AUSTRALIA
9 News
Cardinal George Pell’s decision to bring in the “big guns” to question victims of pedophile priests could pave the way for stronger grilling of senior church officials.
Cardinal Pell’s own legal team at the child abuse royal commission’s Melbourne hearing will cross-examine victims, in direct opposition to the Catholic Church’s stance that it will not question abuse survivors.
That was actually a good move as it meant Cardinal Pell would be cross-examined as well, victims’ group Broken Rites spokesman Wayne Chamley said.
Church officials were not cross-examined during the first public hearing into Ballarat abuse in May due to the church decision not to question victim witnesses, he said.
“Because there was that stand-off it meant no one was cross-examined including senior people, but this time round they’ll be cross-examined,” Dr Chamley said.
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