George Pell Meets Ballarat Sex Abuse Victims in Rome

By Jacquelin Magnay
The Australian
March 4, 2016

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/george-pell-meets-ballarat-sex-abuse-victims-in-rome/news-story/208718c206b6bd176f2ebc6d34eb1d76

[with video]

Cardinal George Pell stood in a busy Rome street vowing to help Ballarat survivors establish a national research centre to advance healing and improve protection of survivors.

The cardinal made the commitment after meeting a group of survivors who had travelled to Rome to hear him give evidence to the child abuse royal commission.

Cardinal Pell said it had been a sometimes emotional meeting and it was agreed to explore the possibility of establishing a research centre in Ballarat to “enhance healing and improve protection”.

“I am committed to working with these people from Ballarat and surrounding areas,” he said. “I know many of their families and I know the goodness of so many people of Catholic Ballarat; the goodness that is not extinguished by the evil that was done.”

A clergy victims speak to the media after meeting Cardinal Pell. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

Numerous media crews from Italy and Europe had descended on the Hotel Quirinale to hear the Cardinal’s address, as it was highly unusual for a Vatican official to speak about clergy abuse.

Cardinal Pell said: “One suicide is too many, and there have been many such tragic suicides. I commit myself to working to try and stop this so that suicide is not seen as an option for those who are suffering.

“I too despite separation of distant want to make Ballarat a model and better place of healing. I support work to feasibility of research centre to advance healing and improve protection.”

Cardinal Pell pledged to help sex abuse victims.