Father Bob Calls Tim Minchin Pell Song ‘A Cry From The Heart’

Catholic priest Father Bob Maguire has dropped a bombshell on Cardinal George Pell by supporting Tim Minchin’s ‘Come Home (Cardinal Pell)’ song calling it “a work of art” and “a cry from the heart”.

Minchin released the song last week and had an instant number one hit on iTunes with a song about child abuse and the cover-ups of the Catholic Church. While the Melbourne Archbishop immediately went into protection mode for Pell, Father Bob says, “Jesus would be on the side of the victims”.

Cardinal George Pell is the third highest ranking Catholic worldwide and a one time a potential Pope contender. He is currently being investigated by Victorian Police for allegedly sexually abusing five to 10 boys over a 40-year period. In 2014 The Vatican transfer Pell from his post as the Archbishop of Sydney to a new position as head of finances at the Vatican making him on of the most powerful Catholic clerics in the world.

In 2015, Pell made an unannounced trip to Australia to visit his old parish in Ballarat where many crimes by priests took place. It was only via a social media post when media were alerted that he was in the country.

He is due to give evidence at a Royal Commission in Australia next week but called in sick with a doctor’s certificate claiming he was too ill to fly.

Victims of the church were angered by the perceived lack of concern by Pell inspiring Australian comedian Tim Minchin to articulate their feelings in song.

Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart issued a press release saying he was “appalled at the manner in which Cardinal George Pell has been denigrated publicly this week” but South Melbourne priest Father Bob Maguire said it is a “work of art”.

“In this instance you break through with a cry from the heart and it needed to be done by somebody,” Father Bob told the ABC.

Father Bob says the church is putting its own needs ahead of its victims. “My clerical problem with my colleagues is that we have all been brought up with a triangular model,” he said. “There is 1% at the top and 90% at the bottom and we are in the middle somewhere. What do we do in a case like this? Do we rush to the defence of the top 1% or do we rush and offer support to the 99%?”.

While his superior Hart is waving the naughty finger at Minchin, Father Bob is all for Tim’s right to free speech and the many in which it was done. “Its art,” he said. “In a work of art, which is what Minchin was doing, it was a cry from the heart. The heart speaks another language from the mind.”

Father Bob knows he is in the minority within the Catholic Church. “I am a member of the clergy and I’ve got a little sneaky thing about “far go” and “don’t bushwhack George”. In the light of the enormity of the tragedy of the people who have been taken advantage of by clergymen in positions of trust I think that all other sentiments including team loyalty should fade into insignificance”.

Father Bob can easily justify his thinking. “Where would Jesus be? I’d say Jesus would be on the side of the victims,” he said.

Listen to what Father Bob has to say on ABC Darwin.