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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2019/aug/21/cardinal-george-pell-appeal-sexual-assault-conviction
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| Cardinal George Pell loses appeal and likely to be stripped of Order of Australia – live | Cardinal George Pell loses appeal and likely to be stripped of Order of Australia – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The Australian Catholic University is resisting renaming the “Pell Centre” at its Ballarat campus. | |
| The university’s vice chancellor, Greg Craven faced a backlash in March for his opinion piece published in the Australian newspaper which described Pell’s trial as “unfair”. Craven also provided Pell with a character reference. | |
| “The university respects the judicial process and will not be making any comment until all legal avenues, including any further appeals, have concluded,” a university spokeswoman said in a statement. | |
| A petition to change the name on change.org is rapidly gathering signatures. | |
| Cardinal George Pell’s spokeswoman has released a statement. He maintains his innocence. His lawyers are considering a special leave application to the high court. | |
| Cardinal Pell is obviously disappointed with the decision today. | |
| However his legal team will thoroughly examine the judgment in order to determine a special leave application to the high court. | |
| While noting the 2-1 split decision, Cardinal Pell maintains his innocence. We thank his many supporters. | |
| Just on the victim, here is what Chief Justice Anne Ferguson and president of the court of appeal, Justice Chris Maxwell, said about his evidence in the summary of their majority judgment: | |
| Throughout his evidence, [the complainant] came across as someone who was telling the truth. He did not seek to embellish his evidence or tailor it in a manner favourable to the prosecution. As might have been expected, there were some things which he could remember and many things which he could not. And his explanations of why that was so had the ring of truth. | |
| Just further to those earlier comments from prime minister Scott Morrison: he said he believed Pell would be stripped of his honours. | Just further to those earlier comments from prime minister Scott Morrison: he said he believed Pell would be stripped of his honours. |
| “My understanding is that this the [appeal loss] would result in the stripping of the honours that are decided externally to the government,” he said. | “My understanding is that this the [appeal loss] would result in the stripping of the honours that are decided externally to the government,” he said. |
| “That is a process that is done independently, and that course will now follow.” | “That is a process that is done independently, and that course will now follow.” |
| Pell was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2005 for service to the Catholic church, education and social justice. | Pell was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2005 for service to the Catholic church, education and social justice. |
| Waller continues with the victim’s statement, including his desire to remain anonymous: “I need to be able to define myself away from all of this.” | Waller continues with the victim’s statement, including his desire to remain anonymous: “I need to be able to define myself away from all of this.” |
| I am not an advocate. You wouldn’t know my name. I am not a champion for the cause of sexual abuse survivors, although I am glad those advocates are out there. But that is not my path. | I am not an advocate. You wouldn’t know my name. I am not a champion for the cause of sexual abuse survivors, although I am glad those advocates are out there. But that is not my path. |
| After attending the funeral of my childhood friend, the other choirboy, I felt a responsibility to come forward. I knew he had been in a dark place. I was in a dark place. I gave a statement to the police because I was thinking of him and his family. I felt I should say what I saw and what happened to me. I had experienced something terrible as a child, something that marked my life. I wanted at least some good to come of it. | After attending the funeral of my childhood friend, the other choirboy, I felt a responsibility to come forward. I knew he had been in a dark place. I was in a dark place. I gave a statement to the police because I was thinking of him and his family. I felt I should say what I saw and what happened to me. I had experienced something terrible as a child, something that marked my life. I wanted at least some good to come of it. |
| I would like to acknowledge my friend who passed away, the other choirboy, and pay my deep respect to him and to his family. I would like to acknowledge the courage of those people who reported to the police. For one reason or another, your cases were not advanced. My heart goes out to you. | I would like to acknowledge my friend who passed away, the other choirboy, and pay my deep respect to him and to his family. I would like to acknowledge the courage of those people who reported to the police. For one reason or another, your cases were not advanced. My heart goes out to you. |
| Some commentators have suggested that I reported to the police somehow for my own personal gain. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have risked my privacy, my health, my wellbeing, my family. I have not instructed any solicitor in relation to a claim for compensation. This is not about money and never had been. | Some commentators have suggested that I reported to the police somehow for my own personal gain. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have risked my privacy, my health, my wellbeing, my family. I have not instructed any solicitor in relation to a claim for compensation. This is not about money and never had been. |
| Some commentators have suggested that I am somehow out to cause damage to the Catholic church. I’m not on a mission to do anybody any harm. Although my faith has taken a battering it is still a part of my life, and part of the lives of my loved ones. | Some commentators have suggested that I am somehow out to cause damage to the Catholic church. I’m not on a mission to do anybody any harm. Although my faith has taken a battering it is still a part of my life, and part of the lives of my loved ones. |
| Waller continues reading the victim’s statement: | Waller continues reading the victim’s statement: |
| Despite this, I appreciate that the criminal process afforded Pell every opportunity to challenge the charges and to be heard. I am glad he had the best legal representation money can buy. There are a lot of checks and balances in the criminal justice system and the appeal process is one of them. | Despite this, I appreciate that the criminal process afforded Pell every opportunity to challenge the charges and to be heard. I am glad he had the best legal representation money can buy. There are a lot of checks and balances in the criminal justice system and the appeal process is one of them. |
| I just hope that it is all over now. | I just hope that it is all over now. |
| Vivian Waller, the lawyer for the complainant in the Pell case, has read out a statement on behalf of her client: | Vivian Waller, the lawyer for the complainant in the Pell case, has read out a statement on behalf of her client: |
| I am relieved by the decision of the court of appeal. It is four years since I reported to the police. The criminal process has been stressful. The journey has taken me to places that in my darkest moments I feared I would not return from. | I am relieved by the decision of the court of appeal. It is four years since I reported to the police. The criminal process has been stressful. The journey has taken me to places that in my darkest moments I feared I would not return from. |
| The justice machine rolls on with all of its processes and punditry, almost forgetting about the people at the heart of the matter. | The justice machine rolls on with all of its processes and punditry, almost forgetting about the people at the heart of the matter. |
| Photographers have captured scenes of Pell being escorted from the supreme court | Photographers have captured scenes of Pell being escorted from the supreme court |
| Days like this can difficult for many of us, so: | Days like this can difficult for many of us, so: |
| For Australian victims of child sex abuse, support is available at Bravehearts at 1800 272 831 or the Blue Knot Foundation at 1300 657 380; children or young people can also contact the Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800. | For Australian victims of child sex abuse, support is available at Bravehearts at 1800 272 831 or the Blue Knot Foundation at 1300 657 380; children or young people can also contact the Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800. |
| A few scenes from outside the Victorian supreme court this morning. | A few scenes from outside the Victorian supreme court this morning. |
| By the way - this is a huge testament to the value of the jury system. I will have so much to say about that. There is NO strong evidence judges alone are less biased or more correct than a jury of 12. #Pell. | By the way - this is a huge testament to the value of the jury system. I will have so much to say about that. There is NO strong evidence judges alone are less biased or more correct than a jury of 12. #Pell. |
| Interesting that Morrison said the decision to strip Pell of his honours is independent to the government. Back in February my colleague Paul Karp was told that if Pell lost the appeal the prime minister would write to the Council of the Order of Australia recommending it review and revoke the honour, a decision made on its recommendation by the governor general. | Interesting that Morrison said the decision to strip Pell of his honours is independent to the government. Back in February my colleague Paul Karp was told that if Pell lost the appeal the prime minister would write to the Council of the Order of Australia recommending it review and revoke the honour, a decision made on its recommendation by the governor general. |
| PM to strip George Pell of Order of Australia honour if cardinal loses appeal | PM to strip George Pell of Order of Australia honour if cardinal loses appeal |