|
George Pell faces questions on Ballarat abuse claims
By Tessa Akerman
Australian
May 21, 2015
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/george-pell-faces-questions-on-ballarat-abuse-claims/story-fngburq5-1227361893711
Cardinal George Pell is facing another demand for answers from the child-sex royal commission after further evidence alleging he was told directly of wrongdoing in the Ballarat diocese but did nothing to intervene.
Cardinal Pell has previously denied this claim by abuse survivor Timothy Green, when it was made at the trial of pedophile Christian Brother Edward Dowlan. Mr Green told the commission yesterday he said to Cardinal Pell in 1974 words to the effect of: “We’ve got to do something about what’s going on at St Pat’s.”
He said he told Cardinal Pell — now Australia’s most powerful Catholic — that Dowlan was touching little boys and Cardinal Pell said “don’t be ridiculous” and walked out.
The nephew of notorious pedophile Gerald Ridsdale, David Ridsdale, also told the commission he went to Cardinal Pell, who was a family friend, to tell him about the abuse he suffered from his uncle.
Mr Ridsdale said he called Cardinal Pell in February 1993 to discuss his abuse and the cardinal’s first reaction allegedly was, “oh, right”. “There was no shock,” he said. “His tone then became terse relatively quickly and I could sense anger in his voice.”
|