Cardinal Pell is sentenced to six years in prison

The former chief financial officer of the Vatican, cardinal George Pell, is accused of sexual abuse of Minors has been sentenced to six years in prison. A court in Melbourne, the punishment announced against the 77-year-old Australian on Wednesday.

the presiding judge, Peter Kidd remained well below the possible maximum sentence of 50 years. A request for early release from prison, the former Pope could spot Familiar at the earliest after three years and eight months in prison. Judge Kidd said on Wednesday, the 77-Year-old Pell is not going to leave the prison you may live.

Pell denies all the allegations. The former Familiar of Pope Francis goes against the judgment in appeal.

criminal reduction was due to life performance

The Curia, cardinal in December by a jury and found guilty of in the 1990s, two of the then 13-year-old choir boys been abused. At that time, Pell Archbishop of the Australian metropolis. Since the end of February, he is already sitting in prison. The appeal trial will probably start in June. Criminal-reducing judge Kidd evaluated, among other things, Pells age, his health and his life.

The cardinal took the verdict without any special emotion note. In total, he was found in five points for guilty. The worst judge Kidd appreciated that the clergy have one of the two boys, after a Sunday service forced the end of 1996, in the sacristy for oral sex. So he had misused his Power and trust is broken. Kidd spoke of "breathtaking arrogance".

hope for acquittal

As chief financial officer was the Australians practically the number three of the Vatican. Pell was also one of the closest advisors of the Pope. Because of the allegations he allowed himself to 2017 leave of absence. Officially, he was chief financial officer until February in the office. The defense hopes the appeals process on acquittal.

The Vatican had shortly after the publication of the judgment agreed to waive immediate consequences against Pell. The state of the Church wished to await the appeal process. Pell had "the right to defend themselves until the last instance," explained a Pope spokesman. Pell was also still a priest and a cardinal. The Vatican have, however, initiated a Church legal process.

Pope under pressure

The case will now be examined by the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, a Central authority of the Roman Catholic Church. In the case of abuse allegations, it can initiate investigations, which may lead in extreme cases to the exclusion of an accused from the priesthood. This is the maximum penalty in the Catholic Church.

Because of a worldwide need scandals Miss Pope Francis is currently under strong pressure, hard against perpetrators in their own ranks. A historic summit at the Vatican with the tips of the bishops ' conferences of the world at the end of February went to the meeting, however, without concrete measures to end. (chk/sda)

Created: 13.03.2019, 01:12 PM