Archbishops in shock as Pell charged

AUSTRALIA
news.com.au

JUNE 29, 2017

Perry Duffin
Australian Associated Press

Archbishops across Australia have expressed shock after Cardinal George Pell, a man they laud for his “integrity”, was charged with historical sexual abuse.

Cardinal Pell, the Vatican’s 76-year-old finance chief, was charged by summons on Thursday with several historical offences.

The accused cardinal announced he would fly back to Victoria to clear his name.

Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher, who succeeded Cardinal Pell in the role and has known him for almost three decades, says he’s shocked to hear about the charges against the “honest man”.

“The George Pell I know is a man of integrity in his dealings with others, a man of faith and high ideals, a thoroughly decent man,” Archbishop Fisher said in a statement.

He urged people to pray for truth and justice in the case and added no person should be prejudged because of their high profile, religious convictions or positions on social issues.

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