AUSTRALIA
3AW
Victoria’s most senior Catholic is standing by Cardinal George Pell, dismissing calls for him to stand down over allegations he covered up the sexual abuse of children.
The backing of Archbishop Denis Hart comes despite one of the Pope’s commissioners for children protection abuse saying he must step down.
Let’s face it – there’s something of a crisis around the Catholic Church
Peter Saunders has described Cardinal Pell as being almost sociopathic.
But the Archbishop told Neil Mitchell now’s not the time for Cardinal Pell to be moved on, instead he must face the Royal Commission when it sits again in Ballarat .
“From what I understand Saunders’ perception is a second-hand perception that’s got to be weighed against all the work Cardinal Pell is doing for the church,” he said.
“I personally don’t believe he should be stood aside.”
“We’ve got to recognise George Pell has done a tremendous amount to set up practices to assist victims to deal with offending priests.”
But Archbishop Hart conceded the allegations of wrongdoing were harmful.
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