AUSTRALIA
Bendigo Advertiser
By RENEE THOMPSON Sept. 21, 2014
PARISHIONERS at Bendigo’s Sacred Heart Cathedral were greeted with a confronting scene when departing Mass on Sunday.
Banners and petitions were wielded by fellow Sandhurst Diocese parishioners calling for Cardinal George Pell’s sacking over the Catholic church’s handling of child sex abuse claims.
The small group, who have taken part in wider protests against Cardinal Pell in the past, decided to hold the protest in the Sandhurst Diocese following recent comments made by its Bishop Leslie Tomlinson, who they say used language to defend Cardinal Pell in a letter he distributed last week.
St Mary’s of Mooroopna parishioner Catherine Dooley said Cardinal Pell’s response to the church’s handling of child sex abuse claims reflected a church more interested in protecting its reputation than children.
She said Bishop Tomlinson’s recent comments in particular had served to make it clear “more energy” was given to protecting clergy than protecting victims.
“It is very affronting they continue to put out this clerical propaganda,” she said.
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