Mourners call Australian Cardinal Pell victim of injustice
February 2, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Mourners at the Sydney funeral for Australian Cardinal George Pell, who was once the most senior Catholic convicted of sex abuse, remembered him Thursday as a victim of a campaign to punish him regardless of his guilt.
Pell mourned at Sydney cathedral day before funeral, protest
February 1, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Mourners paid their respects to Cardinal George Pell in a Sydney cathedral Wednesday a day before the funeral and interment of a polarizing church leader who was once the most senior Catholic convicted of sex abuse.
Parent sues Australian cardinal over child sex abuse charge
July 14, 2022 GMTThe father of a deceased former choirboy filed a lawsuit against Cardinal George Pell and the Catholic Church in an Australian court on Thursday claiming the parent suffered psychological injury over an accusation that the once-senior Vatican official sexually abused the son.
Cardinal: Pope ordered auditor to resign over spying charge
May 18, 2022 GMTVATICAN CITY (AP) — A Vatican cardinal testified Wednesday that Pope Francis himself ordered the ouster of the Holy See’s auditor-general, turning the tables on a scandal that had sparked questions about the Vatican’s commitment to financial transparency and accountability.
Cardinal calls for Vatican reprimand over sexuality remarks
March 16, 2022 GMTROME (AP) — Cardinal George Pell has called for the Vatican’s doctrine office to intervene and reprimand two leading European Catholic churchmen who called for changes in Catholic teaching on sexuality and homosexuality.
12 Australian media companies fined for breaking Pell order
June 4, 2021 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A judge on Friday ordered a dozen Australian media companies to pay fines from 1,000 Australian dollars ($766) to AU$450,000 ($345,000) for breaching a gag order by publishing references to Cardinal George Pell’s since-overturned convictions in 2018 for child sexual abuse.
Cardinal Pell eyes a Vatican scandal he suspected long ago
May 22, 2021 GMTROME (AP) — Cardinal George Pell is enjoying his first Roman spring since being exonerated of sex abuse charges in his native Australia: He receives visitors to his Vatican flat, sips midday Aperol spritzes at the outdoor cafe downstairs and keeps up religiously with news of a Holy See financial scandal that he suspected years ago.
Cardinal Pell on Trump, Benedict XVI and a plot against him
December 16, 2020 GMTROME (AP) — Pope Francis' former treasurer, Cardinal George Pell, praised President Donald Trump’s “splendid” Supreme Court appointments and defense of Christian values but questioned his effort to sow doubt in the integrity of the U...
Australian media on trial for breaching order in Pell case
November 9, 2020 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — High-profile Australian journalists and large media organizations went on trial on Monday on charges that they breached a gag order on reporting about Cardinal George Pell’s sex abuse convictions in 2018 that have since been overturned...
Australian police not investigating Vatican money transfer
October 23, 2020 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian state police said Friday they're not investigating the transfer of money from the Vatican to Australia, throwing doubt on Italian media speculation that it might be linked to the overturned convictions of Cardinal George Pell for child sex abuse...
Pope warmly greets redeemed Cardinal Pell after abuse trial
October 12, 2020 GMTROME (AP) — Pope Francis met Monday with Cardinal George Pell and thanked him for his witness, warmly welcoming him for a private audience in the Apostolic Palace after the cardinal’s sex abuse conviction and acquittal in Australia...
4 Swiss Guards test positive as COVID-19 penetrates Vatican
October 12, 2020 GMTROME (AP) — Four Swiss Guards have tested positive for coronavirus and were showing symptoms, the Vatican said Monday, as the surge in infections in surrounding Italy penetrates the Vatican walls...
Cardinal Pell accuser denies bribe as Vatican intrigue grows
October 6, 2020 GMTVATICAN CITY (AP) — An Australian man who accused Cardinal George Pell of sexually abusing him denied Monday he was bribed for his testimony, shooting down the latest conspiracy theory to roil the Vatican amid a corruption investigation into its shady finances...
Cardinal Pell returns to Vatican mired in financial scandal
September 30, 2020 GMTROME (AP) — Cardinal George Pell, who left the Vatican in 2017 to face child sexual abuse charges in Australia, returned to Rome on Wednesday to find a Holy See mired in the type of corruption scandal he worked to expose and clean up...
Church says Cardinal Pell returning to Vatican in crisis
September 28, 2020 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Cardinal George Pell, Pope Francis’ former finance minister, will soon return to the Vatican during an extraordinary economic scandal for the first time since he was cleared of child abuse allegations in Australia five months ago, a church agency said Monday...
Cardinal Pell welcomes court’s dismissal of abuse conviction
April 8, 2020 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Cardinal George Pell welcomed Australia’s highest court clearing him of child sex crimes Tuesday and said his trial had not been a referendum on the Catholic Church’s handling of the clergy abuse crisis...
Timeline of Cardinal George Pell’s career and accusations
April 7, 2020 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s highest court on Tuesday dismissed Cardinal George Pell's convictions on charges he molested two choirboys in a cathedral more than two decades ago.
Some events in Pell’s career and the criminal case:
Australian highest court to rule on Cardinal’s appeal later
March 12, 2020 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia's highest court on Thursday said it will deliver a verdict at a later date on whether to overturn the convictions of the most senior Catholic to be found guilty of child sex abuse.
Australia’s highest court will hear Cardinal Pell’s appeal
November 13, 2019 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s highest court agreed Wednesday to hear an appeal from the most senior Catholic to be found guilty of sexually abusing children, giving Cardinal George Pell his last chance at getting his convictions overturned...
Australian prison chaplain nervous about cardinal inmate
August 22, 2019 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A chaplain at an Australian prison for pedophiles on Thursday described the prospect of ministering to a cardinal who until recently was regarded as the third highest-ranking Catholic in the Vatican as "nerve racking."
The Latest: Vatican to wait before investigating Pell
August 21, 2019 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Latest on an appeals court upholding the sex abuse convictions of Cardinal George Pell (all times local):...
Australian court upholds sex abuse verdict of Cardinal Pell
August 21, 2019 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian appeals court Wednesday upheld convictions against Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic to be found guilty of sexually abusing children, in a decision cheered by scores of abuse survivors and victims' advocates demonstrating outside the court...
10 Things to Know for Today
August 21, 2019 GMTYour daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:...
Timeline of Cardinal George Pell’s career and accusations
August 21, 2019 GMTAn Australian appeals court on Wednesday upheld convictions against Cardinal George Pell for molesting two choirboys in a cathedral more than two decades ago. Some events in Pell's career and the criminal case:
Pell’s appeal pitted word of former choirboy against priest
August 20, 2019 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Cardinal George Pell's appeal against his convictions for child molestation was largely a question of who the jury should have believed, his accuser or a senior priest whose church role was likened to Pell's bodyguard.
Pell’s appeal argued ‘solid obstacles’ precluded convictions
August 20, 2019 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Cardinal George Pell's lawyers argued in his appeal that there were more than a dozen "solid obstacles" that should have prevented a jury from finding him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of molesting two choirboys...
Disgraced Cardinal Pell investigated over letter from jail
August 10, 2019 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Australian authorities said Saturday that they are investigating a letter circulated on social media to see whether it was written by disgraced Cardinal George Pell, which would be in violation of prison rules.
Prosecutors: Australian cardinal’s convictions should stand
June 6, 2019 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The most senior Catholic to be found guilty of child sex abuse will spend his 78th birthday in an Australian prison on Saturday as three judges consider whether to overturn his convictions on charges of molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago...
Australian Cardinal Pell appeals child sex convictions
June 5, 2019 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Lawyers for the most senior Roman Catholic found guilty of child sex abuse argued in his appeal on Wednesday that he could not have molested two choirboys in an Australian cathedral undetected moments after Sunday Masses while he was dressed in an archbishop's robes...
Pope defends decision to keep French cardinal after cover-up
March 31, 2019 GMTABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Francis defended his decision to reject French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin's resignation after he was convicted of covering up for a predator priest, saying Sunday the appeals process must run its course before a final decision is made...
Australian Cardinal Pell to spend his first night in prison
February 27, 2019 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse was sent to prison on Wednesday and will wait two weeks to learn his sentence for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago...
The Latest: Vatican investigates Pell after conviction
February 27, 2019 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Latest on Cardinal George Pell (all times local):
Vatican: Cardinal Pell says he’s innocent, but news hurts
February 26, 2019 GMTVATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican on Tuesday insisted on Australian Cardinal George Pell's right to further defend himself after being convicted of molesting two choirboys in his homeland, but said Pope Francis was keeping in place local church restrictions forbidding one of his most trusted advisers from having contact with children while appeals run their course...
Australian Cardinal Pell convicted of molesting 2 choirboys
February 26, 2019 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The most senior Catholic cleric ever charged with child sex abuse has been convicted of molesting two choirboys moments after celebrating Mass, dealing a new blow to the Catholic hierarchy's credibility after a year of global revelations of abuse and cover-up...
10 Things to Know for Today
February 26, 2019 GMTYour daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:...
Pell’s trial draws attention to court suppression orders
February 26, 2019 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Cardinal George Pell's trial on child abuse charges is probably the highest profile criminal case ever shrouded in secrecy by an Australian suppression order...
Australian Cardinal Pell convicted of molesting 2 choirboys
February 26, 2019 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The most senior Catholic cleric ever charged with child sex abuse has been convicted of molesting two choirboys moments after celebrating Mass, dealing a new blow to the Catholic hierarchy's credibility after a year of global revelations of abuse and cover-up...
Australian cardinal to face 2 trials on sexual abuse charges
May 2, 2018 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Vatican official to be charged in the Catholic Church sex abuse crisis, will face two trials on sex crime allegations spanning decades, a court heard on Wednesday...
Australian cardinal to face trial on sexual abuse charges
May 1, 2018 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Vatican official to be charged in the Catholic Church sex abuse crisis, must stand trial on charges alleging he sexually abused multiple victims decades ago, a magistrate ruled Tuesday...
Cardinal’s alleged sex victims testify in Australian court
March 5, 2018 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The alleged victims of the most senior Vatican official ever charged in the Catholic Church sex abuse crisis began giving testimony to an Australian court on Monday.
Australian Cardinal George Pell wore his clerical collar for the first day of the hearing in the Melbourne Magistrate Court to determine whether prosecutors have sufficient evidence to put him on trial.
The Latest: Accusers testify at hearing for Cardinal Pell
March 5, 2018 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Latest on the court appearance of Australian Cardinal George Pell over sex abuse charges (all times local):...
Vatican Cardinal Pell faces Australian court on sex charges
July 26, 2017 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Silent but defiant, Cardinal George Pell made his first court appearance in Australia on Wednesday on charges of sexual abuse, vowing through his lawyer to fight the allegations that have rocked Rome and threatened the pope's image as a crusader against abusive clergy...
Top Vatican official faces Australian court on sex charges
July 26, 2017 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The most senior Vatican official ever charged in the Catholic Church sex abuse crisis made his first court appearance in Australia on Wednesday in a scandal that has stunned the Holy See and threatened to tarnish the pope's image as a crusader against abusive clergy.
Pope’s top aide is charged in sex assault case in Australia
June 30, 2017 GMTVATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis suffered a major blow when his top financial adviser, Cardinal George Pell, was charged in his native Australia with multiple counts of sexual assault from years ago, bringing a criminal case in the long-running abuse scandal inside the frescoed walls of the Vatican for the first time...