AUSTRALIA
The Age
Cardinal George Pell says he will give evidence to the Royal Commission into child sexual abuse if requested
May 27, 2015
Rania Spooner
Cardinal George Pell has promised to appear in person at the royal commission into institutional child abuse if asked, in a letter sent to the commission hours before a former housemate, notorious paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale, began to give evidence.
In a letter sent last night to the commission’s chair Peter McClellan, Cardinal Pell wrote of his full willingness to cooperate with its investigation.
“Without wanting to pre-empt the Royal Commission in any way – you can’t just invite yourself to give evidence – I want to make it absolutely clear that I am willing to give evidence should the Commission request this, be it by statement, appearance by video link, or by attending personally,” Cardinal Pell wrote.
“Like everyone else I am horrified by the accounts that survivors have given in their evidence during the Ballarat hearings, and at the enormous impact the abuse has had on them, their families and the community.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.