Child abuse royal commission: Melbourne Archbishop defends George Pell, but admits bishops 'did not do enough' to remove abusive priests

By Danny Morgan
ABC News
November 30, 2015

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Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart after giving evidence in Melbourne.

The Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne has defended his predecessor, Cardinal George Pell, against allegations he did not properly follow up child sexual abuse complaints against priests.

Denis Hart has told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that during the 1980s and early 1990s senior bishops did not do enough to convince Archbishop Frank Little to remove priests who were molesting children.

Archbishop Hart said it was a complete failure of process on the part of the bishops.

"So that includes Archbishop, now Cardinal, Pell?" he was asked by counsel assisting, Gail Furness SC.

Archbishop Hart replied: "I would exclude him."

The commission had earlier heard Cardinal Pell, as an auxiliary bishop based in Melbourne in 1989, received complaints about paedophile priest Peter Searson.

Archbishop Hart was questioned on whether Cardinal Pell had done enough to follow them up.

"It's the case isn't it that the Auxiliary Bishop was part of a complete failure of process?" Ms Furness asked.

Archbishop Hart said: "He'd have to explain what he did and didn't know."

At one point the Archbishop was challenged on why he had not referred to a series of documents relating to Cardinal Pell's conduct in his statement to the commission.

Ms Furness: Why aren't they referred to in your statement?

Archbishop Hart: I'd say that's just an omission, that's all.

Ms Furness: A deliberate one?

Archbishop Hart: No

Ms Furness: Inadvertent?

Archbishop Hart: Inadvertent yes.

During his evidence, Archbishop Hart acknowledged having more women in senior positions within the church might have prevented the damaged caused by paedophile priests.

The commission was told just two of the 31 Catholic archdiocese in Australia have women in senior administrative positions.

Archbishop Hart said while the numbers were low, the advice of women was increasing sought by senior church officials.

"The movement may be glacial, but it is movement," he told the hearing.

The Archbishop also acknowledged criticism the Vatican tried to minimise the risk of scandal to the church by initiating a lengthy and complicated process to remove people from the priesthood.

"I would certainly respect that criticism. I know that the people I have been in contact with don't have that view, but I think it's a valid criticism," Archbishop Hart said.

"I would hope that replies from Rome would come more quickly because you've got a situation where you've stood a priest aside, there is a whole important question of protection of people, and you don't like to leave it in suspended animation."

Cardinal Pell is due to give evidence before the commission in mid-December.