Archbishop of Melbourne Defends George Pell over Calls for Him to Stand down

3AW
June 2, 2015

http://www.3aw.com.au/news/archbishop-of-melbourne-defends-george-pell-over-calls-for-him-to-stand-down-20150602-ghencj.html

The backing of Archbishop Denis Hart comes despite one of the Pope's commissioners for children protection abuse saying he must step down.

Peter Saunders has described Cardinal Pell as being almost sociopathic.

But the Archbishop told Neil Mitchell now's not the time for Cardinal Pell to be moved on, instead he must face the Royal Commission when it sits again in Ballarat.

"From what I understand Saunders' perception is a second-hand perception that's got to be weighed against all the work Cardinal Pell is doing for the church," he said.

"I personally don't believe he should be stood aside.

"We've got to recognise George Pell has done a tremendous amount to set up practices to assist victims to deal with offending priests."

But Archbishop Hart conceded the allegations of wrongdoing were harmful.

"I would certainly agree that the whole awful episode of sexual abuse, the things emerging from Ballarat, are terribly horrifying and they do harm the Church," Mr Hart said.