AUSTRALIA
The Age
February 19, 2016
Liam Mannix
Reporter
Cardinal George Pell has vehemently denied allegations that he sexually abused minors while a priest in Ballarat and as Archbishop of Melbourne.
The Herald Sun’s report on Friday evening claims Cardinal Pell is being investigated by Victoria Police’s Sano taskforce for committing multiple offences, by “both grooming and opportunity”.
The report claims police have spoken to “numerous” alleged victims as part of their year-long investigation.
Victoria Police declined to comment on the report.
In a statement released by the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, Cardinal Pell attacked the report and what he claimed was a leak from within Victoria Police which had been timed “to do maximum damage to the Cardinal and the Catholic Church”, and which undermined the work of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
“The allegations are without foundation and utterly false,” the Cardinal’s statement said.
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