The High Court in Canberra will this week hear Cardinal George Pell’s appeal against his convictions for abusing two choirboys while he was Archbishop of Melbourne.
The case will be heard tomorrow and Thursday although a decision may not be handed down this week. The proceedings will not be livestreamed.
This represents Cardinal Pell’s final chance to have his convictions overturned after his first appeal was dismissed in September last year. You can read more about the appeal here.
Many survivors of child sexual abuse, both in Australia and overseas, have followed Cardinal Pell’s case closely, but we are aware that the media coverage and commentary surrounding this appeal may be very confronting and occasionally distressing, regardless of the outcome.
We encourage survivors to have support on hand if they think they need it and to limit their exposure to media. If you require immediate support, please contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or visit the National Redress Scheme’s website for a list of other support services.
For more information on how to take care of yourself during this potentially emotional and triggering time this article has some excellent expert advice.