George Pell a man of integrity insist Australia bishops

By Tessa Akerman
Australian
June 3, 2015

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/george-pell-a-man-of-integrity-insist-australia-bishops/story-fngburq5-1227381846261

Australia’s bishops have defended George Pell in a joint statement.

The Archbishops of Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart and Canberra-Goulbourn have issued a joint statement in support of Cardinal George Pell.

The Archbishops, as well as the Bishop of Broken Bay Peter Comensoli and Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney Bishop Terence Brady have stated Cardinal Pell is “a man of integrity,” who is committed to the truth.

Cardinal Pell has come under fire following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse hearing in Ballarat last month.

The inquiry was told Cardinal Pell tried to bribe a victim of pedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale to keep quiet and dismissed another abuse victim’s complaint as ridiculous

Abuse survivor Timothy Green told the royal commission he spoke to then Father Pell in 1974 about Christian Brother Edward Dowlan touching boys at St Patrick’s College in Ballarat.

“Father Pell said ‘don’t be ridiculous’ and walked out.”

BISHOPS’ STATEMENT

David Ridsdale, the nephew of Australia’s worst pedophile priest, said that after he told Cardinal Pell in 1993 about the abuse at his uncle’s hands, the Cardinal, a family friend, asked him in a phone call; “I want to know what it will take to keep you quiet.”

BRENNAN: It doesn’t help to condemn Pell

The Royal Commission also heard Cardinal Pell was present at a Ballarat diocesan consultors meeting which approved Rdisdale’s transfer from the western Victorian parish of Mortlake where he had offended against children.

The seven Archbishops and Bishops say they know Cardinal Pell well from working with him and that he is committed to the truth and to helping others, particularly those who have been hurt or who are struggling.

“His style can be robust and direct; he does not wear his heart on his sleeve.

“But underneath he has a big heart for people,” they wrote.

The Archbishops and Bishops said they appreciated Cardinal Pell’s “strong and unfailing support” for the royal commission and his constant readiness to assist the commission whenever he is asked to do so.

“Cardinal Pell was one of the first bishops in the world to put in place a comprehensive Church response to investigate allegations of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy and to provide survivors with redress and counselling.

“He has responded to criticisms that have been made of his handling of these matters over the years, acknowledged mistakes frankly, and apologised for them.”

Absent from the joint statement was the Archbishop of Adelaide Philip Wilson who last month pleaded not guilty to concealing child abuse by a fellow priest.