Cardinal George Pell jailed six years for Child Sex Abuse

Former Vatican treasurer, Cardinal George Pell will serve a six-year jail sentence for sexually abusing choir boys after being arraigned before an Australian court.

On Wednesday, an Australian court in Melbourne ruled on the hearing which convicts former top adviser to the Pope Francis for abusing Choir boy in the 1990s. County Court of Victoria Chief Judge Peter Kidd said that there was a real chance that Pell could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Judge Peter Kidd speaking in court on Wednesday as the former Vatican treasurer George Pell was been convicted said,

“In my view, your conduct was permeated by staggering arrogance,”

“Viewed overall, I consider your moral culpability across both episodes to be high.”

The Vatican treasurer who will serve a six-year jail sentence, however, maintained his innocence and also filed an appeal which would be heard in June.

The offences against two 13-year-old boys took place after Sunday mass in late 1996 and early 1997 in a room and a corridor at St Patrick’s Cathedral, in Melbourne, where Pell was archbishop.

Pell was found guilty on four charges of indecent acts and one of sexual penetration. He faced a maximum of 10 years in jail for each charge.

Pell’s sentencing was shown live on television, this reflects the high level of interest in the case, although only the judge was shown and the broadcast was cut immediately after the sentence was delivered.