Greens have anti-religion agenda, says George Pell, by Sam Buckingham-Jones, Australian (February 09, 2017)

Cardinal George Pell says the Greens are “anti-religion” and have pulled an “obvious political stunt” in calling for his return to Australia to assist police and prosecutors who are reviewing allegations against him.

In a statement released overnight, Cardinal Pell responded through a spokesman to a motion by the Greens accusing him of avoiding allegations of misconduct.

“The Greens have opted for an obvious political stunt while knowing full well Cardinal Pell has consistently co-operated with the Royal Commission and the Victorian Police,” a spokesman from Rome said.

“The suggestion that Cardinal Pell should be accountable for all the wrong doings of Church personnel throughout Australia over many decades is not only unjust and completely fanciful but also acts to shield those in the Church who should be called to account for their failures.”

The spokesman pointed to Cardinal Pell’s “decisive” actions to bring about change in the church.

“The Greens would be well aware of the Cardinal’s decisive actions to address the evils of abuse and the changes he has implemented in the Church over 20 years ago,” he said.

“Their anti-religion agenda is notorious and most fair minded Australians would see this motion as pathetic point-scoring.”

Last week, the Herald Sun reported the brief of evidence compiled by detectives from the SANO Task Force, which investigated allegations Cardinal Pell abused up to 10 boys between 1978 and 2001 while a priest in Ballarat and an archbishop of Melbourne, had been delivered to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration.

Greens Senator Rachel Siewert last night called on Cardinal Pell to cooperate with police.

“The evidence to the Royal Commission on child sex abuse has been harrowing and showed a systemic problem far worse than many could imagine,” she said.

“We know that the Victorian police now have allegations of criminal misconduct against Cardinal Pell. It is time he came back to Australia to assist with investigations on this matter.

“Cardinal Pell has done a very good job at avoiding a return to Australia. I urge the Cardinal to consider the view of the Senate and return to Australia as soon as possible”.

The statement, and motion, comes as the final round of public hearings into the Catholic Church takes place in Sydney, as part of the ongoing Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.