AUSTRALIA
The Age
May 28, 2013
Lawrence Money
Journalist
”Building on the past” says the sign outside Victoria’s Parliament House. It refers to renovations to the old grey edifice but, on this overcast Monday afternoon, it could almost have applied to the proceedings inside as Cardinal George Pell attempted to explain the inexplicable sins of yore – systematic paedophilia by Catholic priests.
Pell, who last month was basking in the glory of an appointment to a Vatican panel on leaked documents, was this time a Daniel walking into the lions’ den – the state parliamentary inquiry into child abuse – and the inquisitorial team had a full set of teeth. ”Were you a Pontius Pilate, washing your hands of the problem?” asked MP Frank McGuire. Pell denied it and, while one curious member of the media Googled ”Pilate” on his laptop, the cardinal pointed out that he had attended at least ”three meetings of victims”.
The savaging continued. Had Pell ”supported” the notorious priest Gerald Ridsdale in a court case where they walked out of the courtroom together? Pell admitted he had been there but would not have called it ”support” and besides, he not realised the implications at the time.
And no, he confirmed that he had never gone to court to support any victims – but none had ever asked him. Suddenly, there were echoes of Rupert Murdoch at the hacking inquiry when the cardinal volunteered a declaration of profuse regret: ”I am fully apologetic and absolutely sorry.”
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