Cardinal George Pell was a paradoxical figure. His life and work will give ammunition to those who admired him and those who hated him, as we see in the conflicting articles about him in the media.
While he rightly deserved criticism for his treatment of a number of victims of child abuse, he was the first Catholic leader in Australia to initiate a proper redress program for victims.
The Melbourne Response has been an influential model for Catholic and non-Catholic programs worldwide.
A boxer and footballer as a young man, he brought a confrontational and pugilistic personality into the public arena. But in person, he was honest, warm, caring, and genuinely interested in people.
As seen in his connection to “David’s Place” in Sydney, he was a model of compassion to the poor, the marginalised, and the mentally ill.
He was fiercely loyal to the Pope, yet outspoken when he saw the need.
In a recent interview, he was highly critical of the Vatican’s secret treaty with the People’s Republic of China.
He saw no gain in the treaty for Catholics and noted that persecution of people of faith were getting worse. He also criticised the secrecy of the agreement.
To read more, please go to https://www.theepochtimes.com/legacy-of-the-controversial-cardinal-george-pell_4987428.html