AUSTRALIA
SBS
Allegations that Cardinal George Pell molested minors while he was a priest and the Archbishop of Melbourne are “without foundation and utterly false”, the Catholic Church says.
The Herald Sun newspaper on Friday reported that Victoria Police Sano taskforce is investigating the Cardinal for allegedly committing “multiple offences” while he was a priest in Ballarat and also the Archbishop of Melbourne.
Cardinal Pell began work as a priest in Ballarat after being ordained in 1966 and was Archbishop of Melbourne from 1996 to 2001.
In a statement issued from Cardinal Pell’s office on Friday night, the church says it is “outrageous” that the “undetailed” and “utterly false” allegations were brought to the Cardinal’s attention via media leaks.
It calls for those who leaked confidential information to face a public inquiry for trying to “do maximum damage to the Cardinal and the Catholic Church and undermine the work of the Royal Commission”.
The church statement refers to “Phillip Island allegations” which have been on the public record for nearly 15 years.
Cardinal Pell was cleared of allegations he molested a boy at a summer camp on Phillip Island in 1961.
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