Thursday, December 13, 2018

Cardinal Pell Convicted on Abuse of Choirboys; Highest-Ranking Vatican Cleric to Be Convicted

Cardinal George Pell -- one of Pope Francis' closest advisers -- has been convicted in an Australian court on five counts related to the abuse of two choirboys in 1996, the UPI website reports today (December 13, 2018).

Pell, 77, currently on a leave from his post as the Vatican's economy secretary, was charged last year for "historical sexual assault offenses" by Australian police.

On December 11, he was found guilty on the charges in a Melbourne court. The verdict makes him the highest-ranking Vatican official to face such a conviction.

Pell was released on bail after his conviction. He will be sentenced in February. He is also scheduled to face a second trial early next year involving a different incident, probably in February or March.

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