The Record of Cardinal George Pell, RIP

 On Facebook, at the passing of the Cardinal I wrote:

Cardinal Pell has died, may his memory be eternal!

When he was the head of the Congregation for the Economy (investigating Vatican finances), he kindly agreed to endorse my book, God Has No Grandchildren.

Later, when the second edition with the pointed criticism of Amoris Laetitia came out, I asked if he was still amenable to keeping his endorsement -- it seemed only fair to give him an out from the position of opposing his boss.

"Yes."

He knew.

Bless him.

Phil wrote an excellent piece about him: Cardinal Pell's Long Shadow. 

His death brought up the past, and with it, amnesia as to the details but a memory of fault, especially in the secular media but also among Catholics. So I also linked to an article that carefully goes over the timeline and evidence about the sex abuse accusation, trial, conviction, and overturning that he endured. Here is the article (a condensed version of a much longer, detailed explanation) I linked to: Pell's Kangaroo Court.

As I said, 

My husband wrote an important book about the sex abuse scandal in the Church. Our family had dealings with a priest subsequently jailed for abusing many boys, including a lad who lived with us for a time. We are no strangers to the issue and have no illusions about who can commit this atrocity. Reputation alone leaves us cold. Our default position is to be skeptical.

The ONLY defense I will entertain is "it was physically impossible."

Now that Cardinal George Pell has died, people will be bandying about the old accusations as if they are true, simply because some were guilty. Let's be fair and just. Know what the case was about and why he was cleared. What he was accused of was impossible.

In other words, if anything, I'm disposed to believe accusations. But I know Pell was innocent because what he was accused of could not have happened. 

Some, when confronted with evidence that undermines their narrative, bring up other, older suspicions and accusations. I want to be sure to bring to your attention two things: first, the facts of what went on, and second, the fact that when he had the authority and in stark contrast to other prelates who did nothing, he set about cleaning house. He also admitted that he should have done more -- something else that other men in authority have not expressed. 

Here are the articles that delve into the situation in Ballarat that people are bringing up, as well as other sundry accusations. No one is perfect, many have a lot to answer for. I am convinced that the Cardinal did what he could. Read the facts for yourself: Misplaced Blame for Horrific Abuse; Get Pell: the facts behind the Royal Commission headlines.

My experience with an abuser (alluded to above) shows me the reality of the situation, which is that by definition the perpetrator manipulates everything so that you doubt your suspicions and have no idea how to act on them, especially when you are not directly responsible. I really challenge anyone who judges the early Pell to be honest about confronting what he has done, himself, in a similar situation, and I assure you that we have all encountered it. Don't let yourself off the hook!

At the end of the day, we are left with the big picture, that Cardinal Pell was the figure in Australia and one of the few in the higher ranks in the Church in general who stood for certain counter-cultural truths about man, woman, and marriage against overwhelming political pressure. He had enemies who laid the groundwork for his destruction and nearly succeeded. Truly, if it had not been for the one righteous Justice (of three) on the Australian Federal Court, Mark Weinberg, being willing to tell the truth and point out the deceptions, the Cardinal would have died in jail. 

Some think that this would have been a suitable end for him, regardless of his guilt or innocence, so angry are they about the whole stinking business. While I share their general disgust, I don't think the particular position reflects well on their claim for justice. I think Pell was willing to do it, honestly. And that too speaks to his innocence.