Cardinal Pell to spend first night in prisonhome/News/World/Cardinal Pell to spend first night in prisonMELBOURNE: Convicted Australian Cardinal George Pell will spend his first night behind bars Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) following his historic conviction for child sex crimes, capping an extraordinary fall from grace for one of the most powerful men in the Catholic Church. The Catholic News Agency website carried an article about the Vatican press office statement on Pell’s conviction and appeal. Pell, who has lodged an appeal against the verdict, will be sentenced on March 13. But defense lawyers issued a statement following the hearing insisting that “despite the unprecedented media coverage, Cardinal Pell has always and continues to maintain his innocence. “Like any person he has the right to pursue his legal rights and will do so.”WITH CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY

Source: Manila Times February 27, 2019 16:52 UTC