ROME
CBS News
ROME — Australian police have charged Cardinal George Pell with multiple counts of “historical sexual assault offenses,” making him the highest-level Catholic Church official ever to face such charges.
In the elite group of cardinals — the so-called “princes of the church” Cardinal Pell was at the very top, reports CBS News correspondent Seth Doane. Pell has been a close advisor to Pope Francis, so when news of the charges broke Thursday morning, it rocked the church to its core.
The 76-year-old cardinal was reflective but forceful in remarks he gave Thursday, railing against what he called almost two-years of “relentless character assassination.”
“I’m looking forward to finally having my day in court. I’m innocent of these charges. They are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse to me is abhorrent,” insisted Pell.
Australian police did not provide any details of the multiple charges of sexual assault against him.
Cardinal Pell has been in charge of reforming church finances, but for years he’s faced allegations that he failed to properly deal with clergy sex abuse in Australia.
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