George Pell has been acquitted of all charges of child abuse by Australia's highest court.
The appeal court has decided that despite the unanimous decision of the original jury who found the surviving abuse victim a credible reliable and honest witness, the jury (apparently) failed to take into account the "evidence" given by other "witnesses" who ,surprise surprise, were members of the clergy , I believe one was lay, at the church where Pell presided.
Given the abysmal history of the RC church in systematically covering up decades of abuse by its priest, lying, moving them to different parishes, diocese and even countries to avoid answering their accusers, not to mention the cover up that the Australian government perpetrated over the abuse of child migrants (priests again in many cases) I think the verdict sends a message that some abusers are above the law if they have the right connections.
Pell has been given huge consideration by the Australian courts, including an international black out of news on the process of his appeals .
I wonder if such a pussyfoot approach is offered to either victims or indeed accused in other child abuse and rape cases.
The other victim took his own life. His family say they are devastated at this reversal of the verdict.