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Cardinal Pell had evidence to act on paedophile priest, royal commission counsel say Cardinal Pell had evidence to act on paedophile priest, royal commission counsel say
(about 1 hour later)
Australia’s most senior Catholic, Cardinal George Pell, had enough evidence to conclude that serious action was needed against a paedophile priest who worked under him at the Ballarat archdiocese, counsel assisting the royal commission have said.Australia’s most senior Catholic, Cardinal George Pell, had enough evidence to conclude that serious action was needed against a paedophile priest who worked under him at the Ballarat archdiocese, counsel assisting the royal commission have said.
During his evidence before the child sex abuse royal commission in March, Pell said investigating Peter Searson was not his responsibility because he believed the Catholic Education Office and the Bishop of Ballarat, Ronald Mulkearns, were handling allegations that Searson was abusing children.During his evidence before the child sex abuse royal commission in March, Pell said investigating Peter Searson was not his responsibility because he believed the Catholic Education Office and the Bishop of Ballarat, Ronald Mulkearns, were handling allegations that Searson was abusing children.
But in a submission published on the commission’s website on Monday, counsel assisting the royal commission Gail Furness SC and Stephen Free concluded: “It was incumbent on Cardinal Pell, having regard to his responsibilities as Auxiliary Bishop, including for the welfare of children in the parish, to take such action as he could to advocate that Searson be removed or suspended, or, at least, that a thorough investigation be undertaken.”But in a submission published on the commission’s website on Monday, counsel assisting the royal commission Gail Furness SC and Stephen Free concluded: “It was incumbent on Cardinal Pell, having regard to his responsibilities as Auxiliary Bishop, including for the welfare of children in the parish, to take such action as he could to advocate that Searson be removed or suspended, or, at least, that a thorough investigation be undertaken.”
Pell gave evidence that he was handed a list of incidents and grievances about Searson in 1989. These should have been “sufficient that he ought reasonably have concluded that more serious action needed to be taken in relation to Searson”, counsel assisting wrote.Pell gave evidence that he was handed a list of incidents and grievances about Searson in 1989. These should have been “sufficient that he ought reasonably have concluded that more serious action needed to be taken in relation to Searson”, counsel assisting wrote.
In his evidence Pell said he believed the list, which included reports Searson had abused animals in front of children and was using children’s toilets, did not contain enough information for him to act.In his evidence Pell said he believed the list, which included reports Searson had abused animals in front of children and was using children’s toilets, did not contain enough information for him to act.
Searson died in 2009 without ever facing charges. The commission has previously heard he abused children in parishes and schools across three districts over more than a decade, and displayed strange behaviours such as animal cruelty and carrying a gun to school. Searson died in 2009 without facing charges. The commission has previously heard he abused children in parishes and schools across three districts over more than a decade, and displayed strange behaviours such as animal cruelty and carrying a gun to school.
The submission published on Monday urged the royal commission to reject evidence from Pell that senior officials within the Catholic Education Office (CEO) kept him in the dark about the extent of Searson’s behaviour because they were afraid Pell would take action against him. The submission published on Monday urged the royal commission to reject evidence from Pell that senior officials within the Catholic Education Office kept him in the dark about the extent of Searson’s behaviour because they were afraid Pell would take action against him.
“It is submitted that the Commission should reject Cardinal Pell’s evidence that officers of the CEO intentionally deceived him and did so for the reasons suggested by Cardinal Pell,” the submission read.“It is submitted that the Commission should reject Cardinal Pell’s evidence that officers of the CEO intentionally deceived him and did so for the reasons suggested by Cardinal Pell,” the submission read.
“Those CEO officers who are available to give evidence about these matters gave evidence to the effect that they had no interest in deceiving Cardinal Pell or in trying to protect Searson. That evidence should be accepted. It is generally consistent with other evidence available to the royal commission.”“Those CEO officers who are available to give evidence about these matters gave evidence to the effect that they had no interest in deceiving Cardinal Pell or in trying to protect Searson. That evidence should be accepted. It is generally consistent with other evidence available to the royal commission.”
They accused Pell of missing “an important opportunity to recognise and deal with the serious risks posed by Searson”.They accused Pell of missing “an important opportunity to recognise and deal with the serious risks posed by Searson”.
The chief executive of the Care Leavers of Australia Network (Clan), Leonie Sheedy, whose organisation represents victims of abuse within the Ballarat diocese, welcomed the submisison. Stephen Woods was raped and sexually abused by three different members of the Ballarat clergy while he was a student at St Alipius Christian Brothers primary school and St Patrick’s college. He said he was “appalled” that Pell said he did not believe he had enough information to take strong action, and that he was glad that the royal commission’s counsel agreed that Pell should have done more.
“You don’t know a person by what they say, you know them by what they do,” he said. “What Pell did was to obfuscate and deny, deny, deny.”
The chief executive of the Care Leavers of Australia Network, Leonie Sheedy, whose organisation represents victims of abuse within the Ballarat diocese, welcomed the submisison.
“I think the Catholic church can no longer fool the community, let alone the royal commission,” Sheedy said.“I think the Catholic church can no longer fool the community, let alone the royal commission,” Sheedy said.