George Pell

[Captain Sensible]

Few details available but George Pell has been accused of child molesting. He has stood down while the investigation takes place.

 

[Slax]

Doubt it. I think it is a smeer campaign, now-a-days people try this sort of stuff for money and forget about peoples lives. It is also very difficult to disprove the allegations but I would be surprised.

At least he did the right thing in temporarily standing down from his position as Archbishop of Sydney, better bloke than the G-G for that one.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Originally posted by Slax


At least he did the right thing in temporarily standing down from his position as Archbishop of Sydney, better bloke than the G-G for that one.

Yep its the right thing to do.

 

[bulldogs1]

Talking about smear campaign, I had the misfortune to listen to Andrew Bolt this morning on 3AW. He has disclosed that he was the person who "leaked" the information on Pell's accuser to the newspaper journalist who finally wrote the article.

He would not reveal HIS source (Deep Throat ?????), but did go on to reveal details of his criminal history, the fact he was 53 years-old, and oh yes, shock, horror, he's a PAINTER and DOCKER!!!! I wonder if Andrew could see the irony there - highlighting some negative facts about the accuser (good old lawyer's trick) and his virtues, or lack of, vs the institution and its ideals and reputation, which is sinking fast.

I wonder who was helping Andrew with his information. A clergyman, perhaps?

Originally posted by Slax
Doubt it. I think it is a smeer campaign, now-a-days people try this sort of stuff for money and forget about peoples lives. It is also very difficult to disprove the allegations but I would be surprised.

At least he did the right thing in temporarily standing down from his position as Archbishop of Sydney, better bloke than the G-G for that one.

 

[sussudio]

Originally posted by bulldogs1
Talking about smear campaign, I had the misfortune to listen to Andrew Bolt this morning on 3AW. He has disclosed that he was the person who "leaked" the information on Pell's accuser to the newspaper journalist who finally wrote the article.

andrew bolt is a total right-wing nut. the fact that he's involved just changes the whole situation. it's sounding more and more like a smear campaign.

 

[skilts]

Originally posted by Slax
At least he did the right thing in temporarily standing down from his position as Archbishop of Sydney, better bloke than the G-G for that one.

The only reason Pell stood down, or even acknowledged there was an issue, was because he found out The Age was about to expose him. To maintain any credibility he should have come clean about the allegations, before being threatened with exposure.

The sad thing about this is, if these allegations had surfaced twenty years ago, everyone would have found them laughable. After so many of Pell's brother priests have been exposed as perverts, it's not quite so easy to dismiss the charges out -of-hand.

 

[RacerX]

Originally posted by bulldogs1

He would not reveal HIS source (Deep Throat ?????), but did go on to reveal details of his criminal history, the fact he was 53 years-old, and oh yes, shock, horror, he's a PAINTER and DOCKER!!!! I wonder if Andrew could see the irony there - highlighting some negative facts about the accuser (good old lawyer's trick) and his virtues, or lack of, vs the institution and its ideals and reputation, which is sinking fast.

I may be missing something here but if this guy is 53 years old then he would have been 33 at the time of the alleged child abuse. Maybe he was talking about someone he knew??

 

[skilts]

Originally posted by RacerX


I may be missing something here but if this guy is 53 years old then he would have been 33 at the time of the alleged child abuse. Maybe he was talking about someone he knew??

If the victim is now aged 53, and the abuse took place forty years ago, as claimed, that would make him twelve or thirteen at the time.

 

[RacerX]

Thanks for clearing that up skilts.

 

[bulldogs1]

I'm glad someone helped here. Maths isn't my best subject.

Originally posted by skilts


If the victim is now aged 53, and the abuse took place forty years ago, as claimed, that would make him twelve or thirteen at the time.

 

[BSA]

I don't like Pell or wat he believes in one little bit but somehow, these allegations just don't sound right or ring true with me.

I think its a smear, but then again Pells style and manner means he makes lots of enemies.

cheers

 

[RacerX]

I agree BSA, it seems to be a bit of a smear campaign. 40 years is so long that it would be unlikely that they could definitively prove one way or the other in court, forever leaving a mark against Pell's reputation.

Having said that I have absolutely little sympathy for the Catholic Church. Throughout history they have acted outside the law, and when they had proven knowledge that some of their priest were abusers they chose to cover it up, and in doing so basically condoned the behavior. Good on the press for continuing to take it up to them, if they had their way they would hush it all up and continue as before.

 

[bunsen burner]

Paedophiles make me sick. The Catholic Church is full of paedophiles. The Catholic Church often covers up paedophillic behaviour. I despise the Catholic Church.

But 41 years is a fair time ago. A bit late I think.

 

[TigerCraig]

Small cjange of track, but did you hear about the paedophile who has been arrested on the NSW central coast.

He has been charged with a truck load of offences over a 15 or so year period - including bestiality !!!

 

[SMW]

Originally posted by bunsen burner
Paedophiles make me sick. The Catholic Church is full of paedophiles. The Catholic Church often covers up paedophillic behaviour. I despise the Catholic Church.

But 41 years is a fair time ago. A bit late I think.

You make me sick.

I was waiting for someone to be stupid enough to say this, and it seems I didn't have to wait all that long. The Church is a decent, hardworking worldwide organization that strives to help anyone in any situation. I'm not a huge fan of a few of Catholocisms beliefs, but to say that the Church is full of paedophiles is an insult. What the Catholic Church is full of is hardworking, genuine people trying to make our world a better place. There just happens to be a minority of scum (I'm talking about the pedo priests here) who through their disgusting actions, ruin the church's good name. If you want to look at the church via these 'people', then look at other things the church has done as well (St. Vincent de Paul, Youth Organizations, Sacred Heart Mission St. Kilda - to name a few local ones.)

Then there's the media. The only reason people may think the church is full of pedos is because that is all the media covers. a priest that conducts a service, organizes charities and visits the sick and elederly is hardly newsworthy. that's what I hat the most about all this. The media would make us believe that the church has been overrun by these people. In reality. you'd probably find more teachers, scout leaders etc. who have done acts similar to these disgraced priests. It's just that knocking the church seems to be the thing to do at the moment. Sad really...

 

[BSA]

I'm a Baptised Catholic, went to Catholic School, sang ina Boys Choir, was an Altar Boy and all the rest of it.

... But the more my life goes on, and the more I find out and learn, the more I am convinced -

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS THE DEVIL'S OWN WORK ON PLANET EARTH.

I'm sorry SMW, all the fine and humanitarian work carried out by individuals and organisations in the name of the Church cannot even begin to make up for the murder, mayhem and misery visited upon millions and millions of people in the name of the "The Church" over the last 2000 years or so.

The Catholic Church is spelt E- V - I - L, Evil with a Capital E and Evil that all decent and good people should avoid at all costs.

cheers

 

[dreamkillers]

What's even more concerning is a PM saying he beleives there is no basis to the allegations........isn't that what the investigation is for Johnny...........

 

[Captain Sensible]

Originally posted by dreamkillers
What's even more concerning is a PM saying he beleives there is no basis to the allegations........isn't that what the investigation is for Johnny...........

The world is a fairly simplistic place for our PM. Ther are good guys, those that support him and there are bad guys, everyone else. Good guys deserve support and the rest deserve persecution. It will come back to haunt him one day.

 

[dreamkillers]

Originally posted by localyokel




The world is a fairly simplistic place for our PM. Ther are good guys, those that support him and there are bad guys, everyone else. Good guys deserve support and the rest deserve persecution. It will come back to haunt him one day.

You forgot there are also those he sucks up to that don't give a **** about him.......ie G Bush........

 

[skilts]

Originally posted by SMW


You make me sick.

The Church is a decent, hardworking worldwide organization that strives to help anyone in any situation. I'm not a huge fan of a few of Catholocisms beliefs, but to say that the Church is full of paedophiles is an insult. What the Catholic Church is full of is hardworking, genuine people trying to make our world a better place. There just happens to be a minority of scum (I'm talking about the pedo priests here) who through their disgusting actions, ruin the church's good name. If you want to look at the church via these 'people', then look at other things the church has done as well (St. Vincent de Paul, Youth Organizations, Sacred Heart Mission St. Kilda - to name a few local ones.)

The difficulty that most people have with the Catholic church is their hypocrisy. They set themselves up as the arbiters of people's morals, then **** in their faces by taking advantage of those in their care. Reprehensible conduct.

If you were to really examine the reasons people involve themselves in St V. de P. and other such organisations you might find it could have a lot to do with them seeking eternal salvation for themselves. As my mother used to say, "As cold as charity."

Any man-made institution is open to criticism, especially if it has a structure and ethos which encourages these mothers in their pursuit of their next orgasm, to the detriment of anyone who comes into contact with them.

 

[Mobbs]

Originally posted by sussudio
andrew bolt is a total right-wing nut.

I thought I was a right-wing nut, I really, really did!

Then I started reading Andrew Bolt's articles.

I'm embarassed, the bar is so much higher than I thought.

I have reassessed myself, and now realise I have only ever been 'vaguely rightish wingish (ish)'.

What a waste of sometimes reasonable arguments, to present them in his fashion.

The Herald-Sun uses Bolt for sensationalism, paper-selling. He's a dream come true for them. See the photo of him they put on his articles? Do not tell me they couldn't find a picture of him looking less smug!

 

[Mobbs]

Originally posted by skilts
The only reason Pell stood down, or even acknowledged there was an issue, was because he found out The Age was about to expose him.

Really? I mean, is that supportable truth, or opinion? My stance, for what its worth, on this matter, would be affected by the answer.

 

[Mobbs]

Originally posted by RacerX
I agree BSA, it seems to be a bit of a smear campaign. 40 years is so long that it would be unlikely that they could definitively prove one way or the other in court, forever leaving a mark against Pell's reputation.

I also agree, sounds like smear, but that doesn't make it untrue. I currently (and who am I or, or are any of us, to take such stances) think its probably unfounded.

The 40 years under the bridge is, unfortunately, something that many abuse survivors simply have to take on board and live with. It'd be great if they could expose abusers immediately, but there are reasons why they can't :
- They're too young to entertain the idea.
- The body's/soul's natural survivorship instinct locks up the experience where it can't be accessed, often saving them from breakdown or death.
- Sexual abuse includes inherent in the package an automatic conditioning process, which a victim needs much time and effort to expel from their person. They are made to think its their fault, and that the bad person who did this is actually only the least worst person around, and they are the only one who cares for them.
- The abuse might come with threats, which at an early age at such a defenseless and uprooting moment can have a much more solid psychological effect than say, the supporter who tells you you're gone if you wave your flag one more time.
- Some victims recover over many years, it can stick with them for life. They try to recover, the body attempts it naturally and the choice of the victim to seek counselling etc etc also assists, but it can take ages. Exposure of the perpetrator shakes up the process and is often adverse to it.

MANY victims have almost no hope of bringing abuse cases up any earlier!

... still ... I dunno about this one.

 

[skilts]

Originally posted by Mobbenfuhrer


Really? I mean, is that supportable truth, or opinion? My stance, for what its worth, on this matter, would be affected by the answer.

The Age reporter rang him to get a comment when they were running the story. Obviously, his spin doctors, Royce, decided they would be more able to control the situation if they went onto the front foot. As far as I know, this is not disputed by Pell.

 

[Mobbs]

Originally posted by skilts
The Age reporter rang him to get a comment when they were running the story. Obviously, his spin doctors, Royce, decided they would be more able to control the situation if they went onto the front foot. As far as I know, this is not disputed by Pell.

Fair enough. Interesting point. Small, but relevant.