ACU staff call for disciplinary action against Vice-Chancellor over Pell character reference

High-profile supporters including former Vice-Chancellor Greg Craven wrote character references for Pell’s trial

One of George Pell’s friends, Australian Catholic University Vice-Chancellor Greg Craven, has hit out at sections of the media and Victoria Police over their handling of the case.

Australian Catholic University staff have called for their Vice-Chancellor and President Greg Craven to be disciplined after he publicly provided a positive character reference for convicted child abuser Cardinal George Pell.

In February 2019, following the 2018 trial and conviction of Pell for child abuse, Craven provided one of 10 positive character references for the former Archbishop of Melbourne.

In a letter to the university’s governing body, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, staff said Craven’s actions had “brought the university into disrepute” and “undermined the trust and confidence of the community”.

“We believe that Professor Craven’s actions were a clear breach of the university’s Code of Conduct and that he should be disciplined accordingly,” the letter said.

The staff’s call for disciplinary action against Craven comes after a number of high-profile Catholics, including former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, defended Pell’s character.

However, the staff’s letter said that Craven’s actions were “particularly egregious” given his position as Vice-Chancellor of a Catholic university.

“We believe that Professor Craven’s actions have undermined the university’s commitment to child protection and have made it difficult for the university to be seen as a safe and supportive environment for students and staff,” the letter said.

The staff’s call for disciplinary action against Craven is the latest development in a long-running saga that has divided the Catholic Church in Australia.

Pell was convicted of sexually abusing two choirboys in the 1990s and is currently serving a six-year prison sentence.

The conviction has been upheld by the High Court of Australia, but Pell is still maintaining his innocence and is seeking to have his conviction overturned.

The case has been highly divisive, with some Catholics believing that Pell is innocent and that he has been unfairly treated by the media and the courts.

However, others have welcomed Pell’s conviction and have said that it is a sign that the Catholic Church is finally taking the issue of child abuse seriously.