So you don't think Pell's abysmal handling of child sexual assault by Australian clergy might have something to do with why people believe him tainted? You truly believe that most Australians can't separate that from an allegation he was cleared of?

You are being too hard on Pell, the man is a saint, or do I jest. There are any number of Australian priests who regard him as a bully, with limited doctrinal knowledge. But in fact like another author in this edition of OLO I believe that you are also 'taking the micky'. I like your approach and finely tuned sense of humour.
And yes I agree his empathy for victims of church sexual abuse does not match his fancy dress.
Bruce Haigh

Cardinal Pell's interview by an Age journalist a few weeks ago was reported on their front page. It concerned the institution of a Royal Commission to examine the matter of child physical and sexual abuse by persons connected to churches and charities. The Cardinal's last reported statement was "I would never hear the confession of a man like that.", meaning a paedophile.

I investigated the canon law and noted that, once a priest is invested with the power to hear confessions, he may not arbitrarily choose not to hear a confession [there is a choice if force/duress is being used]. I believe the Cardinal's answer was a lie, since he knows church law and the fact that he does not have such a choice.
That day my letter regarding this was published in the Eureka daily paper, and, therefore, moderated and accepted by the Jesuit editor.

The Cardinal is also listed by the US organization SNAP, fighters against the cover-up of child abuse; they presented a list of the top ten cardinals considered by them to be guilty of such action. Their list was presented to the Cardinals in Rome before the Conclave began.

Yes George Pell is a joke. And yet some people claim/pretend that he is Australia's leading or preeminent "catholic" intellectual.

He is a second rate propaganda hack whose books and regular online writings are abysmal.
I have actually read his Test Everything plus God and Caesar. They are pathetic. Even the title of one his essays "Without God We Are Nothing" is absurd/ridiculous.

Regarding Testing Everything - if anyone really did that they would inevitably find that there is no basis in Truth & Reality for any of the now archaic propositions or institutional mumbo-jumbo that George and the "catholic" church promotes. If anyone was at all honest they would have to throw all of the "catholic" mumbo-jumbo away with both hands.

For a bit of a chortle I also occasionally read some of the pathetic online stuff that he regularly posts either via the Telegraph or his official Sydney "catholic" website.

I think it would be a perfect reflection on the state of the Catholic church, were the conclave to elect Pell.

He is ideal for the task: a non-intellectual, without empathy for the people, but unremittingly defensive of his priests. A mouthpiece for the faith in which the dogma remains unprocessed by the brain before being presented to the world. And a walking anachronism, even in his own country.

His church is on a downward spiral. His presence at its head would accelerate that process, and save everyone a great deal of time, money and heartbreak.

Pell and all his mates in their long dresses and hats would parade better in the Sydney Mardis Gras than picking a new Pope who with outstretched hands will then convince the Catholics that he has been chosen by a God who there is no proof ever existed, except in the minds of gullible people.