Catholic Cardinal George Pell's appeal against his child sexual abuse conviction has been dismissed and he will remain in prison.
Pell was convicted in December of five charges over the rape of one 13-year-old choirboy and sexual assault of another at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne in 1996.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Victoria rejected the centrepiece of Pell's appeal in a 2-1 decision in Melbourne on Wednesday.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison said "the courts have done their job".
"They've rendered their verdict ... That's the system of justice in this country and that must be respected," he said.
The prime minister said Pell will be stripped of his Order of Australia.
"My understanding is that this [appeal loss] would result in the stripping of the honours that are decided externally to the government."
Asked if it's time for former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott to denounce Pell, Mr Morrison said "that's a matter for them".
Chief Justice Anne Ferguson and President Chris Maxwell were agreed in their decision, while Justice Mark Weinberg said he would have ordered Pell be acquitted.
"Cardinal Pell was successful in seeking leave to appeal in relation to the first ground — however, by majority, the appeal has been dismissed," Chief Justice Ferguson said.
She added, "Justice Maxwell and I accepted the prosecution's submission that the complainant was a compelling witness, was clearly not a liar, was not a fantasist and was a witness of truth".
The complainant ... was clearly not a liar Chief Justice Anne Ferguson
"We decided that there was nothing about the complainant's evidence or about the opportunity evidence which meant that the jury must have had a doubt about the truth of the complainant's account."
She also stressed Pell should not be seen as a "scapegoat".
"He is not to be made a scapegoat for any perceived failings of the Catholic Church, nor for any failure in relation to child sexual abuse by other clergy."
Sydney barrister Brett Walker SC, who led Pell's appeal, had argued the crimes were "impossible" as Pell's robes were too "heavy" and "cumbersome".
But Chief Justice Ferguson said "we found that the robes were capable of being manoeuvered in a way that might be described as being pulled to one side or pulled apart".
'A joyous moment'
Cheers were heard outside the court at the news.
Campaigner for abuse survivors Chrissie Foster told reporters it was "a joyous moment".
"It sends a message that [victims] will be believed. It's a crime that really is hard to prove because it's one word against the other - always has been. And rape is like that," she said.
Ms Foster has campaigned for justice for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse for many years. Two of her daughters were sexually abused by a Catholic priest, one who has since died.
"Here, we have, today in our court, in Victoria, the Supreme Court, saying - we believe the victim."
Other advocacy groups have also welcomed the news.
"Believing the victim in this case sends a message to so many other victims that what happened to you mattered and will now be more likely to be believed than ever before," a statement by the Blue Knot Foundation said.
"For many survivors a conviction being upheld against a high profile once powerful perpetrator underlines faith in the justice process and the possibility of speaking out."
Three justices heard Pell's appeal over two days in June.
Mr Walker argued three grounds to secure Pell's release or a retrial, including that the verdicts were "unsafe and unsatisfactory".
He was sentenced in March to six years in prison, to serve three years and eight months before becoming eligible for parole.
Evidence from prosecution witnesses showed Pell greeted parishioners after mass, when the offending was said to have occurred, so it was not possible for him to have committed the "atrocious" crime, Mr Walker said in the appeal.
"If [Pell] was at the western door, then the law of physics tells us this is literally, logically impossible for the offending to have occurred according to the complainant's account, and there is no other account," Mr Walker said.
The other of Pell's victims died in 2014, aged 31, from a drug overdose.
The boy's father, who is suing the priest and the Catholic Church, claiming his son's death was linked to his sexual abuse, confirmed on Tuesday he would continue his fight for compensation whether or not Pell was released from jail.
Chris Boyce QC told the appeal justices that the surviving boy, now aged in his 30s, had stood up to "one of the great old-style cross-examinations" with calm, reliable and credible testimony in last year's trial.
"He was a witness of truth," Mr Boyce said.
Those seeking information or support relating to child sexual assault can contact Bravehearts on 1800 272 831 or Blue Knot on 1300 657 380. Lifeline is available 24 hours a day on 13 11 14.
Additional reporting: AAP
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