By Michelle Cazzulino
The Daily Telegraph
July 09, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23990767-5001021,00.html
A DEFIANT Cardinal George Pell has rejected claims he tried to cover up allegations of homosexual abuse involving a priest.
Calling the publication of the claims - just days before Pope Benedict arrives in Australia - an "embarrassment", the Archbishop of Sydney yesterday said he would not stand aside over the matter, nor would he be involving the Vatican.
The claims arose following the publication of a 2003 letter in which Cardinal Pell allegedly gave misleading information to Anthony Jones, who said he had been abused by Father Terrence Goodall in 1984 when he was aged 29.
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| Defiant ... Cardinal George Pell |
Dr Pell's letter reportedly told Mr Jones his allegations had not been substantiated, and the church had not received any other complaints against Father Goodall.
However, an internal church investigation had found the claims were authentic. Another letter from Cardinal Pell reportedly told a second man his abuse claim against Father Goodall had been substantiated.
Yesterday the Cardinal said his letter to Mr Jones had been, "badly worded and a mistake" but he had not tried to cover it up.
"The accusations against Father Goodall were investigated by the church and the police and Father Goodall was stood down," he said.
But Mr Jones accused Cardinal Pell of being "deceitful" and said he should resign, before dismissing as irrelevant any apology to clergy sex abuse victims that the Pope might make during his Australian visit.
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