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Victims of child sexual abuse react to Cardinal Pell's death

<p>Victims of childhood sexual abuse have shared their reactions to the news of the death of Cardinal George Pell. </p> <p>Pell, who was previously convicted for historic sex crimes, died at age 81 in Rome on Wednesday after complications from hip replacement surgery. </p> <p>Phil Nagle, who was assaulted by a priest at the age of nine, said bluntly, "He's certainly burning in hell right now."</p> <p>"I'm glad he's passed on," he told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/reaction-to-cardinal-george-pells-death/33dd1fd4-fb5a-4fd0-9cba-54da4d4de15b" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>A Current Affair</em></a>. </p> <p>Nagle went on to say he believed Pell "was a liar and a protector of paedophile clergy".</p> <p>"(He) had plenty of opportunities during his lifetime to try and redeem himself," he said.</p> <p>"It's a bit of a shame he's taken the secrets to the grave."</p> <p>Victims advocate Helen Last said she "felt really numb" when she heard about Pell's death.</p> <p>"It's a tragedy of great proportions. There's so many survivors in Victoria still who have not been able to come forward about alleged abuse by him, on them," she said.</p> <p>"I personally believe on the basis of evidence that George Pell has been involved in a network of sexual offending clergy that goes right back."</p> <p>Sex abuse victim Michael Advocate said his shed weren't of sorrow when he heard about Pell's passing.</p> <p>"He was a terrible, terrible human being that just damaged so many child sex abuse victims, including me," Advocate said.</p> <p>"There's so many of my fellow sufferers, you know … he got off so lightly. I hope he really gets justice."</p> <p>"If there is a God, dear God may he be forthright in his punishment."</p> <p>Despite an onslaught of similar comments from members of the public who stand with Pell's accusers, famous friends of the Church were quick to share their sadness over the Cardinal's death. </p> <p>Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, a Catholic and staunch Pell supporter, described the cardinal as a "saint" and compared the sexual abuse charges that effectively ended his ecclesiastical career to "a modern form of crucifixion".</p> <p>Reacting to Abbott's statement on Instagram, former <em>7News Melbourne</em> host Jacqui Felgate summed up the anger felt by Pell's critics with a brutal, three-word response.</p> <p>"Beyond the pale," she wrote.</p> <p>Many of Felgate's followers agreed, with former <em>Bachelor</em> star Matthew Johnson saying, "This is absolutely abhorrent and really puts into perspective what type of person [he is]."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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Cardinal George Pell dies at age 81

<p>Cardinal George Pell has died at age 81 in Rome after suffering complications from hip replacement surgery.</p> <p>Australia's highest ranking Catholic had reportedly been chatting to the anaesthetist in hospital following the procedure when he suddenly went into cardiac arrest, according to The Australian.</p> <p>Australian Archbishop Anthony Fisher confirmed the news in a statement provided to AFP, saying, “It is with deep sadness that I can confirm His Eminence, Cardinal George Pell, passed away in Rome in the early hours of this morning.”</p> <p>“This news comes as a great shock to all of us."</p> <p>“Please pray for the repose of the soul of Cardinal Pell, for comfort and consolation for his family and for all of those who loved him and are grieving him at this time.”</p> <p>Pell was widely seen as the right-hand man of Pope Francis and the third most powerful figure in the church, before he was arrested in Australia for historic child sex abuse crimes within the church. </p> <p>The Cardinal was imprisoned in 2019 after he was found guilty of sexually abusing two 13-year-old choirboys in the 1990s and spent just 12 months in Barwon Prison near Melbourne before the Australian High Court quashed his convictions following an appeal.</p> <p>Despite being sentenced to six years in prison with a non-parole period of three years and eight months, there were no further trials and Pell walked free after more than 400 days in prison.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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“There are different paths to justice”: Former choirboy’s father takes George Pell to court

<p dir="ltr"><em>Content warning: This article includes mentions of child sexual abuse (CSA).</em></p> <p dir="ltr">The father of a former choirboy allegedly abused by George Pell has launched a civil case against the cardinal and the Catholic Church.</p> <p dir="ltr">After being convicted of abusing two choirboys during his time as archbishop of Melbourne in the 1990s, Cardinal Pell was acquitted by the High Court in 2020, having served 13 months in prison before gaining his freedom.</p> <p dir="ltr">The father of one of the victims, who died of a drug overdose in 2014, was told about the alleged abuse by police a year after his son’s death, according to the <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-14/george-pell-father-former-choirboy-civil-action-cardinal-church/101236968" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">He has now launched legal action against Cardinal Pell and the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne in the Supreme Court of Victoria for “damages for nervous shock” that were related to finding out about the allegations, according to the statement of claim lodged in court.</p> <p dir="ltr">The father, who cannot legally be named and has been given the pseudonym RWQ, and his solicitors from Shine Lawyers claim Cardinal Pell and the Archdiocese were negligent.</p> <p dir="ltr">They allege the cardinal is liable for RWQ’s mental injury because it would have been reasonably foreseeable that he would suffer from nervous shock after learning of the alleged abuse, and that the Archdiocese breached a duty of care to him.</p> <p dir="ltr">RWQ is claiming general damages, and special damages, and seeking compensation for “past loss of earning capacity and past and future medical and like expenses”, though the sum he is seeking will only be revealed if the matter goes to trial.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lisa Flynn, the Chief Legal Officer for Shine Lawyers, said the separate criminal case and High Court proceedings involving the cardinal won’t affect the civil case.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The High Court made some decisions in relation to the criminal prosecution against [George] Pell, our case is a civil case against George Pell and the Catholic Archdiocese,” she explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There are different paths to justice.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em><strong>If you are in need of support you can contact Lifeline on 0800 54 33 54, or Safe to Talk on </strong></em><strong><em>0800 044 334</em></strong><em><strong> for support relating to sexual abuse.</strong></em></p> <p><em><span id="docs-internal-guid-29894822-7fff-f6d2-d796-7d1247c92283"></span></em></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Buckley’s Chance is a classic film about a boy and a dog

<p>In a classic tradition, <em>Buckley’s Chance</em> is a film which explores the close relationship between a boy and his dingo in outback Australia – and Bill Nighy comes along for the ride.</p> <p>Filmed in Broken Hill, <em>Buckley’s Chance</em> was in cinemas in June of this year but you can now stream it on Amazon Prime Video.</p> <p>Well-known British actor, Bill Nighy plays a leading role alongside Milan Burch who plays the role of the young boy, Ridley. And yes – there’s a new screen star – the dingo called Buckley.</p> <p>After the loss of his father, Ridley is forced to move to the Australian outback to live with his estranged Grandfather (Nighy). While exploring the outback, Ridley becomes lost and befriends a dingo excluded from its own pack. A strong bond is formed as the two try to make their way home.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/np7WgFqtNzE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><strong>Based on the Aussie slang – “You’ve got Buckley’s”</strong></p> <p>The phrase – “You’ve got Buckley’s” is a much-used piece of Aussie slang and it refers to a convict called <span>William Buckley who escaped in Victoria in 1803 and lived among the Aborigines there for the next 30 years.</span></p> <p><span>At the time, it was thought no-one could ever survive in the Australian bush on their own and this is how the term “Buckley’s” came about.</span></p> <p data-adtags-visited="true">As Ridley’s grandfather, Spencer (played by Nighy) is trying to run a sheep station and he doesn’t really need his son’s grieving widow and her son around, complicating his life.</p> <p data-adtags-visited="true">But guilt over his estranged son forces Spencer to make an effort, teach the kid a little outback survival and lore. He even pulls out his gun every time he sees a dingo and aims at them.</p> <p>Ridly is horrified and asks him why he’s shooting a dog.</p> <p>“They may look like a dog, Ridley, but they’re more wolf than dog,” says Spencer.</p> <p data-adtags-visited="true">The kid isn’t convinced. So, when the chance comes to rescue a fine specimen of the breed trapped in a fence, he makes a new friend. He names it after grandpa’s ranch, “Buckley’s Chance”.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/57369d9a67a44e3d96c40dacbbcaee1b" /><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.53564899451555px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844021/buckleys-chance-7-um.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/57369d9a67a44e3d96c40dacbbcaee1b" /></p> <p>As this all happens, we see some lovely and exotic outback scenery.</p> <p data-adtags-visited="true">On the negative side, Nighy’s Aussie accent isn’t too good, so it’s up to the other supporting actors to get that right.</p> <p data-adtags-visited="true">Still, this is a sentimental and kid-friendly movie. The film’s other well-known actors include Kelton Pell, Victoria Hill and Martin Sacks.</p> <p>Overall, <em>Buckley’s Chance</em> is a thrilling tale for all the family about fun, friendship and family.</p> <p><em>Buckley’s Chance</em> showed in Australian cinemas in June of this year and now you can rent it from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Buckleys-Chance-Bill-Nighy/dp/B09CLPWMHG">Amazon Prime Video</a> for $6.99.</p> <p><em>Photos and Video: Transmission Films and YouTube</em></p> <p><em> </em></p> <p><em> </em></p> <p><em> </em></p>

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“Profoundly disrespectful”: Shock as George Pell supporters are told to write him a Christmas card

<p>British Deacon Nick Donnelly has asked supporters of convicted paedophile Cardinal George Pell to send him Christmas cards in jail.</p> <p>He asked his followers on Twitter to send Pell letters to his prison cell.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Please show your support for Cardinal Pell by sending him a Christmas card<br /><br />Here's his address<br /><br />DO NOT address his envelope as 'Cardinal Pell' or it will be refused <a href="https://t.co/jsKxvBNofb">pic.twitter.com/jsKxvBNofb</a></p> — Nick Donnelly (@ProtecttheFaith) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProtecttheFaith/status/1201385480178282496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>"Please show your support for Cardinal Pell by sending him a Christmas card," he wrote alongside a screenshot of an address.</p> <p>Donnelly also says that anyone who sends a letter should “NOT address his envelope as ‘Cardinal Pell’ or it will be refused”.</p> <p>Donnelly also said that gifts of $15 would be accepted.</p> <p>The message has drawn criticism from other Twitter users who labelled the move "profoundly disrespectful.</p> <p>It also drew criticism from Melbourne-based victim support group In Good Faith Foundation.</p> <p>Chief Executive Officer Clare Leaney said to<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/religion-and-belief/george-pell-supporters-told-to-write-christmas-cards-to-convicted-paedophile-c-587870" target="_blank">7News.com.au</a></em><span> </span>that she hopes no victims of sexual abuse saw the Tweet.</p> <p>"For a lot of survivors of abuse, there is no holiday period," she said.</p> <p>"That's been taken away from them.</p> <p>"These are people that have lost their faith and their connection to the church and I think the festive season reinforces the isolation some people can have."</p> <p>Pell is currently preparing to spend his first Christmas period behind bars after being jailed for six years with a non-parole period of three years and eight months.</p> <p>However, he is waiting to appeal his conviction in the High Court, which is expected to happen sometime next year.</p> <p>Leaney says that the constant rehashing of the case could be stressful for victims.</p> <p>"I think that for everyone, the impact of childhood abuse and particularly in a religious context, it’s unquantifiable," she said.</p> <p>"For all our clients, they identify it as the worst moment of their lives."</p>

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