CARDINAL Pell "Lightning Rod for Outrage"

9 News
November 21, 2015

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/11/22/03/33/cardinal-pell-lightning-rod-for-outrage

Cardinal George Pell has been described as a lightning rod for outrage and his third time before the child abuse royal commission will be no different.

Cardinal Pell, now the Vatican's financial chief, will return from Rome next month to give evidence to the commission's resumed inquiry into widespread abuse in the Ballarat diocese and to answer what he knew about offenders in the Melbourne archdiocese.

The former Ballarat priest's decision to hire lawyers to question abuse survivors, when the Catholic Church won't, has already attracted outrage despite both victims being willing to be cross-examined.

Another Ballarat victim, Stephen Woods, said Cardinal Pell returning as a witness was a step in the right direction but he would also put victims who had given sworn evidence in trials and to the commission through more trauma.

"He's never been in a situation where his whole life was traumatised," Mr Woods said.

"To have to justify themselves from years and years ago ... and now he's making us go to huge lengths. It's beyond belief that he could call himself a godly person."

Cardinal Pell has repeatedly denied claims by David Ridsdale, a nephew and victim of pedophile priest Gerald Francis Ridsdale, that he tried to bribe him to keep quiet, and by survivor Timothy Green that he ignored his complaint that schoolboys were being abused.

Cardinal Pell's office has said it is basic fairness, and part of the commission's procedural requirements, that he has an opportunity to test the evidence of witnesses who have made allegations about him.

Victims' advocacy group Broken Rites spokesman Dr Wayne Chamley said being cross-examined could be stressful for victims but he expected David Ridsdale would handle it.

"I can understand that a lot of them wouldn't go too well under cross-examination, but Ridsdale's nephew, he's very articulate. He's well educated. He won't crack under pressure.

Francis Sullivan, chief executive of the Catholic Church's Truth Justice and Healing Council, said it was important Cardinal Pell again answered the claims.

"We're talking about the years in which pedophiles were able to go about their crimes in such a way that we now are just horrified," Mr Sullivan said.

"Unfortunately, grave mistakes were made by church officials.

"The outrage that surrounds the whole scandal of child sexual abuse can easily be focused on individuals and personalities. The cardinal has a personality that is like a lightning rod for all sorts of outrage."

Cardinal Pell will also be questioned about his time as bishop of Melbourne's southern region from 1987 to 1996, when one of a string of abuser priests was in the Doveton parish.

The former Melbourne and Sydney archbishop and Ballarat priest has already appeared twice before the royal commission about other issues.