John Macaulay is a former altar server at Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral, scene of the alleged sexual assault of two choirboys by Cardinal George Pell. In this interview with Raymond Arroyo of EWTN, John speaks about the implausibility of the alleged crimes, based on both his experience of Cathedral Mass protocols and also his being an eye-witness during the court proceedings that saw Cardinal Pell convicted. John and Raymond open with a discussion about ‘Operation Tethering’, the Victorian Police investigation that began years before there were any allegations of malfeasance on the part of the Cardinal.

See also the Vendetta Against Cardinal Pell

NOTE: There is some widely-held misconceptions about Catholics who hold the opinion that Cardinal Pell is innocent of the charges for which he is now incarcerated. I’ve personally been told, as have many of my friends and acquaintances, that to defend Cardinal Pell is to defend pedophilia and/or abuser-priests. I have also been told that to claim that the Cardinal hasn’t offended, is to claim that no priest has ever offended in this way.

Both of these accusations are false, however.

No true Catholic believes that sexual abuse of anyone, but particularly of minors, is acceptable. On the contrary, such abuse is reprehensible. We are deeply grieved by these abuses, and pray for peace and healing for the victims.

Likewise, it is false to say that Pell-defenders are blind to the reality of abuser-priests. I believe, as do my fellow Catholics, that priests who sexually abuse minors should be penalised both through the secular courts and canonically. In my opinion, bishops who cover up for and otherwise obfuscate investigations should receive the same penalty as abusers.

By the same token, members of the public who make false claims against priests should also be punished to the fullest extent of the law.