AUSTRALIA
eNCA (South Africa)
AUSTRALIA – Fear of scandal prompted the cover-up of child sex abuse allegations within the Catholic Church, Australia’s top-ranking Cardinal George Pell admitted Monday.
Pell, speaking at an inquiry by Victoria’s parliament into child sex abuse in the state, denied being personally involved in the cover-up of paedophile priests, but said it was clear it happened.
“The primary motivation would have been to respect the reputation of the church,” he told the inquiry into the abuse of children by religious and non-government bodies.
“There was a fear of scandal.”
Pell, one of eight cardinals selected by Pope Francis to advise him on reforming the Catholic Church’s opaque administration, was speaking on the final day of the probe.
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