AUSTRALIA
The Mercury
Greg Barns, Mercury
July 2, 2017
GEORGE Pell, Australia’s most senior Catholic Church official, is a public figure. Like most public figures, he is loathed in some quarters and lauded in others.
He has been the subject of extensive media over many years, and his work has been publicised in a recent book.
Cardinal Pell is now charged in respect of what are commonly termed “historic sex abuse allegations.”
But, no matter what the media or any individual or organisation thinks of Cardinal Pell’s personal traits or the subject matter with which the charges deal, he is as entitled to the presumption of innocence in facing criminal proceedings in Victoria as any other person.
It is of fundamental importance — and the word fundamental is used advisedly — for those in the media and users of social media, irrespective of whether they are anti or pro Pell or that they have strong views about the issue of churches and sexual abuse, to respect the presumption of innocence.
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