So this week Australians found out that Cardinal George Pell had been convicted
of sexually abusing two choirboys back when he was the Archbishop of Melbourne in the '90s.
He is the highest ranking member of the Catholic church to actually be convicted of child sexual abuse.
For Catholics right now, of course, the news is devastating
But we were particularly curious, this week, how young Australian Catholics feel.
Specifically, does it effect their faith?
First we've got Seb, Seb calls himself a "cradle catholic"
The Church is a huge part of his life and he thinks that
celibacy and the seal of confession should stay.
Then Sophia, Sophia believes in God but her faith in the Church has deteriorated
so much that she wouldn't be concerned if the whole thing just collapsed.
And then, there's Matthew, Matthew grew up in the underground Catholic church in Saudi Arabia.
But now he helps run a 'rainbow service' for LGBTIQ+ people in Sydney.
You grew up, kind of naive to all of this. You grew up where you had no idea
that all this was happening in the Catholic church. I'm so curious to know what it was like for you the
first time that you realised that this abuse was rife throughout the Church.
- It was only like four months ago - Right? Wow!
Well it made me think, I googled it, it made me think
of all these Priests that I've had or Brothers that I've had
good connections with and it's like "Where you grooming me?"
Were you like, touching me in a weird way?
It creeps me out that I was really, yeah, I was really naive.
I personally can't walk away, even in a time when it's become so difficult to stay.
I think that is sort of a true test of faith in God. But in terms of my faith in the Church that has really dwindled.
What it has led me to do actually, is try and strengthen my faith, actually.
If, as a Catholic, your focus is your relationship with our Lord, with Christ and I put all my hope in him.
I still believe that he created this institution, the Church as a sacramental sign of salvation for everyone.
Knowing that this abuse extends right up to the very top.