Cardinal George Pell Won’t Be Asked to Stand down from Vatican Post, Church Insiders Say

By Shannon Deery
Herald Sun
July 29, 2016

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George Pell will not be asked to stand down from his powerful Vatican post while a police investigation into alleged child sex offences continues, church insiders say.

But the cardinal could be forced to step aside if the alleged abuse is reported to the church’s internal Towards Healing scheme.

There have been calls for the cardinal, who works closely with Pope Francis as the Vatican’s finance chief, to stand down this week following explosive allegations he fondled two boys while swimming with them in the 1970s.

Cardinal Pell has emphatically denied the allegations.

Victoria Police has not ruled out laying charges as a result of the investigation but are awaiting advice from the Office of Public Prosecutions.