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	Pell Denies Priest Abuse Cover-Up NEWS.com.au July 8, 2008 http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23987720-29277,00.html [with video] THE head of the Catholic Church in Australia, Cardinal George Pell, has rejected claims he tried to cover up allegations of sexual abuse involving a priest. Admitting the matter was cause for embarrassment as he prepared to welcome the Pope to Australia on Sunday, the Archbishop of Sydney today said he would not be standing down over the allegations aired on ABC television last night. ABC's Lateline said a 2003 letter from Dr Pell gave misleading information to Anthony Jones, who alleged Father Terrence Goodall abused him in 1984. The letter from Dr Pell 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 abuse claims were substantiated. Another letter from Dr Pell, signed the same day, reportedly informed a second man his abuse claim against Father Goodall had been substantiated. Dr Pell today said "the letter to Mr Jones was badly worded and a mistake". But he said it was not a cover-up. "There was no cover-up," he said. "The accusations against Father Goodall were investigated by the church and the police and Father Goodall was stood down. "Church authorities fully co-operated at every stage." Dr Pell said the church hired Howard Murray, a former police officer with extensive experience in sexual abuse crimes, to assess the allegations of both complainants. "I accepted everything in the report, including the description of the behaviour, except that I did not believe that there was sufficient evidence to say it was rape - that it was not consensual," he said. Among the factors he considered were that Mr Jones was 29 at the time of the incident and Fr Goodall "all along insisted that it was consensual". "My judgment was validated in the criminal court. The prosecutors made no allegation of rape. He was convicted under the old laws which made homosexual activity a crime," Dr Pell said. He acknowledged today that he had made an "overstatement" in his 2003 letter dismissing Mr Jones's abuse claims. "That was an innocent error," Dr Pell said. "I accepted all these findings (of the internal investigation), including the homosexual behaviour, but I found evidence of rape insufficient." The archbishop said civil claims by Mr Jones were resolved "by mutual consent" in the Supreme Court two weeks ago. "My offer to provide help to Mr Jones is still on the table," he said. Dr Pell said that at one point Mr Jones was asking for $3.5 million, a claim he labelled "a bit excessive". Another church representative told reporters victims of sexual assault by church members were offered counselling and compensation, typically between $10,000 and $200,000.
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