ROME
Sydney Morning Herald
[with video]
March 2, 2016
Rachel Browne
Social Affairs Reporter
Cardinal George Pell regrets not doing more to protect young boys from a paedophile Christian Brother working at a Catholic school in Ballarat in the 1970s, a royal commission has heard.
In the third day of his testimony, Cardinal Pell admitted he had heard about “problems” at St Patrick’s College from one or two students.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has heard the “problems” related to Brother Edward Dowlan, who was later convicted of multiple sexual offences against boys between 1971 and 1986.
Cardinal Pell told the commission he spoke to the school chaplain about Dowlan but took no further action.
“In the light of my present understandings, I concede I should have done more . . . just ensured the matter was properly treated,” he said.
When asked by counsel assisting the royal commission Gail Furness SC, why didn’t make further investigations he replied: “One, I didn’t think of it and when I was told that (the Christian Brothers) were dealing with it, at that time I was quite content.”
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