27 March saw the promotion of Melbourne Catholic Archbishop George Pell to head the Sydney diocese in what many liberal Catholics regard as a disaster for the church.

Former human rights commissioner Chris Sidoti, a Catholic, said the appointment would wind the church back to the Middle Ages and drive priests away.

Victorian Secretary of Independent Education Union Tony Keenan said of the appointment: "Sydney's gain is Melbourne's gain".

So what have Sydney Catholics got themselves into by appointing their new bishop, who is now  has dug up the dirt on the man set to become Australia's most powerful Catholic leader ...

THE GEORGE PELL-O-FILE

Nicknames:

"Pell Pot" (Herald Sun, 1 April 2001); "Bully Bishop" (Sydney Morning Herald, 27 March 2001)

Perceptions:

Archbishop George Pell is an outspoken opponent of supervised injecting rooms, euthanasia and IVF babies. He has been described as "an ambitious career cleric" and an uncompromising hardliner on issues such as women's ordination, pre-marital sex, artificial birth control, homosexuality, abortion and euthanasia. He dismisses drug addiction as a "sin" and criticised the Victorian Government's recent move to give gay and lesbian couples the same rights as married couples. God help Sydney's gay community come next year's Mardi Gras!

History:

2000 - Outraged gay activists by refusing to give communion to Melbourne gays wearing rainbow sash

2000 - Accused of being "evil" and "destructive" in his views towards gays in the church by high-profile Melbourne Catholic Michael Kelly

2000 - Angered feminist groups after criticising a Federal Court decision allowing single women access to in-vitro fertilisation programs.

2000 - Accused of "ram-rod conservatism" by NSW Catholic priest Father Ted Kennedy in his book, Who Is Worthy?

1999 - Attracted criticism after spearheading drive to introduce new Catholic School curriculum described by clergy as "return to Dark Ages"

1999 - Created public outcry after describing homosexuality as "greater health hazard than smoking"

1999 - Attracted criticism after announcing plans to spend $30 million creating mini Vatican in heart of Melbourne

1999 - Banned book Tomorrow's Catholic by Melbourne priest Father Michael Morwood resulting in Father Morwood resignation from priesthood after 29 years

1999 - Urged Catholics to vote for republic at national election which may have something to do with rival Anglican church being linked to monarchy (Queen heads Anglican Church remember)

1997 - Used church influence to have controversial picture Piss Christ removed from National Gallery of Victoria

1996 - Caused 5 teaching staff to resign after introducing controversial plans to reform Melbourne's Clayton campus

1996 - Appointed Melbourne Catholic Archbishop

1994 - Accompanied friend Father Gerald Ridsdale to court in what media described as "great error of judgment" after Ridsdale received 18-year jail term for sexual abuse of 21 children

1990 - Became member of Vatican's influential Congregation for Doctrine of Faith

1973 - Shared presbytery with Catholic priest and "friend" Father Gerald Ridsdale who in 1994 was dubbed Australia's most notorious pedophile after receiving record jail term for child sex abuse

1966 - Ordained following studies at Propaganda Fide College, Rome; gained Masters in Education (Monash University); attained PhD in Church History (Oxford University); attended St Patrick's College (Ballarat)

1941 - Born Ballarat, Victoria