“George Pell takes leave from Vatican to fight sexual abuse charges in Australia”, The Guardian
Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Rome and Melissa Davey in Melbourne, 29 June 2017
Pope Francis is facing the biggest crisis of his papacy after the third highest ranking official in the Vatican, Cardinal George Pell, was accused of sexual abuse charges in his native Australia.
Police in Australia announced on Thursday that charges for multiple sexual offences were served on Pell’s legal representatives in Melbourne and that he had been ordered to appear in court on 18 July.
“Cardinal Pell is facing multiple charges … and there are multiple complainants,” Victoria police’s deputy commissioner Shane Patton said. The charges were “historical sexual assault offences”.
Pell announced at a press conference that he was innocent of the charges and that he was taking a leave of absence in order to return to Australia and “clear his name” following a recent discussion of the matter with the pope.
The Vatican’s chief spokesman, Greg Burke, released a statement that was supportive of Pell, citing the cardinal’s “honesty” and the church’s respect for the Australian legal system. The statement did not include any reference to the alleged victims in the case and neither Pell nor Burke responded to questions about the alleged victims following a joint appearance to read their statements to the press.
In the statement, Pell offered up a robust defence of his actions and claimed he was a victim of a witch hunt.
“There has been relentless character assassination for months … I am looking forward finally to having my day in court, I am innocent of these charges, they are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me,” Pell told reporters at a televised press conference.
“I’ve kept Pope Francis, the Holy Father, regularly informed during these long months and have spoken to him on a number of occasions in the last week, most recently a day or so ago.
“All along I have been completely consistent and clear in my total rejection of these allegations. News of these charges strengthens my resolve and court proceedings now offer an opportunity to clear my name and return back to work.”
Pell is the highest-ranking Vatican official to be charged in the Catholic church’s long-running sexual abuse scandal which has claimed thousands of victims and has taken place in countries around the world.
The news, which broke in the middle of the night in Rome, represents a big test for Francis, who has come under fire from advocates of abuse victims for not doing enough to respond to the long-running abuse crisis.
Vatican watchers suggested on Thursday that the tone of the Vatican’s statement, which emphasised the historic nature of the charges, the fact that Pell was an advocate for survivors, and his “honesty”, indicated that Francis was not waivering from his support of Pell.
The pope has repeatedly claimed that the church ought to have zero tolerance for sexual predators within the church or those who protect them. But his record on abuse issues is seen as poor by victims’ rights advocates. Two abuse survivors who were appointed by Francis to a new commission to tackle sexual abuse have resigned or been forced to leave, a reflection they said that the issue was still not being taken seriously inside the church.
Until recently Australia almost uniformly had laws that gave victims of child sexual abuse two years to report the allegations. But after recommendations from the royal commission into institutional responses to child sex abuse, Victoria introduced laws to abolish time constraints in 2015.
There is now no time limit on reporting injuries resulting from the sexual or physical abuse of a minor in the state.
Pell, a staunch conservative, and Francis sit on opposite ends of the church’s ideological spectrum, including on issues like the need to tackle global warming. But the two are aligned on another important issue: reform of the church’s opaque economy. Much like Francis himself, Pell has garnered enemies within the Vatican curia who oppose his calls for more transparency in the church’s finances. He has been able to remain in his senior position in thanks to the pope’s support.
The Vatican on Thursday expressed “regret” for the “news of charges filed in Australia against Cardinal George Pell for decades-old actions that have been attributed to him”.
The statement added: “Having become aware of the charges, Cardinal Pell, acting in full respect for civil laws, has decided to return to his country to face the charges against him, recognising the importance of his participation to ensure that the process is carried out fairly, and to foster the search for truth. The Holy Father, having been informed by Cardinal Pell, has granted the cardinal a leave of absence so he can defend himself …
“The Holy Father, who has appreciated Cardinal Pell’s honesty during his three years of work in the Roman Curia, is grateful for his collaboration, and in particular, for his energetic dedication to the reforms in the economic and administrative sector, as well as his active participation in the council of cardinals.”
The Vatican statement “expresses its respect for the Australian justice system that will have to decide the merits of the questions raised” but added: “At the same time, it is important to recall that Cardinal Pell has openly and repeatedly condemned as immoral and intolerable the acts of abuse committed against minors; has cooperated in the past with Australian authorities (for example, in his depositions before the royal commission); has supported the pontifical commission for the protection of minors; and finally, as a diocesan bishop in Australia, has introduced systems and procedures both for the protection of minors and to provide assistance to victims of abuse.”
In Melbourne, Victoria police’s deputy commissioner Shane Patton said there were multiple complainants. It is not clear which allegations the charges relate to.
Ninety minutes after the charges were announced, Pell confirmed through the Catholic archdiocese in Sydney he would return to Australia as soon as possible “to clear his name”. In a statement issued at 4.30am Rome time, said: “Although it is still in the early hours of the morning in Rome, Cardinal George Pell has been informed of the decision and action of Victoria police. He has again strenuously denied all allegations.
“Cardinal Pell will return to Australia, as soon as possible, to clear his name following advice and approval by his doctors who will also advise on his travel arrangements.
“He said he is looking forward to his day in court and will defend the charges vigorously.”
The cardinal is a former archbishop of Sydney and Melbourne. Since 2014 he has been prefect of the secretariat for the economy – the Vatican’s treasurer. He was ordained in Rome in 1966.
When Pope Francis was asked about allegations against Pell last year, he told reporters: “It’s true, there is a doubt. We have to wait for justice and not first make a mediatic judgment – a judgment of gossip – because that won’t help. Once justice has spoken, I will speak.”