Cardinal Pell denies abuse charges in Australian court

Never teach your child mindless obedience to authority. Ever.

Australia's Catholic leaders have spoken out in support, describing Pell as a "thoroughly decent man".

Let's wait and see. The RCC has to tread carefuly, given the horrors of abuse it has been plagued by.

In one hearing, he admitted that he "mucked up" in dealing with pedophile priests in Victoria state in the 1970s.

Lots of 'mucking up' and 'mistakes were made' in the Catholic Church over the past few decades when dealing with the rape and abuse of children.

Lots of 'mucking up' and 'mistakes were made' in the Catholic Church over the past few decades when dealing with the rape and abuse of children.

Which involved moving priests and clergy around, rather than dealing with the problems. Which involved denials, cover ups and collusion within the church.

But the holy men of god were revered. The very thought that they could do this... people just wouldn't accept it. Victims were blamed, ulterior motives were ascribed.

"Suffer little children" became a horrible, ironic and twisted joke.

If Vatican finance chief Cardinal George Pell is found through judicial process guilty of these heinous crimes against children, George Pell is should be:

Taken to the place from whence you came, and thence to a place of lawful execution, and there you shall be hanged by the neck until you be dead, and afterwards your body shall be buried in a common grave within the precincts of the prison wherein you were last confined before your execution; and may the Lord have mercy on your soul.

No more no less.

George Pell is should be:Taken to the place from whence you came, and thence to a place of lawful execution, and there you shall be hanged by the neck until you be dead, and afterwards your body shall be buried in a common grave within the precincts of the prison wherein you were last confined before your execution; and may the Lord have mercy on your soul.

Is that Old Testament or New?

It would solve nothing at all. More violence upon violence. This is the 21st century; a proper trial is needed, not the Inquisition.

Hi Toasted Heretic, neither old nor new, but judicial proceedings  before review by the privy council, Serviens ad Legem prior to execution, a statement . As a Catholic, these alleged appalling crimes allowed many priests to continue to abuse at will, I wish I had your willingness to forgive, however, sorry I don't.

Not guilty? Yeah right. This isn't some silly backward religious nation where someone like Pell would usually get off scot free. This is Australia, where pedos and their ilk are brought to justice. The Catholic Church should be getting prepared to deal with the fallout

a "thoroughly decent man"

I think what he did was indecent. Why would so many accuse him? What would they get out of it. Next he will use the I can't rember line and the church is the foundation of Australia.

Imo he should already have been condemned for covering up child sex abuse within the Victorian church. He admitted during the Royal Commission inquiry that he knew what was happening and in some cases (Gerald Ridsdale) he actively assisted/helped the accused. That's obstruction of justice.

As a Catholic, these alleged appalling crimes allowed many priests to continue to abuse at will, I wish I had your willingness to forgive, however, sorry I don't.

I'm not sure I could forgive but I can't see anything useful about executing the man. I'm not a religious person but if people wish to worship or follow something, that's fine. It's the patriarchal dogma, centuries of it, that obscures the core message of religion - love. The insitutions that build up around the message change it, make rules, regulations and intepretations according to the era. That's what I'd like to see dismantled.

If this Pell is guilty; give him a long, long sentence so he can contemplate what he's allegedly done. He'll have to live with the shame for the rest of his life.

".......that obscures the core message of religion - love

I find the 'holy' books tend to be very particular about who to love.

They can also be very unambiguous about what to do with those apparently undeserving of love.

The problem is the 'core' of these religions - the texts themselves. Actually, the superstructures of religions can sometimes do some good in sanitizing what's in these books. Unfortunately, not always.

Sorry folks Id love to comment but now its in court we are not allowed to comment either way in Australia

Which involved moving priests and clergy around, rather than dealing with the problems. Which involved denials, cover ups and collusion within the church.

In the eyes of the church, once one of these clergymen confesses and performs his penance, he as a clean slate in the eyes of god. The church has it's own laws and justice, but follow this principle.

What I have always disliked about the church is that one can sin over and over again, confessing and receiving absolution after every offense. There is no real penalty to any sin, and no matter how big it is, god, and the church will always forgive you. I guess they forgot about when Jesus spoke to the woman accused of adultery, and said "go, and sin no more."

Too bad the church didn't use the same phrase with it's priests. But one of the oldest sayings in christendom is "the nearer to church, the farther from god."

He is accused at this time and not found to be guilty.

No his lawyers have pleaded not guilty .till they hear the evidence then the farther will enter his plea