Cardinal George Pell,
Vatican Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, has denied
allegations of ignoring and covering up cases of child abuse by
priests in his native Australia.
However, in a statement released late Wednesday he also
pledged to cooperate fully with a commission of inquiry into the
alleged child abuse in the diocese of Ballarat in the state of
Victoria, as he did with a Victoria parliamentary inquiry in two
years ago.
Cardinal Pell was responding to allegations that in 1993 he
bribed the nephew of paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale to stay
quiet about the sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of his
uncle, among other things.
"I have previously made a sworn denial of these allegations
and I reiterate that denial," he said in relation to the bribery
claims.
Pell is also accused by another witness of dismissing
claims that a brother at a Christian college in Ballarat abused
children there.
"I am committed to complete cooperation with the Royal
Commission. I will address in full all matters it wishes to
raise in any statement requested from me before I make any
further comment," continued the statement.
Pell concluded by expressing his "deepest sympathy for the
victims of abuse, their families and the community of Ballarat
for what they have suffered".
"Once again, I will answer allegations and criticisms of my
behaviour openly and honestly," he said.
However, representatives of abuse victims described Pell's
response as "inappropriate".
"It is vastly inappropriate to respond to sworn evidence by
courageous survivors with a media statement that callously
dismisses their experience," said Nicky Davis, leader of the
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
"If Cardinal Pell is at all genuine in his claims to
recognise the seriousness of the crime of sexual violation of
defenceless children, he would voluntarily return to Australia
to give evidence under oath to the royal commission," Davis
contnued.
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