Vatican Assures ‘guilty Will Be Punished’ As Cardinal Pell Urged to Front Sex Abuse Inquiry
news.com.au
THE Vatican has vowed to take a tough stance against anyone found guilty of child sex abuse or covering up criminal activity within the Catholic Church as Cardinal George Pell denies claims he sought to protect paedophile priests up to 40 years ago. In a lengthy personal statement yesterday the Australian Cardinal Pell claimed as false and misleading reports he attempted to bribe a victim of child sex abuse, ignored pleas for help or protect an accused paedophile. In his statement issued from his office in the Vatican, Cardinal Pell said he was preparing to make another formal statement to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse about the latest claims. The Vatican stood by their senior official but said anyone found guilty would be exposed and treated by law.
Church ‘has nothing to say’ “The Vatican position is clear, who is guilty will be punished,” a spokeswoman told News Corp Australia. “It will be Cardinal Pell himself that will decide if he wants to defend himself. The Vatican doesn’t have a position about these particular (claims). We have known about the sex abuses situation from the clergy for years and our position about it is clear from Pope Benedict XVI, John Paul II onwards and it is online on our website “In this specific situation I have nothing to say, the people that have been accused will have to defend themselves. In similar cases that have recently happened, the bishops that didn’t operate in the correct way at the time have been removed but this doesn’t mean that this will happen in this situation, I don’t know much about it, I don’t know how much is true or not true.”
Pleading ignorance Cardinal Pell did defend himself saying he too had been horrified by survivors’ accounts coming from the inquiry into child sex abuse. He sai?d ?yesterday ?he had addressed claims made against him in the past but felt he had to do it again after the latest hearings in Victoria from victim Timothy Green that allegations of clergy abuse by a brother at St Patricks in Ballarat were dismissed by Cardinal Pell in 1974. It was also alleged at the hearing that Cardinal Pell moved to relocate another clergy accused of abusing boys and attempted to bribe that priests’ alleged victim.
Pell’s defence “Over the last 24 hours I have been accused of being complicit in the moving of a known paedophile, of ignoring a victim’s complaint, and of bribery,” Cardinal Pell in his statement today. “These matters again require an immediate response and it is important to correct the record particularly given the false and misleading headlines. “Firstly, while out of the greatest respect for Mr Green, as I have stated previously, I have no recollection of a conversation with Mr Green in 1974, more than 40 years ago. Having recently read his statement to the Commission I still cannot remember Mr. Green or the conversation. To the best of my belief, this conversation did not happen. I stand by my previous statements.” On the second claim he attempted to bribe David Ridsdale, the nephew of paedophile Catholic priest Gerald Ridsdale, in 1993 and then moved the priest out of the parish never happened. “I was and remain extremely sympathetic to David Ridsdale who because of his uncle suffered horrible abuse,” he added. “I continue to regret the misunderstanding between us. At no time did I attempt to bribe David Ridsdale or his family or offer any financial inducements for him to be silent. At the time of our discussion the police were already aware of allegations against Gerald Ridsdale and were investigating. Then, and now, I supported these police investigations. I have previously made a sworn denial of these allegations and I reiterate that denial.”
‘Deepest sympathy’ He said he remained committed to the royal commission and would refrain from commenting publicly further as he anticipated being asked to provide another fuller statement to the inquiry. He concluded: “I have the deepest sympathy for the victims of abuse, their families and the community of Ballarat for what they have suffered. Once again, I will answer allegations and criticisms of my behaviour openly and honestly.” He said crimes committed against the boys by priests and brothers were “profoundly evil and completely repugnant to me.”
Memory mismatch In stunning evidence to the inquiry yesterday, Mr Ridsdale said he had a clear recollection when he told Cardinal Pell what had happened. He said Pell was not shocked and instead allegedly asked him what it would take for him to remain quiet. “George then began to talk about my growing family and my need to take care of their needs. He mentioned how I would soon have to buy a car or house for my family,” he said. “I remember with clarity the last three lines we spoke together. “Me: Excuse me, George, what the f**k are you talking about? “George: I want to know what it will take to keep you quiet. “Me: F**k you, George, and everything you stand for.” Ridsdale was subsequently charged with abuse. The lawyer representing the Catholic Church Peter Gray SC said Cardinal Pell would provide a statement if required. The hearings continue.
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