Title: George Pell’s death could renew distress for Ballarat’s child abuse survivors
As the Vatican announced the death of Australia’s most senior Catholic, Cardinal George Pell, parishioners began filing into St Patrick’s Cathedral in his home town of Ballarat for morning mass.
“People were very reflective. There was a real sense of quiet,” the church’s administrator, father Ed Moloney, said.
“With the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict, now the death George Pell and the passing of several local parishioners, it shows it doesn’t matter what position you have, we all face death and eternity.”
The cathedral will hold a mass for the repose of Pell’s soul on Thursday, though Moloney acknowledged the news of the cardinal’s death would be difficult for many in the regional Victorian town, which has the unfortunate distinction of being a hotspot of historic child sexual abuse by Australia’s Catholic clergy.
A royal commission hearing in 2015 was told up to 14 priests in Ballarat had sexually abused children, and there have been at least 130 claims and substantiated complaints since 1980. Survivor groups estimate more than 50 suicides in the town are linked to historic sexual abuse by priests.
Colourful ribbons adorn the fence of the cathedral and others in buildings in Ballarat as a mark of respect for the abuse victims. New ribbons were being placed on the fence on Wednesday.
“It’s part of our town’s story now, for the last 20 or so years. It has been a difficult and challenging time for so many,” Moloney said.
Outside the confines of the church, the response was more visceral.
“None of us will be shedding any tears,” Ballarat abuse survivor Phillip Nagle told the Age on Wednesday.