Cardinal George Pell Told That Hell Awaits Him
By Patrick Carlyon
CARDINAL George Pell was told that Hell awaits him after he finished four hours of evidence to the parliamentary inquiry into child abuse yesterday. He didn't seem fazed: he has, after all, had almost two decades to perfect his explanation for what he describes as the Catholic Church's "imperfect" response to paedophile priests. Cardinal Pell played chess as a kid. Through the afternoon he struck the pose of a master pondering his next move - elbows on the arms of his chair, fingers steepled in front of him. Yet his opening play was the obvious one, a thoroughly modern tact adopted by corporations keen to be seen to accepting responsibility for perceived wrongdoings. Cardinal Pell may have been refused his request to give an opening statement, but he gave an abbreviated form anyway - he offered his "full apology" for the Catholic Church's failings in handling child abuse cases. From there, his was a measured performance, almost relaxed in contrast to the tensions before he turned up at 1.34pm. Female attendees queried the heightened security. In the press to get a seat, priests were accused of pushing into the line. An overflow room was arranged for the expected rush. Five minutes before Pell turned up - his head stooped as always, as though he is embarrassed by his height - news filtered through that the overflow room had overflowed. Cardinal Pell was free of the lapses of flippancy that marked Archbishop Denis Hart's appearance last week. Yet it was dulled of its revelationary impact in part because of Hart's evidence. Like Hart, and in a tone similar to a seasoned politician, Cardinal Pell spoke of "regrets" and "errors" and "cover-ups". Cardinal Pell was forced to weaken his defence of Archbishop Frank Little. He was subdued when he agreed the evidence showed Little's actions were "reprehensible". That's one conclusion from the past week's evidence - Little's lifework may have to be rewritten to include some terrible errors of judgment. Yet he seemed comfortable enough with his beliefs and thinking. Most telling, perhaps, was when the inquiry's David O'Brien lectured Cardinal Pell about the trustworthiness of the Catholic Church. Not that O'Brien offered up the advice itself - many in the community might have been cheering him on - but that Cardinal Pell, the most senior church member in the country, appeared to receive the de facto sermon so humbly.
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