Tim Minchin Says George Pell Should Wash Feet of Child Sex Abuse Survivors

The Guardian
February 26, 2016

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/26/tim-minchin-says-george-pell-should-wash-feet-of-child-sex-abuse-survivors

Musician and comedian Tim Minchin says Cardinal George Pell should show contrition to survivors of child sexual abuse and “get on his knees and wash their feet” when he attends a public hearing of the royal commission in Rome on Monday.

Michin made the call in a statement posted on his website and comes after the viral success of his song, Come Home (Cardinal Pell), which has been viewed more than a million times since it was first performed on Channel Ten’s The Project.

A group of roughly 15 survivors and their supporters, including counsellors, will make their way to Rome on Saturday to attend the public hearing at the Hotel Quirinale, where Australia’s most senior Catholic is due to give evidence to the royal commission.

In the statement, Minchin says: “Even if his only crime was willful blindness, a personal act of acknowledgement and contrition from this man is profoundly important for survivors.”

Pell has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He told the royal commission in December that the Catholic church’s failure to deal with paedophile priests was shameful, but defended his own handling of abuse complaints.

Minchin also hits back at critics, such as the broadcaster Steve Price, who said the song resorted to “personal abuse”.

“Now this guy is the most senior Australian Catholic in the world,” Price told Channel Ten’s The Project.

“He is a cardinal, regardless of what you make of it. To use your talent to just simply abuse someone from a distance, I think, is pathetic.”

The statement released by Minchin says: “To those who were outraged by the judgmental language in Come Home, you must understand: this is the language of anger.

“I owe George Pell no reverence beyond that which he has earned through his words and deeds. I, and many other Australians, are angry.

“If you don’t understand why, perhaps it’s just a failure of imagination. Perhaps you need to picture one of the victims as your nine-year-old son or daughter?”

The trip by the group of survivors is possible thanks to a crowdfunding campaign, which was buoyed by the release of Come Home, that raised more than $200,000 to cover the cost of flights, accommodation and food. The campaign was launched after lawyers for Pell twice tendered medical documents to the commission that said he was too unwell to fly to Australia – prompting the survivors to travel to him.

Pell’s evidence will begin on 29 February at 8am AEDT – 10pm in Rome.

Tim Minchin’s statement in full

Hi! My charity song, Come Home (Cardinal Pell), has had a pretty surprising impact in Australia. I’ve had a lot of requests for interviews and comments, but have so far refused them all. The song says what I wanted to say.

However, today, as survivors head to Rome, I have released the following statement:

Many very serious questions remain about George Pell’s conduct as a leader of an institution that failed to curb decades of rampant child sexual abuse within its hallowed walls. This failure has resulted in hundreds of innocent people suffering lifelong emotional and physical damage. A shocking number have committed suicide.

Whilst his actions and appearance suggest a man in good health, Pell asserts that he is too ill to travel to Australia to answer these questions at the royal commission into institutional child sexual abuse.

And so today, thanks to the generosity of the Australian public, fifteen Ballarat survivors will fly to Rome. They would not have been able to afford to do so without you.

These incredibly brave men and women will sit in a room with George Pell while he gives evidence via video-link to the royal commission. We hope that he will look them in the eye and tell them everything he knew.

Even if his only crime was willful blindness, a personal act of acknowledgement and contrition from this man is profoundly important for survivors. (Read Dr Judy Courtin in The Age, Dec 15, 2015)

I personally believe it would be appropriate for him to get on his knees and wash their feet.

I have great admiration for the survivors and their loved ones who have campaigned for years to have their voices heard. They have fought against a hugely wealthy institution that has a vested interest in quieting and discrediting them. (Pell’s lawyer reportedly costs $20,000 per day).

To the many survivors of abuse from all over the country who have written to me since the song came out, thank you so much for taking the time. Your messages have made me smile and cry… and feel just so angry for you. Please know that you are heard.

Thank you also to those who have shared the song. You’ve amplified the voices of the downtrodden, and have helped raise nearly a quarter of a million dollars for survivors.

To Gorgi Coghlin and Meshel Laurie, thank you for your advocacy, for setting up the Send Survivors to Rome fundraising page, and for pushing me to get off my bum and write the song.

To those who were outraged by the judgmental language in Come Home, you must understand: this is the language of anger. I owe George Pell no reverence beyond that which he has earned through his words and deeds. I, and many other Australians, are angry.

If you don’t understand why, perhaps it’s just a failure of imagination. Perhaps you need to picture one of the victims as your 9-year-old son or daughter?

Proceeds from “Come Home (Cardinal Pell)” will continue to be donated to the survivors of clerical abuse. You can buy the song here (as well on other platforms)