A Massive Crowdfunding Campaign Is Flying Abuse Survivors To Rome To Meet George Pell
Looks like Cardinal Pell won't have to give his evidence alone.
In December last year, child sexual abuse survivors were dealt a blow by Cardinal George Pell, Australia’s most senior Catholic clergyman. Pell, who was based in the Ballarat diocese for ten years, was called to give evidence at a Royal Commission hearing in Ballarat relating to how much he knew of the rampant sexual abuse perpetrated by fellow priests in the area.
Pell has denied any knowledge of such abuse at previous hearings, but it seemed the Ballarat survivors would be denied the chance to even hear his explanations in person after he announced he was too sick to travel, a claim he repeated earlier this month as the hearing’s date neared. The news was met with dismay and anger from survivors and their advocates, with several doctors offering to fly to Rome and personally chaperone the Cardinal back to Australia to testify.
Now, however, a new solution has been found: send the survivors to Rome to meet with Cardinal Pell in person. A GoFundMe campaign set up on Sunday by comedian Meshel Laurie aimed to raise $55,000 to fly 15 abuse survivors to Rome, so they can witness Pell as he gives video evidence to the Commission in the Vatican.
With more than $75,000 raised in the interim, and fellow comedian Tim Minchin debuting his new song ‘Come Home (Cardinal Pell)’ last night on The Project to raise awareness, it’s safe to say Cardinal Pell won’t have to give his testimony alone.
Donate to the ‘Send Ballarat To Rome’ GoFundMe campaign here.