ABC News
July 10, 2008
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/10/2300569.htm
In response to mounting pressure the Catholic Church's most senior figure in Australia, Archbishop Cardinal George Pell, has referred the controversial matter of a sexual assault to a hand-picked panel.
ABC TV's Lateline program has aired a series of revelations over the past few nights, outlining contradictions and omissions in the way Cardinal Pell dealt with complaints from sexual assault victim Anthony Jones, a former religious education teacher.
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| Doubt has been thrown over Cardinal Pell's decision to dismiss claims of sexual assault. Photo by Mark Baker |
Last night Lateline revealed a recorded phone conversation in which Father Terence Goodall refuted any suggestion that a sexual encounter between him and Mr Jones was consensual, throwing further doubt over Cardinal Pell's decision to dismiss the claims of sexual assault.
Cardinal Pell has released a statement saying he has "formally referred the matters raised this week to an independent consultative panel established under Towards Healing protocols".
It states the panel - chaired by retired NSW Supreme Court judge Bill Preistley QC - will advise Cardinal Pell on the options open to him.
The panel consists of a senior priest as well as lay people from law, business and psychiatry.
Today federal Liberal frontbencher Tony Abbott, a prominent Catholic and friend of Cardinal Pell, said the current scandal over the sexual assault case is "unfortunate".
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