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Aussie cardinal defends decision to not appear at sex abuse Royal Commission

Xinhua, February 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

Australia's highest-ranking member of the Catholic Church has on Thursday hit back at criticism after he revealed he was too ill to fly home and testify at the Royal Commission into child sex abuse.

Cardinal George Pell, stationed in Rome, previously revealed he was too sick to testify in front of victims at the Royal Commission, something which received a backlash from those affected as well as comedian and singer Tim Minchin, who released a song criticizing Pell for not making the effort to fly to Australia.

But a statement from Pell's office said there was a lot of "incorrect information" published which led to the song being released on Wednesday, and revealed Pell was prepared to "meet with and listen to victims and express his ongoing support" to those set to fly to Rome.

Pell said he would give his testimony via videolink from the Italian capital, but in the presence of a victims group which, earlier this week, said they wanted to be present so that Pell could face "courtroom conditions" while he spoke under oath.

The cardinal said he had no issue with the victims being in the room, and said he was and always had been a staunch advocate of ensuring justice, righting wrongs and offering support to those who need it.

"Cardinal Pell has always helped victims, listened to them and considered himself their ally," the statement said on Thursday.

"As an archbishop for almost 20 years he has led from the front to put an end to cover-ups, to protect vulnerable people and to try to bring justice to victims."

Minchin's song, which raised 100,000 U.S dollars for victims to fly to Rome, called on Pell to return to Australia to "face the music".

The statement from Pell said he was "anxious to present the facts".

"It is ultimately a matter for the royal commission to determine the precise arrangements for the provision of evidence by the Cardinal in Rome," it read.

"The Cardinal will continue to cooperate with whatever arrangements the royal commission determines, so that he can be heard on the days and at the times recently set by the commissioner." Endit