GEORGE Pell Labels New Book on Sexual Abuse a "Character Assassination"

9 News
May 15, 2017

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/05/15/21/39/pell-labels-book-character-assassination

Allegations aired in a new book of sexual abuse by Australia's highest ranking Catholic official, George Pell, are nothing but "character assassination" says the cardinal.

The book, Cardinal: The rise and fall of George Pell, by ABC journalist Louise Milligan was released by Melbourne University Press on Monday.

"Each and every allegation of abuse and cover up against him is false. The book is an exercise in character assassination," a statement from Cardinal Pell's office issued on Monday night reads.

"The decision by MUP to bring forward the publication of the book prior to any findings by the Royal Commission and while allegations are still under consideration by the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions is a blatant attempt to interfere in the course of justice.

"Unlike MUP, the Cardinal will not interfere with the course of justice. He will await the outcome of due process before launching defamation action."

Milligan has covered the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse and last year interviewed two men who claimed they were abused by Pell in the 1970s, when he was a priest at Ballarat.

Her book details allegations of sexual assault by Pell against choirboys at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne in the 1990s.

The alleged abuse took place after Pell launched the Melbourne Response, an internal Catholic scheme for abuse victims.

Victoria Police in March delivered a brief of evidence concerning historical claims of sexual abuse by Cardinal Pell to prosecutors for consideration.