By ABC
A specially appointed member of the Vatican’s commission on child protection has accused Cardinal George Pell of being “almost sociopathic” in his treatment of victims.
Peter Saunders, himself a survivor of abuse, called for Cardinal Pell to be sent back to Australia and said he had a moral responsibility to appear before the royal commission into child sexual abuse.
Mr Saunders was appointed by Pope Francis last year to the new commission to protect children.
His comments follow the royal commission’s latest hearings in Ballarat which last week focused on the crimes of priest Gerald Ridsdale.
Cardinal Pell has denied he tried to bribe a victim to keep quiet and that he was dismissive of victims and their families.
“Personally I think that his position is untenable because he has now a catalogue of denials,” Mr Saunders told Channel Nine.
“He has a catalogue of denigrating people, of acting with callousness, cold-heartedness, almost sociopathic I would go as far as to say, this lack of care.
“Given the position of George Pell as a cardinal of the church and a position of huge authority within the Vatican, I think he is a massive, massive thorn in the side of Pope Francis’s papacy if he’s allowed to remain.
“And I think it’s critical that he is moved aside, that he is sent back to Australia, and that the Pope takes the strongest action against him.”
Cardinal Pell has previously indicated he is willing to appear before the royal commission if asked to do so.
This article was originally published by ABC News.
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Read more:
Paedophile Gerald Ridsdale feared a confession would cost him his priesthood.
Twelve of the 33 boys in this school photo took their own lives after suffering sexual abuse.
Top Comments
If Pell chooses to be the image associated with the problems within the Catholic Church in Australia, then so be it.
He's denied the allegations and appeared before the Royal Commission twice. If this bloke has new evidence then he should present it to the proper authorities.
If denying allegations consistently is somehow proof that you've done something wrong, then there's not much hope for our legal system is there?
It's not that the allegations are new - it's who is presenting them. "Mr Saunders was appointed by Pope Francis last year to the new commission to protect children." ie a high profile fellow-Catholic to Pell. That's what's different
The evidence coming out in Ballarat are new.