The Australian cardinal and the Vatican-chief financial officer George Pell has been convicted of child abuse. The court representative said on Tuesday in the Australian city of Melbourne. The 77-Year-old was found guilty, in the 1990s, two choristers in the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne abused or sexually assaulted. The victims were at that time twelve and 13 years old. Pell, the highest ranking Catholic priests in the world who was convicted of abuse allegations.
A criminal mass has not yet been announced. The cardinal has denied the allegations. His lawyer wants to appeal.
judgment in December
The sentence against the 77-Year-old had already fallen in December, on the orders of the court, but so far kept under wraps have been like. The background is a scheduled another process to other allegations against Pell. With the prohibition of any reporting on the in December completed the process it should be prevented that the current procedure is affected.
prosecutors have not decided but on Tuesday, to follow the second method. In consequence of the prohibition of reporting the conviction was overturned in December.
The Church was for years with numerous abuse scandals in many countries have to face. This also includes allegations of a far-reaching cover-up. Only in the past few days, a multi-day crisis summit was held in the Vatican on the topic of child abuse. (chk/AFP)
Created: 26.02.2019, 01:10 PM
