Cardinal’s statement says his ‘whole career is a story of stepping up to meet challenges’ after criticism from abuse victims over delayed appearance

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Cardinal George Pell says he is not avoiding facing child sex abuse victims after putting off flying to Australia.

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Pell’s appearance before the child abuse royal commission was postponed after his doctors deemed it was unsafe for him to make the flight from Rome to Melbourne.

Claims that Cardinal Pell is refusing to attend or face victims of sexual abuse are false and ridiculous, a statement from Rome said on Sunday.

“Cardinal Pell’s whole career is a story of stepping up to meet challenges, not avoiding them,” the statement said.

The statement said Pell, who has previously appeared before the commission twice, was determined to give evidence to the commission’s inquiries into child sex abuse by clergy in the Melbourne archdiocese and Ballarat diocese.

“Above all, he wants to do everything that he can to assist survivors in finding justice and healing, and understands the importance of his evidence for them.”

A number of clergy abuse victims on Friday said they were furious about Pell’s unsuccessful attempt to give his evidence to the commission as scheduled from Wednesday via videolink from Rome.

The nature of Cardinal Pell’s health problems was not revealed during Friday’s commission hearing, as it was deemed confidential.

However, his office said Pell had a long-standing heart condition that had recently worsened and it was his doctors’ advice that he not undertake long-haul flights.

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Pell has also cancelled a speaking event in Florida in the US in January, his spokesperson said.

The Vatican’s financial manager continues to carry out his duties in Rome.

Pell in May volunteered to return to Australia to give evidence before the Ballarat and Melbourne inquiries.

Commission chair Justice Peter McClellan said the cardinal’s appearance would be deferred to February’s Ballarat sitting in the hope his health would improve, otherwise his evidence may be further delayed to a time when he can safely travel to Australia.