Support NeoGAF

[Arkeband]

Taken from Tim's website:

Cardinal George Pell is the most powerful dude in the Catholic Church of Australia. He’s currently working at the Vatican, but The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has demanded his presence in Australia.

But George has sent a doctor’s note saying he’s too unwell to fly.

The whole thing stinks to high hell, and many people in Australia are very, very angry…not least of all, the survivors in Ballarat, where abuse was sickeningly rife.

Pell was born and educated in Ballarat, and at one point actually lived with Gerry Ridsdale, one of the most prolific (and allegedly protected) paedophiles in Australian history. He has been accused of covering up the actions of others, and of sexually abusing a kid himself.

The church in Australia (like elsewhere in the world) knew of the actions of many of their priests, and rather than going to the police, shuffled them from diocese to diocese, facilitating their abuse rather than arresting.

The idea that Pell was unaware of the behaviour of Ridsdale (and others) is laughable to me.

The song can be found here.

Proceeds from the song's sale and GoFundMe will go to help clerical abuse victims fly to Rome to confront Cardinal Pell in person.

From http://www.smh.com.au/national/come...a-punch-and-a-few-abuses-20160216-gmvvy9.html:

Minchin has pledged that the proceeds from the controversial song's sale will go to the gofundme page set up to help clerical abuse victims fly to Rome to front Cardinal Pell in person.

Set up by Meshel Laurie and Gorgi Coghlan, hosts of The Project, the crowdfunding has already raised $63,260. But on Tuesday, The Project's guest host broadcaster Steve Price could find no charity for Minchin.

He said the entertainer's song was "disgusting".

"Obviously, Tim Minchin feels really strongly about that, but I just think it is really disgusting the way he is resorted to personal abuse of George Pell," Price said.

"He has called him a coward, scum and a buffoon.

"Now this guy is most senior Australian Catholic in the world, he is a Cardinal, regardless of what you make of it.

"To use your talent to just simply abuse someone from a distance, I think it is pathetic."

However, the song has garnered a lot of support on social media, with listeners commending Minchin for standing up to the church.

I've been following Tim for years and have always found his atheism and critique of organized religion to be more about raising awareness of the abuse of power that mankind inevitably takes advantage of with these kinds of institutions. The fact that this song is pretty funny and well composed for having thrown it together in a day just adds to its brilliance.

 

[uncleniccius]

Really good.

I really like him, and good on him to do this.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

"But he's a Cardinal, regardless of what you think!"

Pathetic little shit. (The fella who said that, not Tim)

 

[Slightly Live]

Brilliant song. Brilliant cause.

 

[munchie64]

That song is pretty damn good. Hopefully it helps.

But man Steve Price is a real piece of shit.

 

[Mistle]

That song is pretty damn good. Hopefully it helps.

But man Steve Price is a real piece of shit.

Yeah, his only good moments on the project are when everyone else is making fun of him.

Also Tim Minchin is such a great songwriter. Even without the messages, he can write an interesting and catchy tune. Been wanting to see the Matilda play he wrote.

 

[wonzo]

this owns

 

[OricWindstar]

Didn't even know about this situation. Love Tim Minchin.

 

[H.Protagonist]

Saw this on The Project. Great song, the message keeps needing to be said, and great cause.

Wasn't surprised Steve didn't like it, but his anger over Tim's lyrics was really funny. That "scum" and "coward" should bother him so much. Anyway, don't agree with Steve on a great many things, this included, of course, but still good to have him on panel for that perspective (as hilarious/weird as it can be sometimes).