Tim’s provocative Come Home implores the Cardinal to “just get on a plane” and come back to front the Royal Commission into Institutional Response to Child Abuse.
Australia’s top-ranking Catholic cleric is due to appear via video link at the commission to give evidence about child sex abuse that occurred within his parishes.
Victims were hoping that the Cardinal’s medical condition would improve so he could appear in person, but were recently told he was too unwell to make the flight from Rome to Melbourne.
News of his no-show prompted Tim to release his controversial track, with proceeds from its sale to go to a GoFundMe campaign to help abuse survivors from Ballarat travel to Rome to attend the hearing.
If the Cardinal gives evidence in a private inquiry on February 29, the campaign promises to instead channel the funds raised into a Ballarat healing centre for survivors.
Tim’s song has clearly touched a nerve. Even before it’s official release the GoFundMe page had raised more than $84,000 in 24 hours, easily surpassing its goal of $55,000.
But The Project’s guest host broadcaster Steve Price didn’t feel so generous towards the movement after the song was aired on the show.
“Obviously, Tim Minchin feels really strongly about that, but I just think it is really disgusting the way he has resorted to personal abuse of George Pell,” Price says.
“He has called him a coward, scum and a buffoon.
“Now this guy is the 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.”
