AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald
June 4, 2015
Steve Lillebuen
Australia’s most senior Catholic clergy have endorsed George Pell’s handling of child sex abuse cases during the middle of a royal commission.
Seven Catholic bishops and archbishops have signed a statement backing Cardinal Pell, saying he was one of the first bishops in the world to set up a response to abuse in the church.
“He is a man of integrity who is committed to the truth and to helping others, particularly those who have been hurt or who are struggling,” said the statement, signed by two NSW bishops and five archbishops in Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Hobart and Canberra-Goulburn.
“His style can be robust and direct; he does not wear his heart on his sleeve. But underneath he has a big heart for people.”
Cardinal Pell, who is now based at the Vatican, has been accused of trying to bribe a survivor to keep quiet and ignore the child abuse reports of another during Ballarat hearings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
He has repeatedly denied the claims and has told the royal commission that he’s willing to return to Australia to give evidence when Ballarat hearings resume again later in the year.
The archbishops’ joint statement commended Cardinal Pell for how he’s handled criticism, saying he has acknowledged mistakes frankly, and apologised for them.
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