AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald
Chris Vedelago, Cameron Houston, Nino Bucci, Rachel Browne, Melissa Cunningham
The call that plunged the Catholic Church into one of its worst crises in a generation came in the early hours of Thursday morning in Rome.
Cardinal George Pell – Australia’s highest ranking Catholic and one of the most powerful figures in the Vatican – had been charged with historical sex crimes, the culmination of a two-year investigation by Victoria Police.
Within hours, Cardinal Pell fronted the global press in Rome to proclaim his innocence, lambast those who leak to the media, and announce he was standing aside to return home to fight the charges.
“I am looking forward, finally, to having my day in court,” he said. “I am innocent of these charges; they are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.”
The cardinal repeatedly condemned the “relentless character assassination” he said he had been subjected to since news of the police investigation became public, and that the laying of charges “strengthens” his resolve to clear his name.
He is set to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court late next month, charged on summons.
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