TOM TANUKI FULL ARTICLE
WHILE GEORGE PELL is firing up downstairs, so to speak, up here in Purgatory, we’re being tortured by Australian media outlets telling us he was a ‘polarising figure’. The Sydney Morning Herald first described him that way and the rest of mainstream media has since followed suit.
I understand prestige media’s pressure to present as impartial — the phrase serves a diplomatic purpose that at least alludes to Pell’s monstrous life and deeds. And it runs better in print than, say, “near-universally reviled figure” or “paedophile champion”.
If there really are two “poles” of reflection on Pell’s life, let it be known that I am on whatever pole the paedophile champions aren’t on.
I acknowledge as a layperson that this moment must be conflicting and painful for the many victims of Catholic Church abuse in Australia. It must be hard to tune in to the cheering of so many others, given everything this evil man meant to them. But I hope they take solace from the fact that 99% of us are on their side, rather than the meagre – if powerful and very loud – other faction.
On that other “pole”, a small army of the elite is running desperate cover for Pell’s legacy. They’re being very high-pitched about how great Pell was.
The headlines alone are dripping wet for Pell, describing him in the following ways: ’Christian gentleman‘; a ‘great servant’; a ‘colossus’; a ‘good Christian soul‘; ‘God’s strong man‘; ‘fearless disciple‘; and ‘Full of beans‘ (no thanks)
WHILE GEORGE PELL is firing up downstairs, so to speak, up here in Purgatory, we’re being tortured by Australian media outlets telling us he was a ‘polarising figure’. The Sydney Morning Herald first described him that way and the rest of mainstream media has since followed suit.
I understand prestige media’s pressure to present as impartial — the phrase serves a diplomatic purpose that at least alludes to Pell’s monstrous life and deeds. And it runs better in print than, say, “near-universally reviled figure” or “paedophile champion”.
If there really are two “poles” of reflection on Pell’s life, let it be known that I am on whatever pole the paedophile champions aren’t on.
I acknowledge as a layperson that this moment must be conflicting and painful for the many victims of Catholic Church abuse in Australia. It must be hard to tune in to the cheering of so many others, given everything this evil man meant to them. But I hope they take solace from the fact that 99% of us are on their side, rather than the meagre – if powerful and very loud – other faction.
On that other “pole”, a small army of the elite is running desperate cover for Pell’s legacy. They’re being very high-pitched about how great Pell was.
I know he spent much of his career either ignoring or deliberately obfuscating complaints of child sexual abuse. I know he ignored paedophilia while working in the same building as several of Australia’s most notorious paedophile priests, even as they actively passed little boys amongst themselves.
I’m aware he was more preoccupied with “evil” abortion, evil contraception, evil homosexuality and evil Marxism. And that he instigated a church response to these many claims of abuse which was not only inadequate but which prioritised underpaying and silencing victims. He supported paedophile priests more than victims. Many victims of church sexual abuse died under his watch. I know, even as a layperson, Pell did a lot of evil.
So it’s astounding to watch an army of media outlets – many of which are ordinarily defined by their disingenuous populism and political slipperiness – decide that defending a dead paedophile champion is the hill worth dying on.
Australia led the way in bringing church abuse to mainstream conversation when Julia Gillard announced the Royal Commission. Pell’s “Melbourne response”, as terrible as its effect on victims was, at least appeared to ratify that it was time for everybody to consider the claims — and that put Australia on the map in a worldwide conversation about Catholic child abuse.
But Australia is also notorious for having dropped the ball on victims – High Court technicalities, measly $50,000 church payouts and a legacy of silenced victims meant Pell got away with so much, as did the church. It was devastating for victims and their loved ones.
Some of us might have turned to fantasy and conspiracy to resolve these tensions, but, for most of us, we’ve only been able to wait — whether for civil action against Pell to conclude or some other tangible outcome.
Now he’s dead and in hell. It’s imperfect, but it feels like an outcome — 99 % of us are overjoyed.
PAT SAYS
George Pell should have been given a very private funeral with no fuss.
He may have been cleared by the High Court on a technicality – but he was waa previously convicted by a jury of his peers.
PLUS He covered up abuse for decades as a priest, bishop, an archbishop, and a cardinal.
He was an RC PROTECTOR, and the RC protected him in life and in death.
In the end, they are trying to canonise him 😢
I am not persuaded…….
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 