AUSTRALIA
The Australian
June 30, 2017
SAM BUCKINGHAM-JONES
JournalistSydney
Major international news outlets have reacted to news of the charges against George Pell, who has been accused of counts of sexual abuse.
In the US, The New York Times reported an “aide to the Pope” had been charged with sexual abuse. “It is rare for a cardinal, a prince of the church, to be accused of sexual abuse,” the newspaper wrote. “The case will test the credibility of Francis’s initiatives to foster greater accountability after abuse scandals that have shaken the church around the world.”
CNN reported that SNAP, the US-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, had released a statement lauding the decision. “We are always grateful and encouraged when law enforcement works hard to gather evidence to build a case against a powerful and influential man,” it said.
The Washington Post wrote that the charges were “one of the most significant indictments against a top-ranking leader of the Catholic Church”.
The US-based Associated Press called the charges a “stunning decision certain to rock the highest levels of the Holy See”.
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