Spikey,

“Yes, … some years apart … but they were seminarians together and shared the same ... house ... They had lots in common and were friends...”

Yes they were some years apart at school. The first seminary they both went to was also the same one being Corpus Christi, Ballarat. According to Broken Rites Ridsdale was ordained in July 1961. Pell was ordained in December 1966. Broken Rites advises that for the previous 2 years Ridsdale had been in a seminary in Ireland. I believe ordination takes about 7 years. If so then Pell presumably started late 1959 at Corpus Christi. At the time Ridsdale had been in Ireland for half a year after a stint at Genoa Italy and before that at Corpus Christi.

Is describing them as “seminarians together” is the best way to put it?

Again, they would have known each other quite well from the time they shared that house but …

It is timely to revisit the reporter’s relevant comment:

“On the eve of his swearing-in as archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Pell said he had had "no idea" about Ridsdale's activities when they lived together. However, Ridsdale's 1994 trial heard evidence that the church had sent him to a psychologist as early as 1971, and that before arriving at Ballarat he had been shunted from parish to parish because of complaints.”

Broken Rites advises that in the 60s he only had 3 ongoing placements (plus short relieving stints). A new priest at 3 ongoing posts in a decade (and one other in 70s) hardly looks like he was “shunted from parish to parish”.

“His own scheme for dealing with cases - introduced while he was Archbishop of Melbourne - is more secretive and less supportive of victims than the Towards Healing system introduced by the other Catholic bishops throughout Australia... It's time for Pell to give way to someone more compassionate ...”

There are other opinions. On the link you provided most recently: “Broken Rites considers that the Melbourne scheme, … better than the Towards Healing system that applies in the rest of Australia.”

mjpb

Thank you for the additional forensic detail. And your point is...?

Defence of Ridsdale?

Defence of Pell?

Defence of the Church's handling of sexual abuse and exploitation of position?

Defence of the status quo and deflection from possible means of preventing abuse in the future?

I'm trying to represent the interests of the victims. Whose interests are you representing?

Dear Oliver,

Cardinal Pell sees himself as a defender of
traditional Catholic values. But more than
that he in intent on pulling off, "World
Youth Day." As he has said, "...The logistic
challenges will be met, and we'll put on a
wonderful show, but if the event doesn't
strengthen pilgrims' faith, it will be for
nothing."

Your suggestion of him being placed under
arrest or on trial in a public court is
not something that realistically, I see
happening.

The law may not be fair - but it is the law.
Proving a case against the Cardinal - is
something that would be difficult at the
best of times. But almost impossible - with
the arrival of the Pope in Australia.

Foxy,

Sadly, I know you are correct.

Kind regards,

Oly.

p.s. I am saying there is enough smoke for a trial. It is up to a juty to convict or not.

mjpb,

Thank you for your comments. I did not write those reports, and I do not want to defend them since I am neither legally nor psychiatrically qualified. I only know that also the German authorities - I have been living in Germany for the last couple of years - "follow the advice" of "mental health professionals" when e.g. releasing from jail/asylum a convicted paedophilia rapist/murderer after he has been "cured", who might rape/kill children again (as actually happened a couple of times during my stay here, without any compensation to the victims' families from those responsible).

All I wanted was to point to the other side of the story in case somebody following this thread was interested. Nevertheless, it is hard for me to believe that the fact this story - about Cardinal Pell's ill-informed five years old letter to a "paedophilia victim" (who was 29 years old when it happened!) - appeared just a few days before WYD and the Pope's visit to Australia, is pure coincidence.

I was troubled by Pell's comments the other night when asked by a journalist about the scandal coming before World Youth Day and he stated he/the Church was coping with it as best they could and the timing was unfortunate.

It appeared the Cardinal was more concerned about the timing and impact on WYD than the feelings and hurt experienced by the victim. The exposure of 'lettergate' paints a damning image for any Church representative.

The problem with the Catholic Church is it has become, like any large organisation, too institutionalised and divorced from the grass roots. Too corporate and obsessed with business interests.

I don't know if the proportion of paedophiles in the Catholic Church mirrors that of the general population, but the point is priests, like teachers, doctors, scout leaders etal, are in a position of trust and authority. Abuse of this position is inexcusable.