Even in 'respectable' countries, the justice system can be corrupted

Catholic Herald, 17 April 2020

The actions of the Australian justice system do not warrant “utmost respect” and the Holy See ought to have the courage to say so.

One of the strange constants of the tumultuous persecution/prosecution of Cardinal George Pell was that, no matter the latest fantastical development, the Holy See Press Office would always express its “utmost respect” for the Australian justice system.

At first, this seemed like the routine lies that press offices tell. During the recent visit of the new president of Argentina, for example, the Holy See Press Office said that the Holy Father had discussed abortion with the president, who advocates liberalizing the nation’s abortion law. But they hadn’t discussed it. Pope Francis hadn’t raised it. It was clumsy spin, a bit of easily corrected dishonesty. Embarrassing, but business as usual.

But after nearly three years, the “utmost respect” was more difficult to understand. Across the depth and breadth of the Roman Curia how many people are there who have anything approaching even passing familiarity with Australian criminal justice? In what was this “utmost respect” rooted?

Continue reading at the Catholic Herald:
https://catholicherald.co.uk/even-in-respectable-countries-the-justice-system-can-be-corrupted/