Highlights from Cardinal Pell’s First Interview
• Pell said he “became so incensed at the way prosecutors dealt with (two witnesses)” that he thought it best he maintain his silence in court, “I thought that if I were to get in there I’ll have such a go at that fella because of this outrage.”
• He doesn’t understand what drove his accuser, “I wonder whether he was used.”
• It has to be established that victims are true victims, “Guilt by accusation is a mark of an uncivilised society."
• Pell was treated well by fellow prisoners, “A number of prisoners said it was the only time they’d ever heard any prisoners taking the side of a priest convicted of paedophilia.” “At one stage, one (prisoner) said: ‘He’s got two prime ministers in support’.”
• “I spoke with four people (in prison). Three who were with me at Barwon prison were very kind to me.”
• There was “a real threat” to his safety but he was situated at the quiet end of the prison.
• “I got something like 4000 letters. I got immense support, practical and otherwise. I never felt forsaken. I had a daily routine. I followed the advice, I’ve given to priests.” “Keep up your prayers. Get out of bed at a good time. Eat properly. Exercise every day. Try to sleep at night. I also read and wrote. Loads of books … so I’d quite settled into the routine” which he called a “worldly retreat.”
• “I had a kettle and television set. Got a toilet, a shower, a bed with a firm base.”
• Pell released on TheAustralian.com excerpts from his prison diary, which discuss his life in jail, corrections staff, humiliations he endured, and his brief job as a gardener.
• Prison staff were "courteous and decent," but Pell had to sometimes endure "petty humiliations" such as wearing handcuffs and being strip-searched.
• Pell was in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day but accepted it was necessary to stay safe. He was used to such confinement because as a seminarian he had to partake in "grand silence" from mid-evening until 9am the next morning.
Police paid a visit to Sydney seminary on Tuesday (April 14) afternoon. The meeting was related to social media threats against the Cardinal.
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