George Pell to co-operate with Vic police

Victorian police are continuing to investigate allegations of historic sexual abuse after travelling to Rome to interview Cardinal George Pell.

Cardinal George Pell at a press conference in Sydney

Cardinal George Pell says he will continue to co-operate with Victorian police. Source: AAP

Australia's most senior Catholic cleric, Cardinal George Pell, says he will continue to co-operate with Victorian police as they investigate alleged historical sexual assaults on boys.

Three police travelled to Rome last week to talk to the former Ballarat priest and Melbourne archbishop, who rejects all the allegations and voluntarily took part in the interview.

Two men told Victoria Police last year they were groped as children by Cardinal Pell when he was a priest in Ballarat in the 1970s.

Another man claimed he saw the priest expose himself to young boys in the late 1980s.

These allegations were aired in an ABC report in July that said the broadcaster was also aware of abuse allegations in the 1990s.

Cardinal Pell, now based in Rome as the Vatican's finance chief for Pope Francis, on Wednesday confirmed his voluntary interview in a brief statement that also rejects the allegations.

"The Cardinal repeats his previous rejection of all and every allegation of sexual abuse and will continue to co-operate with Victoria Police until the investigation is finalised," the statement says.

Victim advocacy groups say they were pleased that the investigation process was moving forward.

Cardinal Pell gave evidence from Rome to Australia's royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse in March

He appeared via video link after his doctors said he was too unwell to fly to Australia.


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Published 27 October 2016 7:52am
Source: AAP


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