George Pell Charges: the View from the Vatican

By Noel Debien
ABC News
June 29, 2017

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-30/george-pell-charges-the-view-from-the-vatican/8663880

The wheels of the Australian justice system have begun to turn in potentially world-changing ways.

Victoria Police has summonsed a sitting cardinal from the Vatican. In the free world, a cardinal has never been charged with criminal offences before.

Cardinal Pell strenuously denies the charges, and we need many more details yet to understand what they may involve. But the astonishing fact remains that a man who could yet be Pope has been told he must stand trial in Australia, and he has agreed to do so.

'We must avoid a media verdict'

When asked directly by journalists about the Cardinal Pell matter last year, Pope Francis answered: "We must avoid a media verdict, a verdict based on gossip."

"It's in the hands of the justice system and one cannot judge before the justice system. After the justice system speaks, I will speak."

It is unclear whether Pope Francis will speak now that charges have been laid, or whether he will wait until the completion of the trial.

PHOTO: Pope Francis and Cardinal George Pell exchange pleasantries at Clementina Hall in Vatican City. (Getty Images: Franco Origlia)

In its own nuanced terms, the Vatican is sending a signal to the world, and to the broader Church, about its relationship with other nations. Cardinal Pell could have remained in the Vatican City if he had chosen to claim immunity, but he has not.

A statement from the Holy See press officer who accompanied him at Thursday's press conference made clear it was the Cardinal who has chosen to come back, and that the Pope understood that Cardinal Pell was willingly complying with the laws of Australia.

Pell's return breaks with precedent

This sends a message to governments and Church leaders. If Cardinal George Pell's behaviour is to be an indication, then any cleric, of any rank, accused of criminal matters in free and fair jurisdictions should answer to the laws of those lands.

The Vatican appears to have moved forward from the politically damaging and protectionist approach it took with Polish Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski.

Archbishop Wesolowski was the Apostolic Nuncio (Vatican ambassador) to the Dominican Republic from 2008. The Archbishop was investigated in that country after sexual abuse allegations were made against him, but the Vatican recalled him in 2013, invoking diplomatic immunity.

He was subsequently defrocked, lost his immunity, and died under house arrest awaiting an ecclesiastical trial — an internal Church process — in the Vatican.

Before he died, the Church indicated Wesolowski could also have faced charges in the Dominican Republic. But that did not happen, and the whole sorry matter was a public relations disaster.

Pell 'looking forward to day in court'

Cardinal Pell strenuously denies any wrongdoing, and says he will return to Australia as "soon as possible to clear his name". He even says he is looking forward to his day in court.

If you have met the man, then you would know that he has never been one to back away from a personal challenge. But after saturation media coverage, ensuring a fair trial is now critical. That applies to all concerned — not only the accused.

The legal presumption of innocence is sacrosanct. The media is now legally required to avoid prejudicing the trial.

Many matters of interest will necessarily be confined to the legal process and not discussed outside that.

And in the Vatican, all eyes will be on Melbourne.