Cardinal Pell says he will testify for Australian sex-abuse commission

May 27, 2015

Cardinal George Pell has said that he will provide testimony for an Australian commission investigating the Church’s handling of sex-abuse complaints.

Cardinal Pell, who is now the prefect of the Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy, has come under pressure in his native Australia because of a charge that he sought to persuade a man to be silent about the misconduct of a notorious priest. The cardinal has adamantly denied that charge.

“I want to make it absolutely clear that I am willing to give evidence should the commission request this, be it by statement, appearance by video link or attending personally," Cardinal Pell said. He added that he has been “horrified” by the accounts of sexual abuse, and “deeply saddened” by the failure of Church leaders to address the problem.

In a related development, Gerald Ridsdale—the disgraced priest whose misconduct Cardinal Pell is accused of covering up—told the Australian commission that he did not recall any dealings with the future cardinal. Ridsdale—who is now serving a prison term for abuse—said that he “never had much to do with him.”

Cardinal Pell has acknowledged that while serving as an auxiliary bishop in Melbourne in 1993, he accompanied Ridsdale to a court session. The cardinal said that he now realizes his appearance, which was intended to show “priestly solidarity,” was a mistake.

 

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Further information:

• Pope Francis' finance chief promises to appear at Australian child abuse inquiry (Telegraph)
• Ridsdale doesn't remember George Pell (The Australian)