ARCHBISHOP George Pell of Sydney has vehemently denied an allegation that he sexually molested a 12 year-old more than 40 years ago, saying it is ‘a smear of the most vindictive kind’.
However, he said his decision on August 20 to take leave as Archbishop of Sydney was for the good of the Church and to preserve the dignity of the office of archbishop.
A complaint has been made to the National Committee for Professional Standards by a person who said that he was sexually molested while Archbishop Pell was a trainee priest for the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
The committee was established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the Leaders of Religious Institutes to deal with allegations of sexual abuse in the Church.
A statement from the committee on August 20 said the complainant was advised and encouraged to report the matter to the police but at that stage had declined to do so.
The complaint would be dealt with substantially in accordance with the procedures laid down by Towards Healing, the statement said.
Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide, who is co-chairman of the National Committe for Professional Standards with Marist Brother Michael Hill, has set up an independent inquiry to investigate the allegations.
Alex Southwell QC, an eminent retired judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria, has been retained to adjudicate on the complaint and to report to the committee.
Archbishop Pell said the alleged events never happened.
‘The allegations against me are lies and I deny them totally and utterly. I will, of course, co-operate with this independent inquiry in every way possible – frankly, openly and unreservedly.
‘I welcome the inquiry and a chance to clear my name, recognising that I am not above civil and Church law.
‘I have taken a leading role in condemning and exposing sexual abuse within the Catholic Church in Australia. To allege that I am now personally implicated in this evil is a smear of the most vindictive kind.’
