AUSTRALIA
Sky News
Cardinal George Pell is unlikely to again appear before the abuse royal commission despite child sex abuse victims’ calls for him to return from Rome to answer allegations against him.
Three other Catholic Church leaders will front the royal commission hearing in Ballarat, starting with Christian Brothers Oceania province leader Brother Peter Clinch on Friday.
But the indications are that Australia’s most senior Catholic figure won’t return from the Vatican to answer allegations about what he knew regarding widespread abuse by clergy in the Ballarat diocese.
Commission chair Justice Peter McClellan has made it clear that Cardinal Pell will have to answer the serious claims, some of which have been aired previously.
But it’s expected he will do that in a statement, rather than appearing in person.
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