Convicted Australian Cardinal Pell Won't Appeal Child Sex Abuse Sentence

The Straits Times ^ | 5/27/19

[marshmallow]

CANBERRA (DPA) - Jailed Australian cardinal George Pell will not seek a reduced sentence if he loses an appeal against his conviction for sexually abusing two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral in the mid-1990s, news agency AAP reported on Monday (May 27).

The 77-year-old former Vatican treasurer and one-time close adviser to Pope Francis was sentenced in March to a maximum of six years in prison after being convicted by a jury in December.

The AAP reported on Monday that Pell's lawyers will not be adding an appeal against his sentence.

His lawyers are arguing the conviction should either be overturned or the case retried on three grounds.

One is a "fundamental irregularity in the trial process" that prevented Pell from entering a not guilty plea in front of his jury, as he was "not arraigned".

Pell's lawyers have filed an application for appeal against the conviction, which will be heard in a Melbourne court next week.

[rmichaelj]

Misleading headline.

[CondorFlight]

Pell is almost certainly innocent; but what chance does a Catholic prelate have nowadays, when accused of abuse, and railroaded through the system?

[NorthMountain]

Big Media lies.

Again.

As usual.

[PAR35]

One time close adviser to Pope Francis

Tells me all I need to know.

[Campion]

He was also effectively fired by Pope Francis.

[rmichaelj]

Was that after he looked too closely into Vatican finances. Or was that someone else?

[PraiseTheLord]

Did you hear World Over interview with George Weigel?

Right at the end he said something very fast that I didn’t get. He said what Edward Pentin?, IIRC name of reporter, had said was not true. I got the idea it was that Cdl Pell was not appealing.

Weigel then said that he was communicating with all the principals and this is not true. BUT I am not sure what he was saying was not true.