Cardinal George Pell formally asked to appear at Royal Commission

By Shannon Deery
Herald Sun
June 1, 2015

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/cardinal-george-pell-formally-asked-to-appear-at-royal-commission/story-fni0fiyv-1227378319462

CARDINAL George Pell has formally been asked to front the royal commission into child sexual abuse to answer allegations he was complicit in a widespread church cover-up.

Witnesses at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse have given evidence that the cardinal ignored reports of abuse, bribed a victim to keep silent and was involved in decisions to shuffle notorious paedophile Gerald Ridsdale between parishes.

He has repeatedly denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

The royal commission said on Monday it would ask the cardinal to appear later this year: “(We) received a letter from Cardinal Pell indicating that he is prepared to come to Australia to give evidence.

“The royal commission will ask him to give evidence in the second of the Ballarat hearings.”

Dr Pell spent more than a decade as a priest in Ballarat and was an adviser to Bishop Ronald Mulkearns, who has admitted mishandling the sexual abuse crisis in the diocese.

Cardinal Pell, who has faced two previous commission hearings, has repeatedly reiterated his willingness to appear again if asked to do so.

Also on Monday, a church spokesman said Cardinal Pell was seeking legal advice over comments by Peter Saunders, a British child abuse survivor and a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

Mr Saunders told Channel 9’s 60 Minutes Dr Pell’s treatment of abuse victims had been callous and cold-hearted, and his position was untenable.

Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart offered his predecessor support.

“Cardinal Pell has acknowledged that he has made mistakes,” Archbishop Hart said.

“My experience of Cardinal Pell, however, is that he has been willing to admit to and apologise for those mistakes.

“I hope all Australians who believe in a fair go will give Cardinal Pell the opportunity to answer the criticisms that have been raised … before drawing any final conclusions,” Archbishop Hart said.