Cardinal Pell rejects claims of clergy abuse cover-up

(ANSA) - Vatican City, May 21 - 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.