Vatican finance chief summoned to Australia child abuse inquiry

AUSTRALIA
Hurriyet Daily News (Turkey)

AFP

Vatican finance chief George Pell was called June 1 to give evidence at an inquiry into sex abuse as one of Pope Francis’ commissioners for the protection of children accused him of being “almost sociopathic”.

Formerly the top Catholic cleric in Australia, Cardinal Pell has become embroiled in the probe in his homeland which last week heard evidence from paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale, who abused at least 50 boys over two decades.

Pell, who accompanied Ridsdale to court in 1993 when he admitted widespread abuse, has repeatedly denied knowing about any of the offences, helping move the priest to another parish or that he tried to bribe a victim to keep him quiet.

That victim was his nephew, David Ridsdale, who alleged he confided in family friend Pell about the assaults and that he was asked by him what it would cost to buy his silence.

Other victims had demanded Pell, who was appointed by Pope Francis in February 2014 to make the Vatican’s finances more transparent, return to give evidence to The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

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