Abuse Victims to Travel to Rome to Hear George Pell’s Evidence

By Rachel Baxendale
The Australian
February 16, 2016

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Catholic Church sex abuse victims say that if Cardinal George Pell will not travel to Australia to give evidence at the child abuse royal commission, they will go to Rome to watch him testify.

Earlier this month, commissioner Peter McClellan accepted the evidence from the cardinal’s lawyers that a worsening heart condition would prevent the 74-year-old attending a third public hearing into Catholic Church authorities in Ballarat, which is due to begin in Sydney at the end of the month.

Cardinal Pell will instead give evidence via videolink from Rome, where he manages the Vatican’s finances.

A group of victims, including Andrew Collins, Anthony and Chrissie Foster, Paul Levey, Maureen Hatcher, David Ridsdale and Stephen Woods, yesterday called on the commission to ensure Cardinal Pell gives evidence under conditions as close as possible to an Australian court setting.

“While it was always preferable that Cardinal Pell appear in person, we accept the ruling of the commission and seek to move forward in the most equitable fashion possible,” the group said.

“Attending in person was an opportunity for the cardinal to ­ensure the evidence given was unambiguous and within a courtroom setting.

“It was also an opportunity to provide direct ­responses to the survivors of the crimes committed under the auspices of the Catholic Church.”