AUSTRALIA
The Guardian (UK)
Melissa Davey
theguardian.com, Sunday 17 August 2014
Cardinal George Pell introduced the Melbourne Response to sexual abuse cases in the Catholic church because victims were not being treated in a compassionate and consistent way, he will tell the royal commission.
The method of handling sexual abuse cases by the Catholic archdiocese of Melbourne was introduced in 1996 by Pell, the most senior member of the Catholic church in Australia. It is under review for the first time since its inception in 1996.
Pell, now the Vatican’s financial controller, will give evidence to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse via video link on Thursday. His argument was outlined on Monday morning by counsel assisting the commission, Gail Furness.
She said church lawyer Richard Leder and archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, would also give evidence about how the scheme operated.
Furness said the commission would scrutinise the appointment by the church of independent commissioners to investigate sex abuse allegations; a free counselling and professional support service provided to victims, known as Carelink; and the compensation panel which provided ex gratia compensation payments to victims.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.