George Pell to Face Abuse Inquiry Grilling on Alleged Cover-ups

By Tessa Akerman
The Australian
June 2, 2015

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Cardinal George Pell will appear before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, opening the way to his being interrogated over what he knew about systemic child abuse in western Victoria.

Cardinal Pell has stated his willingness to appear before the commission and the inquiry confirmed he would be asked to give evidence in the second hearings at Ballarat later this year.

The first set of hearings at Ballarat heard evidence Cardinal Pell was present at a meeting where the transfer of pedophile Gerald Ridsdale from the Mortlake parish was approved.

Cardinal Pell has already appeared twice before the royal commission and this week released a further statement saying “he has never condoned or protected offenders, has never condoned or participated in moving known offenders”.

Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart yesterday issued a statement in support of Cardinal Pell. “I know Cardinal Pell to be a good man, an honest man, a man of the church who loves Aus­tralia,” he said.

Peter Saunders, chosen by the Pope six months ago to be the Catholic Church’s commissioner for the protection of children, said Cardinal Pell’s position in the church had become “untenable”.