Questions for Cardinal George Pell when he fronts the royal commission

By Jane Lee
Age
June 2, 2015

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/questions-for-cardinal-george-pell-when-he-fronts-the-royal-commission-20150602-gheqd8.html

David Ridsdale gave evidence to the commission. Photo by Simon O'Dwyer

Gerald Ridsdale at a court appearance in Warrnambool in 1994

Gerald Ridsdale outside court with George Pell in 1993.

Gerald Ridsdale giving evidence to the commission.

Ever since survivor witnesses told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that George Pell tried to bribe one, and ignored another's reports of abuse, calls have been growing for him to return from the Vatican to Australia to explain himself.

The Commission has now said it will ask Cardinal Pell to appear as a witness when it returns to Ballarat later this year, following his repeated assurances that he is willing to do so.  Below are some questions which Cardinal Pell may be asked when he does:

1. Did he attempt to bribe one survivor and ignore the child abuse reports of another?

Two survivor witnesses recounted to the commission conversations they had with George Pell about child abuse.

David Ridsdale, nephew and victim of disgraced paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale, said that he called Cardinal Pell to tell him about the abuse in February 1993. He said Cardinal Pell asked him: "I want to know what it will take to keep you quiet," which he took to be an attempt to bribe him.

Timothy Green, a former student of St Patrick's College in Ballarat said he approached then-Father Pell about widespread abuse at the school by Brother Edward Dowlan in 1974. He said Father Pell replied "don't be ridiculous" and left the room.

Cardinal Pell has repeatedly denied both claims over the years, saying he does not recall the conversations and would not have made such remarks. The commission is expected to make findings on both because they relate to the church's response to child sexual abuse.

Church lawyers declined to cross-examine both survivors on their accounts. This means they will rely on Cardinal Pell's own response to defend himself against them.

2. What was his involvement in moving serial child sex offender Gerald Ridsdale around to different parishes?

Ridsdale was moved to different parishes and church organisations around Victoria and in Sydney amid allegations of child sexual abuse, where he continued to abuse children over a number of decades.

The commission heard that George Pell was previously a member of the College of Consultors, a group of senior priests who advised former Ballarat Bishop Ronald Mulkearns on things including the appointment of priests. Minutes revealed he was present at least one meeting where the movement of Ridsdale was discussed.

Committee members typically discussed the reasons for moving priests to different parishes, the commission heard. Counsel Assisting the Commission, Gail Furness, SC, repeatedly asked witnesses how much the committee knew of abuse allegations and discussed them among themselves and other clergy. 

Cardinal Pell has repeatedly denied knowing children were being abused in Ballarat when he was there.

3. How much did he know about Ridsdale's abuse of children?

Cardinal Pell lived with Gerald Ridsdale at the St Alipius Presbytery in Ballarat for about a year in the early 1970s. Ridsdale accepted this but said he did not remember having any dealings with him at this stage. In 1993, he also accompanied Ridsdale to his first court appearance for child sex offences. Ridsdale initially denied, but later admitted he "must have" personally asked Cardinal Pell to do so.

Ridsdale was repeatedly asked about how close his relationship with George Pell was over the years, including how much he told him and other priests of his abuse of children. Counsel assisting the commission, Ms Furness once asked if Pell was at any stage his confessor. Ridsdale denied this and said he had never disclosed his sexual offending against children in the confessional.

4. Was he the priest alleged to have seen Ridsdale raping a child?

Another priest was present while Ridsdale raped a child in his bedroom at St Alipius Presbytery, between 1972 and 1973, the commission heard. The victim, who was about 10 years old at the time, told a court the priest was there for "a short time" during the sexual assault, and must have been aware of what was happening, but did not intervene.  

The only two other priests living in the presbytery at the same time as Ridsdale were Monsignor W McMahon and then-Reverend George Pell. Ridsdale accepted the child believed someone else was there, but when pressed, said he could only remember "Bill McMahon" living with him at the time.

5. Who did he visit while in Australia before the Ballarat hearing?

Cardinal Pell visited Ballarat in March while on holiday in Australia, weeks ahead of the Royal Commission's first hearing there. This included a visit to St Patrick's College, where much of the abuse discussed occurred at the hands of Edward Dowlan.

Commission chair Justice Peter McClellan quizzed Ridsdale about the concept of "mental reservation" - used to justify not telling the whole truth when answering questions - and then asked whether anyone had visited him between the Commissioners' private hearing with him on March 17, and the two-week public hearing in May.

Justice McClellan said the commission could access records of his visitors in jail in Ararat.