Cardinal George Pell Calls Catholic Church's Handling of Child Sex Abuse Complaints "Shameful"

ABC News
November 26, 2015

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-26/cardinal-george-pell-catholic-churchs-handling-abuse-complaints/6976336

PHOTO: Julie Stewart received $25,000 in compensation from the Catholic Church and an apology from then archbishop George Pell.

The Catholic Church's failure to deal with Melbourne paedophile priests is shameful, Cardinal George Pell has said in a statement from the Vatican.

Cardinal Pell, now the Vatican's financial chief, said church leaders had failed to address the conduct of abusers such as Father Peter Searson but had again defended his handling of abuse complaints.

Father Searson, who died in 2009, was never convicted of a sex offence.

One of his victims, Julie Stewart, criticised Cardinal Pell for telling a Victorian inquiry there may have been victims of Father Searson, after years earlier apologising to her for the abuse.

When questioned in 2013 by Victorian MP Frank McGuire, Cardinal Pell defended his actions in relation to Father Searson.

"No conviction was recorded for Searson on sexual misbehaviour. There might be victims," the official transcript said.

In an interview with the ABC's 730, Ms Stewart said she was deeply angered by the comment and that response prompted her to go to the royal commission.

"I was absolutely so angry ... and I thought 'let's get 'em'," Ms Stewart said.

In a statement from the Vatican, a spokesperson for Cardinal Pell said he was very moved by Ms Stewart's courage and openness in giving evidence to the child abuse royal commission.

"There is no inconsistency between the evidence provided by the Cardinal at the Victorian parliamentary inquiry and apology provided by Cardinal Pell to Ms Stewart," the statement said.

"The failure of church leaders to address the conduct of Peter Searson and other abusers is shameful and as the evidence at the Victorian parliamentary inquiry illustrates, was one of the main reasons why the Cardinal moved so swiftly to establish the Melbourne Response."

Cardinal Pell set up the Melbourne Response to handle abuse complaints in the archdiocese when he became Melbourne archbishop in 1996.

Ms Stewart received $25,000 in compensation from the church and an apology from the archbishop in 1998 after being indecently assaulted by Father Searson during confession in 1985.

Cardinal Pell told the Victorian inquiry two police investigations into Father Searson were inconclusive and the Catholic Education Office was never able to pin anything on him.

Asked about victims' views that during the period, the church's stance was "hear no evil, see no evil", Cardinal Pell said: "I think that is an objectionable suggestion, with no foundation in the truth."