Somebody mentioned Bill Shorten. But I think that, unless some evidence is presented as to his arrest in (presumably) the reputed assault case, that issue should be left alone.

So it is with Pell: with no material evidence, merely someone's say-so, there shouldn't ever have been reason to charge him. Just as there need not be any charges laid against Tony Abbott for leaning against a wall, unless some more incriminating evidence is presented.

And although it is a bit late now, the Rosenbergs shouldn't have been executed on someone's say-so back in 1953. Nor the fifteen million-odd women burnt as witches during the Middle Ages on some priest's say-so.

Joe

Dear Paul,

My connection to the Catholic Church was (and is)
very strong. A shared religious belief and
the rituals that went with it were (and are) an important
part of my life.

Today in all the copious debates about religion
and society and the intense interest in some of
the Church's poor legacies like sexual abuse have
forced me to question so many things.

I love the Church's ritual life, it's routine
generosity, it's road map for the soul's journey through
life.

I've always believed that there's more to
life than meets the eye.

I don't have the answers to all
the really difficult questions in life. All I can do
is live in hope, like so many others, that the Church
will make changes. Otherwise it will not survive.
It is beginning to wither on the vine for so many as
it is.

Mr. O,

Your Mickey Mouse degrees, if you really do have any degrees at all, obviously didn’t include reading.

“I'm not a Catholic. I couldn't imagine being one.” (This thread, 7th. April).

I have no denomination; I have not been inside a church for 60 years. I was raised a Protestant, but decided that institutional religion was not for me. My interest in this case is the injustice wrought on Pell by Victoria police and Victoria's court system. Everyone on any legal matter is at risk of being treated the same way in that state.

So you are totally wrong - as usual.

And, the fact that you can draw such a stupid conclusion from my mere citing of of a law professor’s opinion of a High Court judgement, puts you firmly in the idiot category.

Dear Josephus,

Why are you again segueing to homosexual priest? We are talking about Pell's culpability in covering for pederists priests of any stripe.

"1980: the case of Emma and Kate Foster

Emma and Katie Foster were both raped by their parish priest Father Kevin O’Donnell during the 1980s. During this time, Pell was principal of the Institute of Catholic Education.

The impact of the abuse was catastrophic. Katie took to drinking heavily, and Emma committed suicide in 2008. In 2004, the Foster family decided to bring formal charges against the Church, and were awarded $450,000 in compensation.

Anthony and Chrissie Foster say Pell treated the whole incident with a “sociopathic lack of empathy”. Pell strongly denies these allegations."

Dear Shadow Minister,

Too right I was attacking your values and those like you on the right. How Pell has become more of a victim in the eyes of you lot rather than the thousands whose live were dramatically impacted because of the virtually unfettered abuse by Catholic clergy is in my view perfectly placed to be challenged. Look at how many of your lot just in this thread attacked Daniel Andrews for thinking of the thousands of victims of that abuse.

Disgraceful.

SR,

1. I suggest that Pell be charged with a “sociopathic lack of empathy” when it becomes an offense and made retrospective. He certainly should be charged with shielding pedophiles if evidence for that can be presented. Or for fiddling with kids in a Ballarat pool, or Bayside football clubrooms IF material evidence can be presented.

2. Children were dreadfully wronged by members of the Catholic clergy, and have been for probably two thousand years. That's one issue. Pell, by being jailed for an offence that he did not commit, was also wronged. That's another issue. But it's commendable that you find it in your heart to condemn at least one of those wrongs so passionately and virtuously.

So what do you reckon about the Rosenbergs ? Mind you, given that under Socialism, there will always be workers as well as executioners, which would you prefer to be ? [No, don't surprise us].

Joe

ttbn,

You seem to get very upset about being called a Catholic. Do you have something against Catholics?