Abuse survivors expect Pell to disappoint

By Lloyd Jones
Australian
February 29, 2016

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/abuse-survivors-expect-pell-to-disappoint/news-story/5a48e50ba605f0685cd6930f6e4ff01c

Abuse survivors expect Pell to disappoint

Cardinal George Pell has tied a ribbon at the Vatican in support of sex abuse victims, but Ballarat abuse survivors expect he'll still put the church before victims when he testifies to a royal commission.

A group of survivors and supporters have travelled to Rome to hear the senior Australian cleric's testimony at the elegant Quirinale Hotel from Monday (Australian time).

Cardinal Pell will be questioned over three to four days about what he knew of historic pedophile activity by priests when he served in Ballarat and Melbourne.

The Ballarat-born churchman, now in charge of the Vatican's finances, has asked to give evidence by video link from Rome because of a heart condition that prevents him travelling to Australia.

On the eve of his testimony it emerged he had tied a yellow ribbon at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens in support of Loud Fence, a movement supporting abuse victims that started in Ballarat and spread worldwide.

"This is my gesture of support, especially for the people of Ballarat," Cardinal Pell said in a statement.

"I hope the coming days will eventually lead to healing for everyone."

In Rome on Sunday, Ballarat survivors welcomed the gesture, but said they wanted to see Cardinal Pell follow it up with strong words in support of victims during his testimony.

Andrew Collins, who was abused from the age of seven in Ballarat, said he would like to see the cardinal lay out what the church knew and when, and admit it did things wrong.

"Unfortunately, I think he will continue to say, `I don't recall, I don't remember' and to put the welfare of the church before the welfare of the people the church has hurt," he told AAP in Rome.

The 47-year-old said his survivor group was not on a witch hunt, but on quest for truth to ensure such abuse never happened again.

Mr Collins said Cardinal Pell was a powerful figure in the church and had could make changes to put victims first.

"If he did the right thing, we'd applaud the man, we'd hug him, we'd say `thank you'."

Cardinal Pell served in Ballarat between 1973 and 1984, presiding over a primary school where four Christian Brothers were pedophiles and living in a presbytery with Australia's worst pedophile priest, Gerald Ridsdale, in 1973.

Paul Levey, who was abused from the age of 12 by Ridsdale, said he found it hard to believe that Cardinal Pell didn't know what Ridsdale was up to when the pair had been so close.

Wearing a bright red T-shirt bearing the slogan "No More Silence", Mr Levey told AAP he had attended other royal commission hearings and seen priests and bishops "trip up on their evidence".

But the 47-year-old believed Cardinal Pell would not be open and would "make people dig for his answers".

"I believe he's very arrogant and he'll stand his ground. He won't be as silly as the others and say `I cant remember, I cant recall'."

Mr Levey said he wanted the cardinal and the church to admit they "failed and let down their followers".

The supporters group in Rome has requested an audience with the Pope, but have yet to hear back.