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	Pell Denies Covering up Sex Abuse By Barbara Miller ABC July 8, 2008 http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2297304.htm TONY EASTLEY: Australia's highest-ranking Catholic, Cardinal George Pell, says he did not try to cover-up the offences of a Catholic priest more than 25 years ago. Cardinal Pell is facing tough questions this morning about the way in which he dealt with allegations against a priest accused of sexual abuse. The ABC's Lateline program has obtained documents raising the issue of whether Cardinal Pell may have knowingly misled a sex abuse victim. Cardinal Pell says there was no attempt to mislead the man - he says he made a mistake in the wording of the letter and has apologised for any confusion. Barbara Miller has our report. BARBARA MILLER: Yesterday the Archbishop of Sydney's main worry was trying to calm the outcry over special security regulations brought in for World Youth Day. Cardinal George Pell described that controversy as a storm in a tea cup. He's unlikely to be able to use that term for the problem he's facing today. The ABC's Lateline program has obtained documents which have raised the question of whether he knowingly misled a man who alleged he'd been abused by a Catholic priest. The incident took place in 1982 when the man, Anthony Jones, was in his late 20s. Mr Jones, a religious education co-ordinator, met the Sydney priest Father Terence Goodall and ended up in a swimming pool with him. ANTHONY JONES: The water wasn't that deep so I crouched down so that the water was up to my shoulders and then the next moment, hands come around from behind me and a hand goes down into the speedos that I had been loaned by Father Goodall and he began to fondle my penis. BARBARA MILLER: Anthony Jones says he managed to get away, but afterwards in the presbytery Father Goodall pushed him down on the bed and rubbed his erect penis against him. Twenty years later Anthony Jones reported the matter to the church. The church investigated, and in 2003 Cardinal Pell wrote to Anthony Jones saying a report by the investigator Howard Murray had recommended his allegations of inappropriate behaviour be found to be substantiated. But: (Extract from letter written by Cardinal Pell) READER: "As no other complaint of attempted sexual assault has been received against Father Goodall and he categorically denies the accusation, Mr Murray was of the opinion that the complaint of attempted aggravated sexual assault can not be considered to have been substantiated". BARBARA MILLER: However documents obtained by Lateline show that on the same day, Cardinal Pell wrote to another man who said he'd been abused by the same priest as a young boy. The Cardinal wrote: (Extract from letter written by Cardinal Pell) READER: "After examining all of the material, Mr Murray provided me with a report in which he recommended that the complaints of inappropriate behaviour with altar boys and of indecent assault of you, when a young boy be found to be substantiated". BARBARA MILLER: Anthony Jones says it was wrong of Cardinal Pell to tell him that no other complaint of sexual assault had been received against Father Goodall. He says Cardinal Pell misrepresented the truth. Cardinal Pell has responded to the Lateline story in a statement released overnight. (Extract from statement written by Cardinal Pell) READER 2: "The letter to Mr Jones was badly worded and a mistake in an attempt to inform him there was no other allegation of rape. However I signed both letters of February, 2003 mentioned in the ABC's Lateline program and any fault in the drafting was mine". BARBARA MILLER: The statement goes on to say that there was no attempt to mislead Anthony Jones. Cardinal Pell then apologises to Mr Jones for any confusion caused. But Broken Rites, a group established to help victims of church-related sexual abuse, says the case highlights a wider problem. Chris McIsaac is the group's President: CHRIS MCISAAC: It is quite shocking. It doesn't surprise me though because we have complaints all the time about the church's process but it shows - this case - shows the great weakness of the process. It is left to each individual Bishop or church authority to deal with matters and what their decision, is the end of the line for victims. BARBARA MILLER: After receiving the letter from Cardinal Pell on the church's investigation, Anthony Jones took his case to court. In 2005, Father Terence Goodall was convicted of indecent assault against Anthony Jones. TONY EASTLEY: Barbara Miller reporting.
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