Cardinal George Pell charged over child sex allegations, by Keith Moor And Shannon Deery, Herald Sun (June 28, 2017)

A DEFIANT Cardinal George Pell has addressed the world’s media from Vatican City, insisting he is innocent of sex offences and declaring: “They are false.”

Earlier today, Pell issued a statement in which he vowed to fight multiple sex offence charges relating to multiple complainants after becoming the most senior Catholic charged over such allegations.

Addressing the media in the Holy See Press Office in Vatican City, Pell said he looked forward to his day in court.

“These matters have been under investigation for two years. They have been leaked to the media, there has been relentless character assassination,” he said.

“I am looking forward finally to having my day in court. I am innocent of these charges, they are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.”

Pell said he would take leave from his top Vatican post, but flagged he would return to Rome following the trial, suggesting he had the support of the Pope.

“I’ve kept Pope Francis — the Holy Father — regularly informed during these long months,” he added.

“I have spoken to him on a number of occasions in the last week, I think most recently, a day or so ago. We talked about my need to take leave to clear my name.

“So I’m very grateful to the Holy Father for giving me this leave to return to Australia. I’ve spoken to my lawyers about when this will be necessary and I’ve spoken to my doctors about the best way to achieve this.

“All along, I have been completely consistent and clear in my total rejection of these allegations.

“News of these charges strengthens my resolve, strengthens my resolve. And court proceedings now offer me an opportunity to clear my name and then return here back to Rome to work.”

A spokesman for the press office of The Holy See in Vatican City said: “The Holy Father, who has appreciated Cardinal Pell’s honesty during his three years of work in the Roman Curia, is grateful for his collaboration and, in particular, for his energetic dedication to the reforms in the economic and administrative sector, as well as his active participation in the Council of Cardinals.

“The Holy See expresses its respect for the Australian justice system, which will have to decide the merits of the questions raised,” he added.

“At the same time, it is important to recall that Cardinal Pell has openly and repeatedly condemned as immoral and intolerable the acts of abuse committed against minors.

“He has co-operated in the past with Australian authorities, for example, in his depositions before the royal commission, has supported the pontifical commission for the protection of minors, and finally, as a diocese and bishop in Australia, has introduced systems and procedures — both for the protection of minors and to provide assistance to victims of abuse.”

The Herald Sun understands Pell has been charged with offending in the Ballarat suburb of Sebastopol between 1973 and 1976.

In 1971, five years after being ordained, Pell returned to Ballarat after studying at Oxford University.

For several months in 1973 he lived with notorious paedophile Gerald Ridsdale at the St Alipius presbytery in Ballarat East.

Cardinal Pell has been ordered to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 18.

Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said the choice to charge Cardinal Pell was one made by Victoria Police.

Lawyers for Cardinal George Pell have now appeared in a Melbourne court in relation to historical sex charges laid against him.

Soon after the police announcement, the cardinal’s lawyers appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in relation to the charges.

The matter will return to court on July 6. The case is also due to return to court for a filing hearing on July 26.

Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher issued a statement asking people to pray for the Catholic Church.

“I would ask everyone to pray for truth and justice in this present case, pray for our Church at this difficult time, and to continue your prayers for all those affected by sexual abuse,” he said.

He said Cardinal Pell had cooperated with parliamentary, royal commission and police investigations and ensured that clergy and church workers had done the same.

Archbishop Fisher said while the Archdiocese would assist with Cardinal Pell’s accomodation, as it would for any of its bishops or priests, it would not assist with Cardinal Pell’s legal bills.

“Many people will be shocked, as I have been, by the news that Victoria Police have issued

charges against Cardinal George Pell in relation to sexual abuse allegations,” he said.

“[The] George Pell I know is a man of integrity in his dealings with others, a man of faith and high ideals, a thoroughly decent man.”

Archbishop Fisher said victims should be listened to with respect and compassion and their complaints investigated and dealt with according to law.

“No-one should be prejudged because of their high profile, religious convictions, or positions on social issues,” he said.

“The justice and compassion we all seek for victims of abuse includes getting to the truth of

Two men who made allegations against the Cardinal this morning said they were “over the moon” that charges had been laid.

The decision to charge the Cardinal ends months of speculation and will have enormous implications for the Catholic Church here and overseas, with Cardinal Pell just a couple of rungs below the Pope on its hierarchy ladder.

Last month, the paper reported that the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) had returned the brief of evidence on Cardinal Pell to the police for a second time.

It recommended there was enough evidence to warrant the laying of charges, but said that it was a Victoria Police decision whether or not to do so.

The original brief of evidence had been returned by the OPP last August, without a recommendation on whether or not charges should be laid.

Officers from the force’s Sano taskforce then flew to Rome in October to put allegations to Cardinal Pell for the first time. Their dossier was updated after he agreed to be questioned by three Victorian detectives.

Cardinal Pell, the head of the Vatican’s finances, has repeatedly and vehemently denied allegations of any abuse, describing them as without foundation and utterly false.

Victorian Mental Health Minister Martin Foley said anyone facing charges needed to be given the presumption of innocence, “but what we also need to do is make sure we support those survivors”.

“That’s (George Pell) a matter for Victoria Police, issues of how this matter will be dealt with need to be treated very carefully,” Mr Foley said.

“We need to make sure that any person facing convictions or charges has the opportunity of presumption of innocence.

“If we want to make sure the interests of survivors of sexual assault by churches and other institutions are dealt with fairly, we need to let this process take its own course.”