Australian police charge Vatican cardinal with sex offenses

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Australian police charged a top Vatican cardinal on Thursday with multiple counts of historical sexual assault offenses, a stunning decision certain to rock the highest levels of the Holy See.

Cardinal George Pell, Pope Francis' chief financial adviser and Australia's most senior Catholic, is the highest-ranking Vatican official to ever be charged in the church's long-running sexual abuse scandal.

Victoria state Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said police have summonsed Pell to appear in an Australian court to face multiple charges of "historic sexual offenses," meaning offenses that generally occurred some time ago. Patton said there are multiple complainants against Pell, but gave no other details on the allegations against the cardinal. Pell was ordered to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 18.

Pell has repeatedly denied all abuse allegations made against him. The Catholic Church in Australia, which issues statements on Pell's behalf, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the charges.

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By KRISTEN GELINEAU, ASSOCIATED PRESS SYDNEY — Jun 28, 2017, 8:25 PM ET

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/australian-police-charge-vatican-cardinal-sex-offenses-48339321

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

Good. (finally)

[Biggles53]

2. There's been a stink

around this man for decades. Looks like someone in authority has finally picked up the scent....

[broadcaster90210]

3. Religion. Mankind's greatest scourge.

nt

[Stuart G]

4. k and r....nt

[llmart]

5. Anyone else on here...

watch "The Keepers" on Netflix?

Incredible.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Kick (nt)

[Eugene]

7. George Pell takes leave from Vatican to fight sexual abuse charges in Australia

Source: The Guardian

George Pell takes leave from Vatican to fight sexual abuse charges in Australia

• Cardinal says he is victim of ‘relentless character assassination’
• Pope Francis praises Pell in supportive additional statement
• Pell is highest-ranking figure to be charged in global church scandal

Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Rome and Melissa Davey in Melbourne
Thursday 29 June 2017 07.45 BST

Pope Francis is facing the biggest crisis of his papacy after the third highest ranking official in the Vatican, Cardinal George Pell, was accused of sexual abuse charges in his native Australia.

Police in Australia announced on Thursday that charges for multiple sexual offences were served on Pell’s legal representatives in Melbourne and that he had been ordered to appear in court on 18 July.

“Cardinal Pell is facing multiple charges … and there are multiple complainants,” Victoria police’s deputy commissioner Shane Patton said. The charges were “historical sexual assault offences”.

Pell announced at a press conference that he was innocent of the charges and that he was taking a leave of absence in order to return to Australia and “clear his name” following a recent discussion of the matter with the pope.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jun/29/george-pell-takes-leave-from-vatican-to-fight-sex-abuse-charges-in-australia