AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald
Ebony Bowden
The Australian Catholic Church has spoken in support of Cardinal George Pell, emphasising his contribution to the church and warning against a trial by media in the wake of sex abuse charges.
In a statement released after Victoria Police confirmed Cardinal Pell has been charged over historical sex abuse allegations, the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne defended the 76-year-old’s character.
Archbishop Denis Hart, who took over from Cardinal Pell as Archbishop of Melbourne in 2001, said he was “aware of the significance” of the decision to charge his predecessor but went on to highlight the work of the man who is Australia’s most senior Catholic figure.
“Cardinal Pell has been a friend and brother priest of Archbishop Hart for more than 50 years,” the statement read.
“The Archbishop is conscious of the Cardinal’s many good works which have been acknowledged both nationally and internationally.
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