Vatican Observer Says Pope Would Not Protect Cardinal George Pell, Questions Abuse Commissioner's Accusations

ABC News
June 2, 2015

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-02/vatican-correspondent-says-pope-would-not-hesitate-to-take-acti/6513578

PHOTO: Cardinal George Pell will be called to appear at the next hearing of the royal commission later this year. (AAP: Joe Castro)

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MAP: Holy See (Vatican City State)

A leading Vatican observer has defended Pope Francis in the wake of accusations made against Australian Cardinal George Pell by a member of the Vatican's commission on child protection.

Peter Saunders, a survivor of abuse, appeared on Channel Nine on Sunday, calling Cardinal Pell's handling of abuse victims "almost sociopathic" and urging Pope Francis to take the "strongest possible action" against him.

However, America Magazine Vatican correspondent Gerard O'Connell said the calls were unwarranted.

He said Pope Francis would "not protect anybody" and would not hesitate to take action against Cardinal Pell.

"Pope Francis has made clear, there are no protected species," Mr O'Connell told the ABC's AM program.

"His words were that there are no daddy's boys in his pontificate.

"If you're a cardinal and you have done wrong, then you have to answer for it."

Mr O'Connell said Pope Francis would receive daily briefings on international news and would be aware of the inquiry into child abuse in Australia, including questions regarding Cardinal Pell's handling of abuse complaints.

He drew attention to the Pope's handling of Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who was forced to step down after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced.

"Cardinal O'Brien was accused of what was described as inappropriate conduct, sexual conduct with adults," Mr O'Connell said.

"And the Pope removed all his privileges; he cannot act anymore as a cardinal."

Pell a 'world leader' on sex abuse response: Archbishop

Cardinal Pell's longtime friend, Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart, this morning came to his defence, saying Cardinal Pell introduced the first system for dealing with child sex abuse within the Church.

"He was a world leader in this regard," Archbishop Hart said.

"He's made some mistakes and he has admitted them and apologised for them.

"But very clearly he comes across as someone who is totally dedicated to putting right this awful, awful scourge."

When questioned about Mr Saunders' description of the Cardinal as "cold-hearted" and "sociopathic", Archbishop Hart replied: "I think the description doesn't fit the man and it doesn't fit the constant steps that Pell has made in this area."

Archbishop Hart said he accepted victims of abuse at the hands of the Church had suffered "terrible trauma".

"I think it is totally appropriate that Cardinal Pell appear before the commission," he said.

"And I can understand that they [the victims] want the matter to be clarified and also they have suffered tremendously in a way that I find it hard to imagine.

"It's just so awful and lives are so destroyed that they want whatever can be done to help them to be able to be done."

Commission member spoke in 'personal capacity': Vatican expert

Mr O'Connell questioned media reports describing Mr Saunders as a close adviser of the Pope and said Mr Saunders had spoken in a personal capacity, not as a commission member.

"The commission does not have a spokesman ... he's one of 17 members of that commission and they do not deal with individual cases," Mr O'Connell said.

Peter Saunders says George Pell has a moral responsibility to appear at the royal commission.

PHOTO: Peter Saunders said George Pell was "cold-hearted" and "callous" towards victims. (Channel Nine)

"Their brief is very clearly to help him produce guidelines which he would then perhaps take on board to guide the bishops in different lands on protecting children.

"To say that he's the closest adviser of the Pope, as I've seen in some Australian media, is quite misleading."

Mr Saunders was appointed by Pope Francis to the new commission to protect children last year.

Mr O'Connell speculated that Mr Saunders had probably "met the Pope once or twice", but said it would likely have been as part of a group.

"There is no reason to think if he has very specific information that others don't have, that he could get that information to the Pope," Mr O'Connell said.

"I don't know where he is formulating his judgements from."

It was announced yesterday that Cardinal Pell would be called to the next hearing of the royal commission in Ballarat.

Cardinal Pell has previously stated he would be willing to appear if called.