The late cardinal George Pell in his own words

This story contains comments that may be upsetting to many people. 

Hailed as a saint by some supporters, the late cardinal George Pell will be remembered by others for his many controversial remarks throughout the years. 

The ultra-conservative Australian priest who rose to become one of the most powerful men in the Vatican made some eyebrow-raising comments during his long career. The Catholic archbishop of Sydney said in a statement yesterday Pell was a “fearless” gospel proclaimer who “spoke truth as he found it, however difficult or unpopular”. Indeed.

On abortion

Pell told a World Youth Day event in Canada in 2002 that abortion was a “worse moral scandal” than sexual abuse against young people by Catholic clergy. He doubled down on the comments when pressed by Australian reporters: “I don’t back off the statements,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald at the time.

In Pell’s view, abortion was “worse” because it “destroys innocent life”. He added he felt the church was being “attacked” over allegations of sexual abuse “by elements that are a bit anti-Christian”.

On homosexuality

Pell became known early on in his career for his “pugnacious moral declarations”, as Guardian Australia put it, including comments about homosexuality.

While archbishop of Melbourne, he was quoted as saying about Catholic schoolboys being driven to suicide by homophobia: “It is another reason to be discouraging people going in that direction. Homosexual activity is a much greater health hazard than smoking.”

On a paedophile priest

When giving evidence to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2016, Pell drew loud gasps from those listening when he said he didn’t have much interest in the crimes of paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale. 

Asked if the offending was well known in the local parish, Pell responded: “It’s a sad story and it wasn’t of much interest to me.”

Asked to explain, Pell responded: “The suffering, of course, was real and I very much regret that, but I had no reason to turn my mind to the extent of the evils that Ridsdale had perpetrated.”

On Jewish people

During an appearance at ABC’s Q+A program in 2012, Pell made headlines for his comments about Jewish people and the Holocaust. He claimed the ancient Jewish people were not the intellectual equals of their contemporary Persians or Egyptians. 

“For some extraordinary reason God chose the Jews. They weren’t intellectually the equal of either the Egyptians [or Persians],” he said. 

Pressed to explain, Pell went on: “Egypt was the great power for thousands of years before Christianity. Persia was a great power … The poor, the little Jewish people, they were originally shepherds. They were stuck, they are still stuck, between these great powers.”

In the same program, on the topic of the Holocaust, Pell claimed “probably no people in history have been punished the way the Germans were”.

When another panel member put to him that the Jewish people in Europe had suffered more, Pell conceded: “Yes, that might be right. Certainly the suffering in both, I mean the Jews, there was no reason why they should suffer.”

He later tried to walk back the comments in a statement to the Australian Jewish News, saying he didn’t mean to cause offence. 

On divorce

In 2001, the future cardinal said he would like couples who divorce to face penalties and couples who stay together should get benefits.

“What I’m trying to do is focus attention on the damage, personal and financial, that unfortunately often follows from divorce,” he told the ABC.

“So I’ve canvassed, and they’re just floaters, a list of possible penalties. Penalties for those who divorce, especially if it can be established where there is fault. And benefits, and this is especially my emphasis, benefits for those who stick together and bring up families.”

Survivors of abuse can find support by calling Bravehearts at 1800 272 831 or the Blue Knot Foundation at 1300 657 380. The Kids Helpline is 1800 55 1800. In an emergency, call 000.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.