Guilty: the Conviction of Cardinal Pell

2019, Crime  -   19 Comments
6.48
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Ratings: 6.48/10 from 31 users.

Cardinal George Pell was one of the highest ranking and most powerful figures in the Catholic Church. When he was convicted of sexual crimes against two 13-year old boys, it shook the already trembling credibility of the church. In Guilty: The Conviction of Cardinal Pell, ABC News Australia outlines the troubling saga of Pell, his many victims, and the plague that continues to fester from deep within the church.

In 1996, while church leadership was floundering in the midst of rampant child sexual abuse allegations, Pell was serving as the Archbishop of Melbourne. The Archdiocese of Melbourne was home to more pedophile priests than anywhere else in the country. In light of this, Pell launched an in-house damage control initiative designed to "lessen the sufferings of the victims". Even while he maintained a position of authority as an advocate for child safety, he was engaging in the same behaviors he protested when behind closed doors.

The film features detailed descriptions of the abuse Pell inflicted on the children in his church choir. The revelations are obscene and disturbing, but essential to understanding how Pell was able to use his authority, access and influence to his advantage.

Detectives, lawyers and child advocates join the discussion to discuss the church's efforts to conceal these types of accusations. They argue that the church has remained implicit in these scandals for too long, and that seismic internal reforms are long overdue to combat this sickening epidemic.

Most impactful are the insights from the families of the victims. In tearful interviews, these parents discuss the spiral their children suffered in the aftermath of Pell's abuse. In less than 20 years, one of them would be dead of a heroin overdose. The other - now a young man - was able to summon the courage to reveal his abuser's crimes to the authorities. Perhaps finding empowerment in numbers, additional abuse claims would soon start flooding in from other child clergy members.

Guilty: The Conviction of Cardinal Pell is not an easy watch, but its frank and unforgiving approach brings a crucial sense of urgency to this crisis.

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19 Comments / User Reviews

  1. Tim

    A TRUTH, NO RELIGIOUS PERSON CAN ADMIT? Just because each of the religious (all of them) claims to support the so-called ''good of religion'' means they want to ignore the reality religion brings to mankind? That's not smart, It's not clever, and is actually the most Illogical approach to such problems? Religion Itself is responsible for more murder, more torture, more inhumane, heinous atrocities than can ever be seen as acceptable?

    There's simply no excuse any more, It's now unforgivable. Oh, you can try to say the Wars aren't religious or that it's people using religion? But that's not the case, and that's a lie, they are religious, and they do represent religion, the Pope ordered crusades that killed hundreds of thousands if not millions, is that acceptable to religion? Seems it is. So tell me, how many need to die, before religion becomes unacceptable?

    Mankind has fought many wars, killed many millions of people in the name of religion.
    There have been more human lives lost to religious beliefs and causes, than can ever be seen as acceptable in the eyes of any sane man, whatever they believe?

    Believing In one religion creates animosity from another religion. Religion bickers and argues with Itself, that process creates hate from one religion toward the other, that hate becomes the war, that war becomes brutal unnecessary human death in the millions. It always has since it began, and what is it? What is religion? It's mankind's very own special ''man-made'' poison... It's harmful, it's deadly.

    Disagree all you want? Because I know even you religious can't defend the undefendable? You all talk about Gods/Allah's demands that all non-believers are put to death? All religions do, yet it's actually only religion that commits the real dirty sins! Indeed, while the religious have murdered throughout history in the name of their God, I've been unable to find any evidence of atheists killing anyone in the name of atheism? (The religious try to use the names of Stalin and Pot with other Communists to say otherwise), while pretending not to understand that many weak-kneed communists, that fought for Communism, reasons were as follows: “Religion does not prevent me being a communist. I believe both in God and in Communism. My faith in God does not hinder me from fighting for the cause of the proletarian revolution”... In other words the religious fought for Communism (killing other religious and atheists), the atheist's fought for communism (killing religious and other atheists)... Showing, It's not a fight for atheism, but it's a fight for Communism. And having to explain this, is only because this is what religion uses to portray the atheist, (so they can then turn all the crimes, murders, and killing during communism, onto the atheist). It's no different from religion claiming all atheists must be Communists?Ridiculous, but really does show how their warped deceiving religious mindset works. Actually lying to make a case for their own brutality and slaughter? That is the truth.

    Atheists, are no more or less capable of evil than anyone else? But it seems that murder, particularly mass murder and war? Is a sin of commission. — In other words, human beings are generally only prepared to fight and kill in the name of something. It can be a God, but it can also be a Political Philosophy — like Nazism or Communism. Many fight for patriotism? For country? For tribe or race? Some kill because they're psychologically disturbed? But none — so far — in the name of atheism? So, while I don't agree that only religion causes conflict. I'd argue that all mass murder and war are fought in the name of a bigger-than-self philosophy or idea? Atheism, simply a lack of belief in a God? Has not yet proved compelling enough to motivate murder? So far — no one has gone into a crowded public space and blown themselves up while shouting, “No god is great!”

    Religion really is mankind's very own special ''man-made'' poison. Lots of us don't want that poison. And guess what? With atheism growing hand over fist faster than any religion there's far more of us than there is religious people today.

    The religious really are the warmongers of mankind? (yet they'll continue to deny that even with history staring them in the face). The religious believe in silly things they can't prove exist? Yet seem to expect people to respect them and their religion? Respect it? While we're living through their endless Wars? Their brutality? Their terrorism? And their fighting all around the world? And fighting for what? Oh, it's over something as pathetic and dumb as, “whose religion is right, whose is wrong?” That's tragic man! It will come one day soon, when the people will have had enough of the killing, the Wars, the brutality and the excuses? They'll pack all the religious off to some Island somewhere? And leave them to fight their Wars against each other? And over whose religion is right, whose is wrong?... leaving all the educated people in peace.

    And do you know what else? I'd not even be the slightest bit interested in who actually won.

  2. Tim

    The religious STILL can't prove what they all claim they believe in even exists? They've had over 2000 years, to come up with just one thing? One single thing, that conclusively proves all they believe in to be true?

    2000+ years? After some of mankind's greatest minds, have studied, researched, and looked for something, anything at all? To prove this myth? And yet all have come up with absolutely nothing? Not one single thing in 2000 years?

    Yet the religious will tell you, that God sent his own son (born to a virgin mother) to earth to teach mankind of his fathers existence? So am I missing something here? Why are we all not asking, where is this proof they all talk of? We have none?

    So how can these people really believe, without ever seeing any proof? The truth is something all of us know? As we all have our own inquisitive minds? So we all do know it is impossible for anyone to really believe a word of it? Why? Because our very own inquisitive minds would never stop demanding the proof to believe it? Our own minds will always be nagging away at us asking for that proof? It will never stop nagging away asking? It's actually a human trait?

    We never believe anything at all, without first having proof? You can think of anything in this world we as humans do? And you'll come to find we only ever believe what we can prove? Because that is what we do as the human race? We never believe anything without first having it proven? What we always do is prove what we think before we ever believe it?

    We take any “theory” and we try to prove it? If we can prove that theory, then that theory becomes a scientific fact. If on the other hand we can't prove it, we NEVER just believe it? It would be complete madness to do so? The amount of catastrophic mistakes we'd have already made by not requiring proof to believe something, would have seen us perished long ago.

    The religious go about things in a remedial nonsensical way? They make no sense? None, not even a little sense? If we can't prove something? We don't ever simply just believe it? Especially something you want to live your own life following?

    That's no different from following a lunatic who claims he comes from the Sun? It's no different from believing in Santa Clause? Except believing in Santa, doesn't cause War, murder, hate and loathing between mankind? No, only religion manages to do that.

    Ask any religious person what they've ever seen that could possibly make them believe what they claim to believe? And you'll not find one able to give you a straight honest answer? It will always be something personal, like a ''dream''? Why is that? They can give you straight honest answers about everything else? Only their own belief? They're completely unable to tell or show anyone else, what they've seen to make them believe it? Yet the irony in that is, if they do believe it? God makes his believers the spreaders of his faith, right? Yet you'll not find one able to answer a single reasonable logical question?

    We can actually PROVE that it is actually impossible for there to even be a God? You only need to ask the right questions? And everybody can prove it to themselves? And prove it categorically? Leaving you in no doubt whatsoever.
    Like this?

    Christianity's three most fundamental beliefs are that...
    1. That God is the Sovereign Creator, upholder, and ruler of the universe, and that He is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.
    2. That the Godhead, the Trinity, comprises God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
    3. That the Scriptures are the inspired revelation of God to men; and that the Bible is the sole rule of faith and practice.

    Well okay, only with just one logical question? I can prove to each of the religious, that what they claim they believe in, can't be a God? It's actually impossible for it to be a God? You only need to ask the right questions, to prove this to yourselves?
    Questions like this?...

    “If this so-called God/Allah (controller and ruler of everything) is willing to prevent evil? But not able to prevent evil? Then he is not “omnipotent” (having unlimited power), proving he is no God.

    Yet If he is able to prevent evil? But not willing to prevent evil? Then he is “malevolent” (having or showing a wish to do evil to others), proving he is no God.

    Finally... If he is able to prevent evil? And is willing to prevent evil? Then why is there evil? You religious tell me? Try to answer this?

    This is undeniable categorical 100% PROOF, that If a higher power does exist? Then it actually MUST be, and can ONLY be the Devil?

    Think about it? Use your own minds? This theory, seems to prove that to be the case? In fact, this is not even a theory? This is actually a fact? You only need to ask those questions yourself to prove it to yourselves?

    This proves it, and proves it beyond any doubt whatsoever? If you don't think it does? Answer it?

    So why are the religious believing in something that not only history proves to all of us, is pure EVIL? But these simple questions must also prove it to them? As they can't even deny it, once they've asked the correct questions? As I just have?

    So come explain to me, (the uneducated dunce), why you religious people 2020, believe in Evil? This proves you must? It's not even up for debate? So what are you all doing?

  3. Francis

    This didn't age well. Justice is never served in secret courts.

  4. Mark Gaboury

    You would think that a cardinal believed in hell at least. Not believing in hell will not save you from going there, though. I see that he was swarmed with reporters, which is good. But how come the Muslim pedophiles in the UK had questions put to them only by one man, Tommy Robinson, and he went to prison for it?

    1. Dominic

      Corect sir ! Fatwa 31409 is the mosques santioning all muslim men to marry a child and have sex and then divorse them , its sick twisted and nobody dare coment

  5. Mark A LaJoie

    "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." --- Mark 10:14 KJV

    Oooh! That's what it means!

  6. hank

    Disappointed at your obscured [persons] video presentation. Senseless to portray interviews/persons that cannot be properly seen. Might just as well done the entire thing behind screens.

    1. Rob

      This was my thought as well. What's the point? Simply became irritating to view, and would probably have made a better podcast??

  7. Catherine Todd

    Why I quit the Catholic Church and won't join any church at all. Monsters! The Catholic Church "planted religion at the point of a sword," stored great stolen treasures under the guise of using them to celebrate "The Mass," taught us to worship and S&M behavior of whipping oneself to "destroy the flesh," taught us our bodies were sinful and sex was "lustful," and forced young men to re-enact nailing someone to the Cross.

    Now they have laundered Mafia money for years.

    I was in Catholic school for most of my life and even joined the convent as a novitiate. I have still not recovered.

    1. Jerri

      I believe God has His hand on you and will get you through the healing of all this. Keep the faith in the real and True Lord that really loves us and will be there for us when we ask and trust in Him. Glory be to God .......the only One True God......Hallelujah and Amen.

    2. paul caden

      Very interesting, as I was raised by staunch Irish Catholics in Canada. I almost went to a seminary just before puberty thinking I could live my life indoctrinated and would not need to get married. This would have totally ruined my life just like it has a ruined other priests lives who started as good humans but became corrupted by religious indoctrination

    3. paul caden

      I am so glad that I left the Catholic Church instead of becoming a corrupt priest I studied evolution, sociobiology and neurotheology and realized that being good , having empathy morals Etc have nothing to do with religious zealotry and everything to do with evolution.

  8. vcragain

    And this guy is just the tip of a horrific iceberg ! It seems to me that the fact of these people hiding themselves within the Catholic Church, just brought more of the same - you have to wonder if they actually discussed this stuff among themselves, or was it all nod-nod-wink-wink ? How do they know that they could get away with this inside the church ? Just for the record - Christ's Christianity has no relationship with the grandeur & idolatry of the Catholic Church - this is not what he preached, never mind the evil of this sexual perversion ! There is nothing worse than crimes against a child !

    1. IM

      There is nothing worse than crimes against a child. Agreed 100% . These monsters must be given exemplary punishment.

    2. Jerri

      I highly agree with you, but you have to consider the catholic church as being a cult......therefore the difference between evil and good. I pray the True God will protect these children and instill in them to come forward as soon as something happens to them. Amen

    3. I-need-sleep

      According to records, there was a lot of that going on! All through the time period, when popes assigned people to "fix" it. If the supposed "fixor" got too obstreperous & insisted on trying to do the pope's bidding, he was disposed of, one way or another. Almost the polar opposite of what's been going on since.

  9. asdf

    crazy that he was molesting kids while being in charge of stopping it.

    1. Catherine Todd

      asdf: and one more HUGE reason it still continued. DEVILS, ALL OF THEM!

    2. paul caden

      Hypocrisy at it's worst