Colleagues cheer George Pell as abuse critics see red

The Australian
February 26, 2014

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/colleagues-cheer-george-pell-as-abuse-critics-see-red/story-e6frg6nf-1226837633042#

AUSTRALIA’S ambassador to the Holy See last night hailed the appointment of George Pell as Prefect for the Economy for the Holy See and the Vatican with the words: “Here comes the global south.”

John McCarthy QC said the alliance between the Argentinian Pope and the Australian would form “the baseline on which the Catholic Church will be reformed”.

“Pope Francis has chosen Cardinal Pell for a difficult role which he knows will be a complete success,” Mr McCarthy said. The appointment and the creation of a new Vatican office was “one of the Holy See’s most significant reforms for a long time”.

Tim Fischer, Australia’s first ambassador to the Holy See, also endorsed the move. “This is long overdue,” he said. ...

A group representing survivors of child-sex abuse by priests called the cardinal’s new job a “golden parachute”. Nicky Davis of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said she believed Cardinal Pell would continue to evade facing up to the church’s responsibility.

“It’s absolutely no surprise that Cardinal Pell has been given a golden parachute by the Vatican to leave the jurisdiction just when things are getting hot at the royal commission,” she said.