Former Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell was sentenced to six years in jail by an Australian court on Wednesday for sexually abusing two choir boys in the 1990s at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne.
Pell, 77, is the highest ranking Catholic priest worldwide to be convicted for child sex offenses.
READ MORE: Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell found guilty of sexually abusing choir boys
“In my view, your conduct was permeated by staggering arrogance,” County Court of Victoria Chief Judge Peter Kidd said in the sentencing, which took more than an hour.
Get breaking National news
WATCH: Judge addresses victims of sexual abuse in Catholic Church while sentencing Cardinal Pell
- As murder trial begins, Lumby family’s search for justice comes with a heavy cost
- Chaos erupts in Toronto courtroom after jury finds man not guilty of murder
- B.C. man faces 21 charges in weapons, drug bust at Vancouver home in 2024
- Three U.K. men plead guilty in death of Owen Sound, Ont., restaurant owner
“Viewed overall, I consider your moral culpability across both episodes to be high.”
READ MORE: Pope accepts resignation of Australian archbishop convicted of sex abuse cover-up
Kidd set a non-parole period of three years and eight months. Pell will be registered as a sex offender for life, he said.
Pell, who was found guilty in December, has maintained he is innocent and has filed an appeal on three grounds, set to be heard in June.
Comments
Comments closed.
Due to the sensitive and/or legal subject matter of some of the content on globalnews.ca, we reserve the ability to disable comments from time to time.
Please see our Commenting Policy for more.