AUSTRALIA
news.com.au
CARDINAL George Pell has vehemently rejected allegations he sexually abused minors, after a Melbourne newspaper reported he has been under investigation.
The Herald Sun claims Victoria Police Sano taskforce has a collection of documents alleging Cardinal Pell committed “multiple offences” while he was a priest in Ballarat and also the Archbishop of Melbourne.
A statement issued from Cardinal Pell’s office states “the allegations are without foundation and utterly false”.
In the statement, the Catholic Church says the timing of the leaks is “clearly designed to do maximum damage to the Cardinal and the Catholic Church and undermine the work of the Royal Commission”.
The claims have not been raised with Cardinal Pell by police, but have instead come to his attention via media reports, it states.
The statement refers to the “Phillip Island allegations” which it says are “outrageous” and “clearly designed to embarrass the Cardinal”, despite being available on public record for nearly 15 years.
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