Victims plan to confront George Pell when he give evidence in Rome

VICTIMS of child sexual abuse are planning to confront George Pell in Rome when he gives evidence to the child abuse royal commission.

Australian Cardinal George Pell, Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy of the Holy See arrives to attend a Chrism mass for Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) which marks the start of Easter celebrations on April 2, 2015 at St Peter's basilica in Vatican. AFP PHOTO / ANDREAS SOLARO

VICTIMS of child sexual abuse are planning to confront George Pell in Rome when he gives evidence to the child abuse royal commission.

The Cardinal is due to testify at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse via videolink from the Vatican from February 29.

He was excused from personally attending the Ballart hearing because of ill health.

Questions have been raised about the 74-year-old’s sudden decline in health, with sceptics accusing him of trying to avoid coming face to face with victims.

But he could still be forced to testify in front of victims, with a delegation planning a trip to Rome.

Cardinal George Pell could still be forced to testify in front of victims. AFP PHOTO/Andreas Solaro

Members of the Ballarat and District Child Abuse Survivors group have called for the commission to ensure the Cardinal is forced to testify publicly.

They say their planned trip is contingent on whether the public will be allowed to attend the evidence.

“The commission must ensure Cardinal Pell gives evidence under conditions as close as possible to an Australian Court setting,” they said in a statement.

“We call for the evidence to be received in a setting, such as an Australian Embassy, with broadcast quality equipment to ensure there are no technical difficulties.

“As the Commission hearings are open to the public we request the ability for interested parties to travel to Rome and attend the evidence in person. The emotional pain felt by survivors and indeed the population needs to be considered in the choice of site.”

Details of how Cardinal Pell will testify have not been made public, but it has been revealed the commission will sit from 8am to accommodate him.

The time difference still means Cardinal Pell will be giving evidence from 10pm Rome time, and may be forced to sit through the night until 4am.

In their statement issued overnight the Ballarat and District Child Abuse Survivors group said Cardinal Pell missed an opportunity to make peace with victims on behalf of the church.

“Attending in person was an opportunity for the Cardinal to ensure the evidence given was unambiguous and within a courtroom setting. It was also an opportunity to provide direct responses to the survivors of the crimes committed under the auspices of the Catholic Church,” they said.

“Attending in Ballarat would have provided a strong message to help heal the rifts within the city.”

The commission will sit in Sydney to hear Cardinal Pell’s evidence but will webcast the hearings live on its website.

A room at Ballarat Town Hall will also be made available for members of the community who wanted to attend the hearings.

Cardinal Pell has been recalled, for the third time, to testify about his knowledge of sexual abuse within the Ballarat and Melbourne dioceses.

He was a priest in Ballarat, before being appointed Archbishop of Melbourne when he introduced the controversial Melbourne Response.

The scheme, to deal with complaints of abuse, has been widely criticised, including by the Royal Commission who found it discouraged victims from speaking to police.

Pell will be probed over claims he turned a blind eye to abuse and was involved in decisions to shuffle notorious paedophile Gerald Ridsdale between parishes. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Cardinal Pell, the third most powerful figure in the global Catholic Church, is responsible for the Vatican’s finances.

The commission has been contacted for comment.

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