AUSTRALIA
The Age
May 22, 2015
Marissa Calligeros
One of Victoria’s most senior Catholic priests has called on Cardinal George Pell to return from the Vatican to front the royal commission into child sexual abuse.
The commission is sitting in Ballarat this week as it investigates the church’s many failings in recognising and dealing with the sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests and clergymen in the Victorian town dating back to the 1960s.
Geelong’s Father Kevin Dillon said Cardinal Pell should return to Australia to answer allegations he tried to bribe one abuse victim to keep quiet, ignored complaints and was complicit in moving a notorious paedophile priest to a different parish.
“Given the enormous focus on Ballart, given the enormous impact of all this, it would be helpful … for the Cardinal to return to face questions in person,” Father Dillon said.
“Certainly, the widespread public opinion seems to be that the issue will be determined the best if he were to return.”
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