Cardinal Pell Charged

Australian Cardinal George Pell who is also the Vatican's treasurer and one of the pope's right hand men has been charged in Australia. Not much detail was given by Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton other that Pell is being charged with multiple counts of "historical sexual assault offenses."  Pell has been on the radar of many since the sex abuse scandals came to full light in 2002.

Many have accused him of doing little to prevent sexual abuse by clergy; and in some instances, even aided in the shielding of predator priests.  He has been a public apologist taking on atheists such as Dawkins and others in debate.  There is no word yet from Pope Francis or the Vatican as to whether or not Cardinal Pell will be asked to resign  He is scheduled to go to  the Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 18.

I will continue to follow up on this breaking news.

"Today Victoria Police have charged Cardinal George Pell with historical sexual assault offences." @VictoriaPolice pic.twitter.com/5MyYVlHPa8

— ABC News (@abcnews) June 29, 2017

.@VictoriaPolice released full transcript of DC Patton's press conference confirming Cardinal George Pell charged with child sex offences pic.twitter.com/HNqC66HPlr

— James Dowling (@jameswdowling) June 29, 2017

#BREAKING: Police confirm George Pell has been charged with summons and will be required to face Melb court July 18

— Ahron Young (@AhronYoung) June 29, 2017

https://t.co/uivdH1pMMo

— Sacerdotus (@Sacerdotus) June 29, 2017

UPDATE:  June 29, 2017

Cardinal Pell spoke to the media via a statement stating that he is innocent, abhors sexual abuse and will be facing his accusers in court.  The archdiocese of Sydney will be accommodating the cardinal but will not pay his legal fees.

Cardinal George #Pell dominates today's front pages. #9News pic.twitter.com/QK0t0LPo1M

— Airlie Walsh (@AirlieWalsh) June 29, 2017

Source:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/06/28/top-ranking-vatican-cardinal-charged-with-sex-offenses-in-australia/?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.4596f66fbcda

https://www.wsj.com/articles/senior-vatican-official-charged-with-sexually-abusing-children-decades-ago-1498699835?mod=e2tw

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-abuse-pell-idUSKBN19K021

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-29/cardinal-george-pell-charged-sexual-assault-offences/8547668

http://www.smh.com.au/national/cardinal-george-pell-set-to-be-charged-with-serious-sex-offences-20170628-gx0v8y.html

https://apnews.com/0ffd0f1ba6944236835d610632d18a23/Australian-police-charge-Vatican-cardinal-with-sex-offenses?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/28/world/australia/cardinal-george-pell-charged-sexual-abuse.html?action=Click&contentCollection=BreakingNews&contentID=65505620&pgtype=article&smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/29/cardinal-george-pell-catholic-church-sexual-abuse-scandal

http://newsco.com.au/newsco-com-au-cardinal-george-pells-legal-bills-wont-be-paid-by-sydney-archdiocese-archbishop-says/



UPDATE July 26, 2017

Cardinal Pell will plead not guilty.

Source:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/25/world/australia/cardinal-pell-australia-catholic-sexual-offenses.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-40712528