AUSTRALIA
The Guardian

Australian Associated Press
Wednesday 25 November 2015

Cardinal George Pell says the Catholic church’s failure to deal with Melbourne’s paedophile priests was shameful.

Pell, now the Vatican’s financial chief, said church leaders had failed to address the conduct of abusers such as Father Peter Searson, but he has again defended his own handling of abuse complaints.

One of Searson’s victims, Julie Stewart, criticised Pell on the ABC’s 7.30 program on Wednesday for telling a Victorian inquiry there “might be” victims of the priest – who was never convicted of a sex offence, despite being charged with unlawful assault of an altar boy in 1997 and pleading guilty.

Years earlier, Pell had apologised to her for the abuse.

Pell was moved by Stewart’s courage and openness in giving evidence to the child abuse royal commission, a statement from the Vatican said.