AUSTRALIA
Sky News
Cardinal George Pell’s denials of wrongdoing at the child abuse royal commission are a defence by media release – not testimony – a survivors group says.
Nicky Davis, leader of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, says Cardinal Pell must appear before the commission to answer claims against him.
Survivors told the commission’s Ballarat hearings Cardinal Pell ignored their reports about clergy sex abuse.
‘It is vastly inappropriate to respond to sworn evidence by courageous survivors with a media statement that callously dismisses their experience,’ Ms Davis said on Thursday.
‘If Cardinal Pell is at all genuine in his claims to recognise the seriousness of the crime of sexual violation of defenceless children, he would voluntarily return to Australia to give evidence under oath to the royal commission.’
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