Then they shook hands, and parted ways

With the release of a statement by the complainant "J" in the Pell case, we now have statements by both of the key players.

I would love to know how many of the words in the complainant's statements are genuinely his, because it does read very well.  I would expect there was at least some lawyerly help in drafting it.

But assuming it is a genuine reflection of his attitude, the funny thing is that both he and Pell are being pretty damn gentlemanly about the outcome.   Pell, who doesn't exactly give the impression of being a "life of the party" type anyway, seems to indicate no great bitterness over a period in which he got to be like a religious hermit;  J got to say that he accepts the court decision and respects the need for the criminal burden of proof being set high, and (in a key point that makes me think he is actually a good example to people who have encountered sexual abuse) says that "this case does not define me."  That attitude should actually please conservatives, who dislike the intense victimhood claims common in identity politics.

So, it is a very peculiar situation, where both of them are being pretty stoic and (seemingly) leaving it up to other people to hyperventilate about what happened.

If they can do that, so should those on the extremes of commentary about the case.

Update:   perhaps it is not clear where I am getting my sense of Pell's reaction.  Here it is, from Pell talking to a Catholic media outlet:

The cardinal told CNA that he had lived his time in prison as a “long retreat,” and a time for reflection, writing, and, above all, prayer.

“Prayer has been the great source of strength to me throughout these times, including the prayers of others, and I am incredibly grateful to all those people who have prayed for me and helped me during this really challenging time.”

The cardinal said the number of letters and cards he had received from people both in Australia and from overseas was “quite overwhelming.”

“I really do want to thank them most sincerely.”

In a public statement at the time of his release, Pell offered his solidarity with victims of sexual abuse.

“I hold no ill will to my accuser,” Pell said in that statement. “I do not want my acquittal to add to the hurt and bitterness so many feel; there is certainly hurt and bitterness enough.”