The Catholic church has lost a lot of credibility but offending has occurred in a range of government children's services, the Anglican church, sports coaches, male public school teachers, the Scouts, and close male family relative and friends which were all hotbeds of child sexual abuse in decades past.

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Not attending church, I see this phenomenon from the outside and try to figure it out. Many commentators seem to want the church out of the public square. Pell has been a conservative thinker unafraid to spread his mind. Furthermore he painted a huge target on his back in the eyes of the mainstream media when he published an essay refuting many of the beliefs of the climate change industry (dare I call it a religion?). In a sense, Pell wasn't being tried for what he had done, but for what he might have done.

So it wasn't a surprise he received an extra raking over by the mainstream media. But on the evidence presented, Pell should have never been convicted. There was a reason the prosecution didn't even try to refute the evidence given by multiple witnesses stating that Pell had no opportunity to commit the acts he was alleged to have committed

I am just so disappointed with the High Court's decision in the George Pell case.

I am an observant Catholic and a retired solicitor having practised for more than 40 years. The jury in Pell's second trial unanimously believed the victim. A majority of the judges in the Court of Criminal Appeal did likewise.

They believed him to be a witness of truth and stated that they did not experience a doubt having reviewed all the evidence. They characterised him as a compelling witness. Unfortunately, all High Court justices gave such weight to the evidence to the effect that Pell did not have an opportunity to commit the offences as to constitute a reasonable doubt.

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I believe that in the light of evidence of the compelling witness any doubt was not reasonable. It is noteworthy that the High Court made the assumption that the jury had assessed the complainant's evidence as thoroughly credible and reliable.

Insufficient respect has been shown to the jury. The jury is the lynchpin of our justice system. The seventh of April 2020 records a sad day for justice in Australia.

To quote Mahatma Gandhi: "There is a higher court than the courts of Justice and that is the court of conscience. It supersedes all other courts."

It's beautiful to read that Gay Harvey has had serious recognition for her work with hockey.

It's a sport where people mainly play, not sit and watch.

Gay has been brilliant in helping people enjoy a part of life that doesn't involve 9-to-5 hassles.

Congratulations Gay