George Pell to front court over abuse charges

By John Ferguson
Australian
July 24, 2017

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/george-pell-to-appear-in-melbourne-court-on-wednesday/news-story/f14b0e6e319f851b4d2b1049a96b606d

George Pell will appear in court on Wednesday.

Cardinal Pell, who does not have to appear, has decided to travel to Melbourne to appear on Wednesday before a magistrate in a case that will attract world interest.

The appearance will come after months of speculation about whether or not he would appear or, indeed, whether he would leave Rome.

The appearance has created a logistical nightmare for court officials with what is expected to be unprecedented interest.

Cardinal Pell stressed last month that he is innocent of charges of historical sex abuse and that he had taken leave from his Vatican post to fight what were multiple charges allegedly committed against multiple people.

Cardinal Pell, 76, has suffered from health issues which have limited his travel in Europe and forced a slow return to Australia.

Wednesday’s hearing in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court will be historic in its own way, making him the highest profile and most powerful Catholic ever to appear in a court in Australia charged with historical sex abuse offences.