The Catholic Book Club discussion

2. How familiar were you about the facts of the prosecution of Cardinal Pell prior to reading this book? What new information did Prison Journal, Volume 1 The Cardinal Makes His Appeal add to your knowledge?

I was rather familiar by reading articles about his prosecution in Catholic online sites.

The diary allows us to get to know Cardinal Pell much more intimately than the press articles. I am enjoying it very much.

I didn't know much. I have a friend who is a priest and I remember that I one of our phone conversations he told be the story and was saying "this is outrageous... he is innocent!!!", so I was happy when I heard he was out of prison and back in Rome.

I am on "week 3" of the book and I am moved by his serenity and the way he offered all his suffering even to the point of writing "Deo gratias" when he was told how many people were attending Mass and coming back to the Church.

I was fairly familiar with his situation; a facebook friend who knew him personally was adamant that he was innocent, which led me to read about what he was accused of. Then when he was freed, I read the news reports.

I'm enjoying reading The Prison Journal and struck by his humility, both in his (mostly) patient acceptance of prison life and how simply he writes about his days there. He knew he was writing this journal for publication, and he includes things that are mundane and not flattering as well as his reflections on his Bible readings, football, etc. His simplicity and straightforward nature are so appealing!

Kristi wrote: "I'm enjoying reading The Prison Journal and struck by his humility, both in his (mostly) patient acceptance of prison life and how simply he writes about his days there."

I agree, I am enjoying his style of writing.

I wasn't at all familiar, didn't even know whether he was an innocent victim or a notorious public sinner!
I wasn't looking forward to reading the book but found it delightful.