Pope’s top aide convicted of sex crimeshome/News/Top Stories/Pope’s top aide convicted of sex crimesMELBOURNE: Australian Cardinal George Pell, one of Pope Francis’ closest advisors, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two choirboys, becoming the most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex crimes. An Australian jury unanimously found Pell guilty in December on one count of sexual abuse and four counts of indecent assault against two boys at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne in the 1990s. There was no immediate reaction from the Vatican but Pell maintained his innocence Tuesday. Outside the County Court of Victoria, supporters of other abuse survivors yelled “monster” and “rot in hell” as Pell, walking slowly with the aid of a cane, got into a car after the hearing concluded. Pell’s conviction is another blow to the Church, which has struggled to convince the world it is serious about tackling widespread child abuse and paedophilia.

Source: Manila Times February 26, 2019 16:40 UTC