Sex Abuse Royal Commission: Church Lawyers Urged to Challenge Victims" Claims against George Pell

By Jane Lee
The Age
May 21, 2015

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/sex-abuse-royal-commission-church-lawyers-urged-to-challenge-victims-claims-against-george-pell-20150521-gh6i4c.html

Cardinal George Pell: 'The conversation that Mr Green gave evidence of yesterday did not happen.' Photo: AP

The chairman of the royal commission into child sexual abuse has urged church authorities to challenge claims that former Bishop George Pell attempted to bribe a victim of clerical abuse and ignored the pleas of another.

Commission chairman Peter McClellan is expected to make a determination on the veracity of the explosive allegations against Cardinal Pell, and implored church lawyers to test the evidence put to the commission.

Disgraced priest Gerald Ridsdale outside court with then Archbishop of Sydney George Pell, in 1993. Photo: Geoff Ampt

Late on Wednesday night Cardinal Pell sent a statement from Rome to the royal commission, strenuously denying the allegations from survivors David Ridsdale and Timothy Green

Chairman of the commission Justice McClellan stressed that he expected Cardinal Pell to defend himself against the claims if he was arguing the witnesses had deliberately given false evidence or made a mistake.

"I need to confirm if it's not already plain that just because the church parties have chosen to conduct their case ... in a particular way and not ask witnesses questions is not a matter that we will have regard to when making any findings that we believe are appropriate to make when we complete our reports," said Justice McClellan.

The church's decision not to cross-examine witnesses or provide alternative recollections of past conversations "does not bind" the commission, he said.

Counsel assisting the commission Gail Furness, SC, tendered the statement and a letter from church authorities in evidence to the commission on Thursday: "[Cardinal Pell] says the conversation that Mr Green gave evidence of yesterday did not happen, and in respect of Mr Ridsdale ... [Cardinal Pell] says 'I have previously made a sworn denial of those allegations and I reiterate that denial.'"

The letter from lawyers acting for church authorities also said Cardinal Pell would make further formal statements when requested by the commission.

"We confirm that a statement of Cardinal Pell will be willingly provided once the Royal Commission issues a request in accordance with its established practice, identifying the topics it wishes Cardinal Pell to address," the letter said.

"The representatives of the church parties had not anticipated any need to depart from the principled decision that has been made not to cross-examine witnesses unnecessarily."

Calls for Cardinal Pell to appear in person are growing. Nicky Davis, leader of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests needed to answer questions.

"It is vastly inappropriate to respond to sworn evidence by courageous survivors with a media statement that callously dismisses their experience," said Davis in a statement.

"Cardinal Pell's decision to prioritise protecting his reputation above every other consideration in this way is insulting to survivors, the Royal Commission and the Australian public."

"If Cardinal Pell is at all genuine in his claims to recognise the seriousness of the crime of sexual violation of defenceless children, he would voluntarily return to Australia to give evidence under oath to the Royal Commission."