The open secret

Cardinal Pell's conviction took place in December 2018 but could not be published in Australia because another trial in which Pell was the defendant had yet to be held. That case has now been dropped and the gag order lifted.

It's understandable that a gag was placed on Australian media, but to expect it to apply elsewhere must have been wishful thinking in this Internet age. Needless to say, many of us already knew that he'd been found guilty last December. In any event, the media let everyone know that an important personage had been found guilty of just such an offence.

The conviction is expected to be appealed, and it remains to be seen if the 77-year-old will spend most of the rest of his life behind bars.