Italian Newspaper Brands Australia "a Paradise of the Orcs" in Its Coverage of "Controversial Kangaroo" George Pell's Historical Sex Offences Charges

By Kate Darvall
Daily Mail
June 30, 2017

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4652956/Italian-news-Australia-paradise-orcs-George-Pell.html

Sex charges laid against Cardinal George Pell are getting heavy coverage in the Italian media, with one newspaper branding him 'controversial kangaroo' and Australia 'a paradise of the orcs'.

The Italian media attacked Australia's record of sexual assault, and claimed seven per cent of priests had been accused of the offences.

Cardinal Pell was on Thursday charged by Victorian Police with historical sexual assault offences.

Cardinal Pell (far left) was on Thursday charged by Victorian Police with historical sexual assault offences

He's the most senior Catholic Church cleric to face such charges in the world in modern times.

Italian newspaper websites on Thursday ran prominent pictures of the 76-year-old and television networks carried long segments with footage of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

They also broadcast footage of Australian sexual assault survivors who attended the Rome end of a Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse hearing when Cardinal Pell gave evidence last year.

Cardinal Pell is the most senior Catholic Church cleric to face such charges in the world in modern times

Cardinal Pell says the laying of charges has strengthened his resolve to prove his innocence

Cardinal Pell says the laying of charges only strengthened his resolve to prove his innocence.

He told reporters he was looking forward to having his day in court after a two-year investigation, 'leaks to the media' and 'relentless character assassination'.

Pope Francis granted Cardinal Pell, who as Vatican treasurer is considered the third most powerful person in the Catholic Church, a leave of absence to return to Australia to defend himself.

The centrist Corriere Della Sera newspaper noted the cardinal was 'the highest representative of the Catholic Church ever involved in such a case'.

It described the cardinal as the 'controversial kangaroo' and branded Australia 'a paradise of the orcs', saying in the past seven per cent of priests had been accused of sexual assault.

Cardinal Pell, a former Melbourne and Sydney archbishop and Ballarat priest, is due to appear in a Melbourne court on July 26

La Repubblica said the latest development had 'plunged the Vatican into a solemn state' on the feast day of Saints Peter and Paul.

Cardinal Pell, a former Melbourne and Sydney archbishop and Ballarat priest, is due to appear in a Melbourne court on July 26.

The Holy See on Thursday said it learned of the charges 'with regret' but respected the Australian justice system.

'At the same time, it is important to recall that Cardinal Pell has openly and repeatedly condemned as immoral and intolerable the acts of abuse committed against minors,' it said.