AUSTRALIA
9 News
New documents have revealed a conflict of interest between Cardinal George Pell and the experts he appointed to investigate child sexual abuse allegations in the church.
Cardinal Pell has claimed his discredited “Melbourne Response” to abuse within the church was a world-first in assisting and compensating victims – however he faces allegations the church sought to protect pedophile priests.
Never-before-published documents shown on 60 Minutes tonight suggest the response was not in fact “independent” and “compassionate”, but a smokescreen designed to protect the church at all costs.
As part of an investigation into claims of sexual abuse perpetrated by school priest Kevin O’Donnell at the Sacred Heart Primary School in Ballarat, Cardinel Pell named psychiatrist Richard Ball a key appointee.
Mr Ball, whose duty was to assess and treat victims of child abuse such as sisters Emma and Katie Foster, also happened to be the go-to expert witness used by lawyers to defend pedophile priests, including the very same priest who raped the Foster sisters, Kevin O’Donnell.
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