Pell not sorry for his conservative views
Cardinal George Pell has said that his ‘‘conservative views’’ turned public opinion against him.
The 79-year-old former Vatican treasurer, who was one of the Pope’s most senior advisers, left the Vatican in 2017 to fight criminal charges in Australia. However in December 2018, the cardinal, who always maintained his innocence, was convicted of sexually molesting two choirboys in Melbourne cathedral in the mid-Nineties.
He spent 404 days in prison – much of it in solitary confinement – while his conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal, before the Australian High Court unanimously overthrew it in April this year.
In his first broadcast interview in the UK following his release, he said he would not apologise for his conservative views, but had said sorry ‘‘many times’’ for the Church’s crimes of sexual abuse.
The Australian cleric was asked if he accepted any responsibility regarding public anger with the Catholic Church at the time of his trial.
In response, he told BBC’s Radio 4’s Sunday programme: ‘‘Public opinion was very hostile to the Catholic Church both because of the extent of the paedophilia, [and] the way it was sometimes dealt with . . .
‘‘The atmosphere was hostile, I was certainly one of the figures identified with this old bad church.’’
He added: ‘‘I think my style is rather direct. I think there’s no doubt whatsoever that my social conservatism, the fact that I actually defend Christian teachings on life, family, sexuality, beginning and end of life, I think there’s no doubt this is irritating to a lot of people. My direct style probably contributed, but for my basic Christian positions I make no apology at all, although I’ve many times apologised for the crimes committed by church people.’’ – Telegraph Group