Church Denies Pell Present during Claim

NEWS.com.au
October 11, 2012

http://www.news.com.au/news/church-denies-pell-present-during-claim/story-fnehlez2-1226493817289

Cardinal George Pell at St Mary Cathedral. Picture: Pellegrini

THE Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has rejected an allegation that Cardinal George Pell was present when an abuse claim was made against a now-jailed Christian Brother.

The Victorian government's inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious and other organisations has been told Cardinal Pell was present when a grade three student at a Ballarat school in the 1960s described to another priest what happened to him.

But the Archdiocese of Sydney released a statement on Thursday saying the claims are "irresponsible, untrue and are absolutely rejected".

"As Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Pell does not usually comment on religious life in Victoria and does not plan to comment on the activities of the Victorian parliamentary inquiry," the statement said.

"It is however necessary to respond to recent reports about a false and seriously misleading allegation contained in a submission to the inquiry."

The allegation relates to a student at St Alipius school in Ballarat who was raped by principal and teacher Christian Brother Robert Charles Best in 1969.

Best was last year convicted of 27 offences against 11 schoolboys including two rapes, and jailed for 14 years and nine months.

Solicitor Dr Vivian Waller, who has represented hundreds of sexual assault victims alleging abuse by religious clergy, said in her submission to the inquiry the victim went to the St Alipius presbytery and asked to speak to George Pell but he refused.

But she said George Pell was present when the victim described to another priest what had happened to him.

The Archdiocese said in its statement that Cardinal Pell was not a priest appointed in the Diocese of Ballarat at the time alleged in Dr Waller's submission.

He was ordained a priest in 1966 in Rome, then continued his studies, travelling to Oxford in 1969 where his studies continued, it said.

Cardinal Pell returned to Australia in 1971 and worked at Swan Hill in the Diocese of Ballarat, the statement said.

In 1973, he received his second appointment as a priest in East Ballarat.

"In any event, Cardinal Pell was never present when any allegations of rape were made by a victim against Brother Best."

The Archdiocese said Cardinal Pell's postings from the early 1960s were well documented and could have easily been checked by Dr Waller.

"Factually incorrect submissions may well distract and mislead the inquiry in the important work it is undertaking," it said.