AUSTRALIA
SBS
AAP
Cardinal George Pell has again been put under the spotlight over clergy sexual abuse in Ballarat, this time during a royal commission public hearing.
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CARDINAL GEORGE PELL PELL IN BALLARAT
Ballart-born Pell, now the Vatican’s finance chief, was a priest in the Ballarat East parish from 1973 to 1983 and Episcopal Vicar for Education in the Ballarat Diocese from 1973 to 1984.
He presided over St Alipius primary school where four Christian Brothers were pedophiles and lived in a presbytery with Father Gerald Francis Ridsdale who was abusing boys at the school.
ALLEGATION HE ATTEMPTED TO BRIBE A VICTIM
Ridsdale’s nephew, David Ridsdale, said he told Cardinal Pell in 1993 he was abused by his uncle.
Mr Ridsdale told the commission Cardinal Pell, a family friend, asked him: “I want to know what it will take to keep you quiet.”
PELL SAYS:
“I was and remain extremely sympathetic to David Ridsdale who because of his uncle suffered horrible abuse. I continue to regret the misunderstanding between us.
“At no time did I attempt to bribe David Ridsdale or his family or offer any financial inducements for him to be silent.
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