AUSTRALIA
The Guardian
Melissa Davey
@MelissaLDavey
Tuesday 16 February 2016
Survivors of child sexual abuse are crowdfunding to send representatives to Rome to hear Australia’s most senior Catholic, cardinal George Pell, give evidence before a child sex abuse royal commission via video link from 29 February.
Earlier this month Pell was cleared to give evidence about child sex abuse that occurred within Ballarat parishes while he was an assistant priest at Ballarat East via video rather than in person. The chair of the royal commission into institutional responses into child sexual abuse, justice Peter McClellan, made the ruling.
Pell suffers from medical conditions related to hypertension and heart disease, which meant flying could be potentially dangerous, the commission heard.
The decision prompted the comedian and radio and television personality Meshel Laurie, who has spoken to survivors of child sexual abuse and their supporters, to launch a crowdfunding campaign.
She did so with support from Loud Fence, a support group for survivors of child sexual abuse in Ballarat religious institutions.
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