Cardinal Pell, Vatican finance chief, charged over historic allegations of sexual abuse

VATICAN CITY
National Catholic Reporter

Joshua J. McElwee | Jun. 29, 2017

VATICAN CITY
Australian police announced Thursday they are pursuing charges against Cardinal George Pell over allegations of historic sexual abuse against minors, bringing the decades-long clergy sexual abuse crisis directly to the Vatican for the first time and placing pressure on Pope Francis to oust one of his closest advisors.

“Police have charged Cardinal George Pell with historical sexual assault offenses,” Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton of the Australian state of Victoria announced. “Cardinal Pell has been charged on summons and he is required to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 18 this year for a filing hearing.”

“Cardinal Pell is facing multiple charges in respect of historic sexual offenses and there are multiple complainants relating to those charges,” Patton continued.

In a statement to journalists at the Vatican press office early Thursday morning, Pell said Francis had granted him a leave from his role as prefect of the Secretariat of the Economy to return to Australia and answer the charges against him.

“I’m looking forward finally to having my day in court,” said Pell. “I’m innocent of these charges. They are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.”

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