Child Sex-Abuse Charges Against the Pope’s Right-Hand Man Cast a Shadow Over Francis

ROME
The Daily Beast

BARBIE LATZA NADEAU
06.29.17

ROME—The Catholic Church’s lurid child abuse scandals have just hit home at the Vatican.
Australian Cardinal George Pell, the head of the Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy and the third highest ranking member of the church’s hierarchy, has been criminally charged with “multiple” acts of sexual violence against minors in Australia.

He is expected in court in Melbourne, Australia, on July 18 to face charges.

Pell, 76, told reporters during a briefing Thursday morning in Rome that he had spoken to Pope Francis and would “step aside” to “clear my name.”

Although this scandal has been building for some time, as reported last year in The Daily Beast, the charges were announced early morning Thursday in Australia, which prompted the Vatican to scramble a last-minute press briefing with Pell in Rome in an astonishing show of transparency.

“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,” according to Victoria police officials heading the investigation.

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