Pell "Unlikely" to Appear before Inquiry

Sky News
May 21, 2015

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2015/05/22/pell--unlikely--to-appear-before-abuse-inquiry.html


Cardinal George Pell is unlikely to again appear before the abuse royal commission despite child sex abuse victims' calls for him to return from Rome to answer allegations against him.

Three other Catholic Church leaders will front the royal commission hearing in Ballarat, starting with Christian Brothers Oceania province leader Brother Peter Clinch on Friday.

But the indications are that Australia's most senior Catholic figure won't return from the Vatican to answer allegations about what he knew regarding widespread abuse by clergy in the Ballarat diocese.

Commission chair Justice Peter McClellan has made it clear that Cardinal Pell will have to answer the serious claims, some of which have been aired previously.

But it's expected he will do that in a statement, rather than appearing in person.

The Vatican's finance chief will not appear in this three-week sitting of the Ballarat inquiry, although its investigation is ongoing and there will be a second public hearing at the end of the year.

Cardinal Pell and church lawyers say he will co-operate completely with the commission and willingly make a statement - once it has been requested.

The lawyers noted in a letter that the commission asked for statements from 10 church witnesses for the current hearing, which did not include Cardinal Pell.

Only three of the 10 church witnesses were asked to give evidence in person, the letter said.

The first will be Brother Clinch, who ahead of the hearing reaffirmed the Catholic order's apology to those who suffered abuse while in its care.

Ballarat Bishop Paul Bird and St Alipius parish priest Father Adrian McInerney will also appear in person.

Church counsel deliberately did not cross-examine survivor witnesses in the Ballarat hearing, saying to do so would almost inevitably exacerbate their distress.

But the letter said it does not mean that the church accepts every last detail of a survivor's recollection is accurate.

The lawyers say they may now seek to recall some survivor witnesses.

Cardinal Pell has again rejected claims he tried to bribe one victim to keep quiet, ignored complaints and was complicit in moving Australia's worst pedophile priest, Gerald Ridsdale, to a different parish.

The cardinal, who appeared before the royal commission twice last year, said he will fully address all matters in any statement it requests from him.

"Once again, I will answer allegations and criticisms of my behaviour openly and honestly," he said in a media statement.

Victim Paul Tatchell told the commission the buck stops with Cardinal Pell, who was a parish priest and Episcopal Vicar for Education in the Ballarat Diocese from 1973 to 1984.

[at: http:]