George Pell critic Peter Saunders spoke only for himself, says Vatican spokesman

AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald

[with video]

June 2, 2015

Desmond O’Grady

Rome: The Vatican has said that abuse survivor Peter Saunders did not speak for the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors when he called on Pope Francis to fire Cardinal Pell over allegations the cleric helped cover up paedophile activity in Australia.

Mr Saunders said on Sunday Cardinal Pell was “a dangerous individual” and “almost sociopathic” in his response to child sexual abuse victims.

“I think anybody who is a serious obstacle to the work of the commission and to the work of the Pope in trying to clean up the church’s act over this matter, I think they need to be taken aside very, very quickly and removed from any kind of position of influence.”

Father Federico Lombardi, head of the Vatican press office, said on Monday that “Mr Saunders spoke for himself and not for the commission which does not investigate or judge individual cases”.

Nonetheless, Pope Francis’ attempts to reform the Vatican rely heavily on Cardinal George Pell, making the Australian a sensitive target of criticism within the Church leadership.

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