Cardinal George Pell has denied all charges on alleged historical sexual assault offenses during a press conference held Thursday morning. Speaking from Rome, the head of Vatican finance ministry said "the whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to [him]" and falsified these accusations pressed against him. The top Catholic Cardinal even suggested that he is a victim of this controversy that intends to assassinate his character.
'I deny them absolutely.'
Cardinal Pell, who is a top senior adviser to Pope Francis, reiterated his fervent denial of these sexual abuse allegations since he was first questioned about the issue four years ago.
He added that this scandal would only strengthen his determination to clear his name and promised to cooperate during court proceedings.
According to ABC, Cardinal Pell's sexual assault charges reportedly involved several complainants of abuses which took place during the 1970s in Ballarat, Australia. An officer of Victoria Police, on the other hand, denied that the senior Catholic cleric has been getting special treatment from the authorities. Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton clarified that they are following the standard procedures in investigating historical assault offenses for Cardinal Pell's case.
"The fact that he has been charged on summons — we have used advice from the Office of Public Prosecutions, and also we have engaged with his legal representatives, which is common and standard practice," the officer said.
'A fear of scandal'
Cardinal Pell has previously admitted that some members of Catholic Church have covered up the issue of child sexual assault committed by clergy members over the years. He, however, clarified that the Church was only pushed to hide the issue to avoid a scandal which could have an effect on the entire community.
Although he confessed of being informed that a former bishop had destroyed some documents that would prove sex abuse offenses within the Church, the senior cleric denied accusations that he is only apologizing because they have been caught.
He even reiterated that he had acknowledged the wrongdoings committed by former Ballarat Bishop Ronald Mulkearns for trying to cover up the anomalies which involved some members of the clergy.
Cardinal Pell was also questioned for limiting Church abuse victims to $75,000 in compensation when he is living in a $30 million flat in Rome.
The Finance Head insisted that most victims are not interested in money and that the Church is only paying what the government demands.
