AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald
November 7, 2012
Eamonn Duff, Nick Ralston
FIVE Catholic priests quit the council of the elite St John’s College last night as the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, George Pell, and the Premier, Barry O’Farrell, voiced their disgust over the initiation ritual scandal.
Mr O’Farrell said he would consider changes to the Saint John’s College Act 1857. “I will not allow the behaviour of a few to tarnish the global reputation of the University of Sydney,” he said.
“While any changes would need to be approved by cabinet, I am more than willing to work with Cardinal Pell in his efforts to reform the college’s culture.”
Cardinal Pell said he no longer had confidence that the council was able to fix the problems within the elite college at the university.
The mass resignation of the five priests from the 18-person council has left it powerless to continue to govern. Cardinal Pell called on the government to change the laws governing St John’s in a move that could mean the church cedes sole control of the 150-year-old institution.
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