On June 29, Cardinal George Pell, who had been charged with historical sexual offenses in Australia, held a press conference at the Vatican at which he issued the following statement:
Good morning to you all. I want to say one or two brief words about my situation. These matters have been under investigation now for two years. There have been leaks to the media. There has been relentless character assassination — relentless character assassination — and for more than a month, claims that a decision on whether to lay charges was imminent. I'm looking forward, finally, to having my day in court. I'm innocent of these charges. They are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me. I've kept Pope Francis — the Holy Father — regularly informed during these long months. I have spoken to him on a number of occasions in the last week, I think most recently, a day or so ago. We talked about my need to take leave to clear my name. So I'm very grateful to the Holy Father for giving me this leave to return to Australia. I've spoken to my lawyers about when this will be necessary.
And I've spoken to my doctors about the best way to achieve this. All along, I have been completely consistent and clear in my total rejection of these allegations. News of these charges strengthens my resolve, strengthens my resolve. And court proceedings now offer me an opportunity to clear my name and then return here back to Rome to work. Thank you.
Our reputations are dear to us. As long as humans have walked the earth, we have cared deeply about what others say and think about us. Professionally, reputation can make or break a career, cost a promotion, or even lead to termination.
Shakespeare said it well in Othello: “Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, is the immediate jewel of their souls. Who steals my purse steals trash–‘tis something, nothing–‘Twas mine, ‗tis his, and has been slave to thousands–But he that filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him And makes me poor indeed.”
The Bible also discusses the importance of reputation: ―a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
An emphasis on reputation throughout history shows the extent to which society values the subject.
Historically, reputations have been an important asset, and continue to be today. Damage to reputation is not a new idea. However, with the constant creation of new technology and ways to disseminate information, defamation law continues to grow and adapt.
When a person believes they have been defamed, there are many options to help a victim restore their defamed reputation–from a simple demand for an apology or retraction, to a complicated and litigious suit for defamation, declaratory judgment, or other claims and forms of relief.
But no matter the avenue a defamed person chooses, the terrible fact remains that, once wounded, one’s reputation is very often beyond healing.
We pray that the charges leveled against Cardinal Pell are without truth or merit. We shall continue to trust in his innocence until the contrary is proven against any and all reasonable doubt.
And we suffer with Cardinal Pell for the wound to the Body of Christ, the Church to which he has dedicated his life and ministry, and for the personal sorrow the Cardinal has experienced over the course of these many months and years.
We hope that the Cardinal’s reputation will be restored once he is exonerated. We pray that his innocence will be upheld after having "had his day in court".
As to whether or not the Cardinal will ever have his good name restored, we are perhaps not naive in our sad expectation that these charges forever will be associated with him.
Such are the ways of life in the world in which we live today.
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