BishopAccountability.org
	"I Doubt Pell's Sincerity': Jones By Tonia Moorton Northern Star August 15, 2008 http://www.northernstar.com.au/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3781885 ABUSE victim Anthony Jones has received confirmation from Cardinal George Pell that an internal investigation into how his claims were handled has begun. The 54-year-old disabled pensioner, who lives near Nimbin, was sexually assaulted in 1982 by Fr Terence Goodall. The leader of the Catholic Church in Australia, Cardinal Pell, has denied trying to cover up allegations of sexual abuse against Fr Goodall. When the allegations against Fr Goodall were investigated by the church and police, the priest was stood down. In a personal letter to Mr Jones dated August 6, Cardinal Pell apologised for a letter that was sent to the then 29-year-old Jones that stated he was the only victim of Fr Goodall. This was later proved to be untrue. "Following up on what I said after the press conference, I have sought advice from my advisory on professional standards," Cardinal Pell wrote. "I have asked the committee to advise me on an appropriate formal response to you. That committee has now had its first meeting and I am expecting their advice within a few weeks. "I will communicate with you again as soon as I receive that advice. I wish to restate that I am happy to meet with you if that is your wish. "Also, pending the recommendations of my advisory committee, I have asked the chancellor of the archdioceses, Fr John Usher, to make himself available to speak with you if you feel that a conversation with him would be helpful." Mr Jones said he was still not convinced of Cardinal Pell's sincerity. "He wrote that he wanted to meet with me, but he doesn't want to debate the facts or discuss the issues," Mr Jones said. "It is still a cover up in operation." Recently, Cardinal Pell's lawyers told Mr Jones he could lose his house if he pursued legal action against the church. In June, in a letter sent to Mr Jones' solicitor Peter Karp, John Dalzell, of law firm Corrs Chambers Westgraph, representing Cardinal Pell, writes: "Unless he succeeds against our client on all components of his claim ... he is likely to remain liable for a substantial sum of money." Later in the letter Mr Dalzell says: "In light of your client's impecuniosity (meaning a lack of money), and absent substantial recovery and set-off, he will be unable to meet the taxed proportion of those costs without selling his homestead." In the letter, Mr Dalzell says Cardinal Pell was prepared to walk away from the case without pursuing costs against Mr Jones, if Mr Jones would drop the case, which he did.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.