04.12.2019
2 min read

George Pell supporters told to write Christmas cards to convicted paedophile

The former archbishop is preparing to spend his first Christmas behind bars.
Cardinal George Pell leaves the Supreme Court of Victoria in handcuffs earlier this year.

A religious figurehead is imploring supporters of convicted paedophile Cardinal George Pell to send him Christmas cards.

British Deacon Nick Donnelly took to Twitter on Monday to implore others to send letters to Pell's Victorian prison cell.

"Please show your support for Cardinal Pell by sending him a Christmas card," he wrote alongside a screenshot of an address.

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He also instructed Pell faithful to call him "George Pell" on the envelope and "His Eminence" in the letter itself.

However, the message has drawn criticism from Melbourne-based victim support group In Good Faith Foundation.

In the video below: High Court to decide Pell's fate

Convicted paedophile, George Pell has been given one last chance to clear his name, after the High Court granted special leave to hear his appeal.

Convicted paedophile, George Pell has been given one last chance to clear his name, after the High Court granted special leave to hear his appeal.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Clare Leaney, told 7NEWS.com.au she wholeheartedly hoped no victims of sexual abuse saw the Tweet.

"For a lot of survivors of abuse, there is no holiday period," she said.

"That's been taken away from them.

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"These are people that have lost their faith and their connection to the church and I think the festive season reinforces the isolation some people can have."

Donnelly's Tweet received similar feedback, one person saying it was "profoundly disrespectful" to victims of sexual abuse.

Some, however, thanked Donnelly for the information, with the deacon replying and calling Pell "one of the great martyrs of our generation".

One of Pell's most recent visitors at the Melbourne Assessment Prison was not a religious figurehead but rather former Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Abbott was seen by 7NEWS leaving the facility, stopping only to say he was "simply visiting a friend".

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the meeting was "shameful".

In the video below: Tony Abbott criticised for visiting George Pell

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been criticised after visiting convicted paedophile Cardinal George Pell in jail.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been criticised after visiting convicted paedophile Cardinal George Pell in jail.

Pell is preparing to spend his first Christmas period behind bars.

The 78-year-old former archbishop of Sydney turned Vatican adviser was convicted by a jury of the rape of a 13-year-old choirboy and sexual assault of another at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne in 1996.

He was jailed for six years with a non-parole period of three years and eight months.

In the video below: Victim's father relieved Pell will remain behind bars for time being

The lawyer for the dead victim’s father Lisa Flynn says he had a sense of overwhelming relief when the George Pell lost his appeal

The lawyer for the dead victim’s father Lisa Flynn says he had a sense of overwhelming relief when the George Pell lost his appeal

He is now waiting to appeal his conviction in the High Court, which is expected to happen sometime next year.

Leaney has said the constant rehashing of the case could be distressing to other victims.

"I think that for everyone, the impact of childhood abuse and particularly in a religious context, it’s unquantifiable," she said.

"For all our clients, they identify it as the worst moment of their lives."

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