 12, 2018 briefing, Holy See Press Office Director, at the time Greg Burke, explained that at the end of October Pope Francis had brought closure to Cardinal Pell’s participation in the Council of Cardinals due to “advanced age”.
Subsequently, at the end of February 2019, Holy See Press Office “ad interim” director, Alessandro Gisotti, confirmed that Cardinal Pell’s five-year appointment that had begun in February 2014 as Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy had ended, thus bringing his service in the Vatican to an end.
Cardinal Pell’s sentencing took place in March 2019. Immediately after receiving a six-year prison sentence – of which he must serve at least three years and eight months – Cardinal Pell appealed the verdict. He was then taken to prison where he began to carry out the sentence. The Cardinal’s appeal took place over two days at the beginning of June.
Read the source: https://zenit.org/articles/cardinal-pell-loses-appeal-to-victoria-supreme-court
Vatican Media
Full Vatican Statement on Cardinal Pell, Given by Director of Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni
‘As the proceedings continue to develop, the Holy See recalls that the Cardinal has always maintained his innocence throughout the judicial process and that it is his right to appeal to the High Court’
Here is the Vatican-provided English text of the statement on Cardinal George Pell, given today in the Holy See Press Office, by its Director, Matteo Bruni:
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While reiterating its respect for the Australian judicial system, as stated on 26 February after the first instance verdict was announced, the Holy See acknowledges the court’s decision to dismiss Cardinal Pell’s appeal.
As the proceedings continue to develop, the Holy See recalls that the Cardinal has always maintained his innocence throughout the judicial process and that it is his right to appeal to the High Court.
At this time, together with the Church in Australia, the Holy See confirms its closeness to the victims of sexual abuse and its commitment to pursue, through the competent ecclesiastical authorities, those members of the clergy who commit such abuse.
[Original text: Italian – working translation]Later, Matteo Bruni issued another brief statement, responding to journalists’ questions. Here is the Vatican-provided text:
Responding to the questions received from journalists, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, has affirmed the following:
“As in other cases, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is awaiting the outcome of the ongoing proceedings and the conclusion of the appellate process prior to taking up the case.
As was stated by the Holy See Press Office on 26 February, the Holy Father had already confirmed the precautionary measures imposed on Cardinal Pell upon his return to Australia, that is, as is the norm, the prohibition from exercising public ministry and from any voluntary contact whatsoever with minors”.
Read the source: https://zenit.org/articles/full-vatican-statement-on-cardinal-pell-given-by-director-of-holy-see-press-office-matteo-bruni/
Archbishop Mark Coleridge – Facebook
Statement From Archbishop Mark Coleridge on Cardinal Pell Ruling
President Of The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
The following statement was issued August 21, 2019, by Archbishop Mark Coleridge, President Of The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, following the Victoria Court of Appeals ruling against Cardinal Pell’s appeal of his abuse conviction:
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The Victorian Court of Appeal has today announced that, in a 2-1 decision, Cardinal George Pell’s appeal against his convictions for child sexual abuse offences has been dismissed.
The Catholic Bishops of Australia believe all Australians must be equal under the law and accept today’s judgment accordingly.
Cardinal Pell’s legal team has said it will examine the judgment in order to determine a special leave application to the High Court.
The Bishops realize that this has been and remains a most difficult time for survivors of child sexual abuse and those who support them. We acknowledge the pain that those abused by clergy have experienced through the long process of the trials and appeal of Cardinal Pell. We also acknowledge that this judgment will be distressing to many people.
We remain committed to doing everything we can to bring healing to those who have suffered greatly and to ensuring that Catholic settings are the safest possible places for all people, but especially for children and vulnerable adults.
Read the source: https://zenit.org/articles/statement-from-archbishop-mark-coleridge-on-cardinal-pell-ruling/
Statement of Archbishop Anthony Fisher on Cardinal Pell Decision
Archbishop of Sydney, Australia
The following statement was issued August 21, 2019, by Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney following the Victoria Court of Appeals ruling against Cardinal Pell’s appeal of his abuse conviction:
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The Victorian Court of Appeal has today upheld the verdict of historical sexual abuse allegations against Cardinal George Pell in a 2-1 decision.
From the outset, the Cardinal has strenuously maintained his innocence. He continues to do so notwithstanding today’s decision.
Today’s split decision amongst the judges is consistent with the differing views of the juries in the first and second trials, as well as the divided opinion amongst legal commentators and the general public. Reasonable people have taken different views when presented with the same evidence and I urge everyone to maintain calm and civility.
As the Cardinal may yet decide to appeal the judgment to the High Court of Australia, I am limited in my ability to comment on today’s outcome.
Matters of the Cardinal’s status within the Church can only be determined by the Vatican, not the Church in Australia. I anticipate that the Holy See may well wait until the appeal process has been exhausted.
I recommit myself and the Archdiocese of Sydney to doing all we can to ensure that past crimes are never repeated and that Church environments are the safest possible for children and vulnerable adults.
I pray for and will continue to support survivors of child sexual abuse at the hands of clergy and other members of the Catholic Church so that they may find justice and healing. I again say how sorry I am that you were harmed by people you should have been able to trust. I am conscious of how you and your loved ones have had to live with the consequences of abuse for a lifetime.
I know that there are many in the Catholic community and beyond who will find it difficult to come to terms with this judgment, especially those who know the Cardinal and will struggle to reconcile this outcome with the man they know. I thank them for persevering in faith, hope, and love.
As we wait to hear whether the legal process will continue, I will seek to provide pastoral support to those Catholics who may have found their faith tested.
Read the source: https://zenit.org/articles/statement-of-archbishop-anthony-fisher-on-cardinal-pell-decision/
Bishop Peter A Comensoli – Archdiocese Melbourne Photo
Archbishop Peter A Comensoli’s Media Statement on Cardinal George Pell
Archbishop of Melbourne, Australia
The following statement was issued August 21, 2019, by Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli of Melbourne following the Victoria Court of Appeals ruling against Cardinal Pell’s appeal of his abuse conviction:
Read the source: https://zenit.org/articles/archbishop-peter-a-comensolis-media-statement-on-cardinal-george-pell/
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Today the Victorian Court of Appeal, in a 2:1 majority decision, dismissed Cardinal George Pell’s appeal against his conviction for assaulting two choir boys at St Patrick’s Cathedral in late 1996 and early 1997.
I respectfully receive the Court’s decision, and I encourage everyone to do the same. That there have been two trials, and now today’s decision in the Court of Appeal, the complexity of the search for the truth in this matter has tested many, and may very well continue to do so.
My thoughts and prayers are with the man who brought this matter before the courts. I humbly acknowledge it has been a challenging time for him, and I stand ready to offer pastoral and spiritual help, should he seek it.
In Christian charity, I will ensure that Cardinal Pell is provided pastoral and spiritual support while he serves the remainder of his sentence, according to the teaching and example of Jesus to visit those in prison.
I also want to acknowledge with gratitude the people who have been involved in this case. For many, this has been a demanding and distressing experience.
To the faithful of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, I want to acknowledge the deep impact today’s decision will have for you. My prayer is that all of us might reach out to each other in faith, hope and love, as I do for you at this moment.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne continues to work with survivors to offer support for their healing, recovery and well-being. This is based upon an Archdiocesan-wide commitment to build a culture of respect and safety for all, and to reach out to those who courageously bring forward their stories.
I re-commit myself and the Archdiocese to a culture that listens, that seeks to bring justice and healing, and that protects children and vulnerable people.
Cardinal George Pell’s appeal for sexual assault conviction is rejected
Published on Aug 21, 2019
This was the verdict from Australia’s Supreme Court of Victoria for Cardinal George Pell’s appeal over whether his conviction for sexual assault would be overturned or not on Wednesday morning.
The orders of the court are one leave to appeal is granted, with respect to ground one only, and the appeal is dismissed.
By a majority of two to one, “the Court of Appeal has dismissed Cardinal George Pell’s appeal against his conviction for the commission of sexual offenses.”
The 78 year-old cardinal and Vatican’s former Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy was convicted in March for four indecent acts and one for sexual violence going back to the 1990s; and was sentenced to six years in prison.
The second trial was conducted by three judges who re-examined Cardinal George Pell’s case. The cardinal filed his appeal, which took place in June basing it on three grounds: one regarding the reliability of the evidence used to convict him and the other two in regard to legal issues concerning the conducting of the trial.
As of now Cardinal George Pell can make another appeal. Additionally, he will be eligible to apply for parole after serving three years and eight months of his sentence.
He has persistently claimed he is innocent of these convictions.
Matteo Bruni, the Director of the Holy See Press Office,has issued a statement expressing the Holy See’s respect for the court’s decisions and its commitment to addressing cases of sexual abuse.
MATTEO BRUNI
Director of the Holy See Press Office
“At this time, together with the Church in Australia, the Holy See confirms its closeness to the victims of sexual abuse and its commitment to pursue, through the competent ecclesiastical authorities, those members of the clergy who commit such abuse.”
During this time, the Vatican has imposed restrictive measures on the cardinal, forbidding him to celebrate Mass in public; and avoid any contact with minors.
Additionally, a canonical process has also been launched. If convicted in this trial, he could even be expelled from the College of Cardinals or the priesthood.
Related Article:
What People Are Saying About Cardinal George Pell Today: Notable commentary and official reactions from around the Church and the world http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/08/21/what-people-are-saying-about-cardinal-george-pell-today-notable-commentary-and-official-reactions-from-around-the-church-and-the-world/