AUSTRALIA
7 News
Cardinal Pell has strongly denied all allegations he ‘sexually abused minors’ during his time as a priest in Ballarat and when he was Archbishop of Melbourne in an explosive new report.
According to the Herald Sun, Victoria police are investigating allegations Cardinal Pell sexually abused minors by “both grooming and opportunity’’.
The Cardinal released a statement on Friday evening stating that the allegations were intentionally damaging.
“The timing of these leaks is clearly designed to do maximum damage to the Cardinal and the Catholic Church and undermines the work of the Royal Commission.
“The allegations are without foundation and utterly false.”
The statement claims the information was leaked through the media in a way to purposefully ’embarrass’ the Cardinal.
“He strongly denies any wrongdoing. If the police wish to question him he will co-operate, as he has with each and every public inquiry.”
The Cardinal is now calling for a public inquiry to be conducted ‘in relation to the actions of those elements of the Victorian Police who are undermining the Royal Commission’s work’.
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