Pell accuses press of exaggerating Catholic abuse

Updated

Archbishop of Sydney George Pell has accused the press of a "persistent campaign" against the Catholic Church in the wake of Julia Gillard's decision to call a nationwide inquiry into institutionalised child abuse.

Speaking to reporters in Sydney this afternoon, Cardinal Pell said the church would "of course" cooperate with the royal commission, which will look into cases of abuse in the church and in other bodies.

But he said he looked forward to statistics showing what percentage of abuse cases the church was responsible for, saying it was not the "principal culprit".

"What is important for the press and the public to realise is that because there is a persistent press campaign against the Catholic Church's adequacies and inadequacies in this area, that does not necessarily represent the percentage of the problem that we offer," he said.

"In other words, that because there is a press campaign focused largely on us, it does not mean that we are largely the principal culprits.

"We are not interested in denying the extent of misdoing in the Catholic Church.

"We object to [the extent of misdoing] being exaggerated, we object to being described as the only cab on the rank."

Cardinal Pell, Australia's most senior Catholic cleric, said he would appear before the royal commission if summoned, saying he, like "every other Catholic priest or bishop", would "comply with the law" because "we've got nothing to hide".

And he said he did not believe the public was cynical about the church's moves to combat sexual abuse.

"I don't think there is widespread cynicism. I think it's in the press. I think the general public certainly understand that we're serious about this," he said.

He described claims that "the church is covering up, the church has done nothing" as "general smearing".

Asked if cover-ups were still going on within the church, he said: "I can't be absolutely sure.

"I would be very confident that it's not general. One reason is because of our education programs, because we've been getting out into all our parishes and schools that these are the procedures to follow, that there is an obligation to inform police of allegations, and that people should do that."

We object to being described as the only cab on the rank. Cardinal George Pell on child abuse within the Catholic Church.

Cardinal Pell showed reporters a booklet entitled Sexual Abuse which he said contained the church's procedures for dealing with abuse cases.

Yesterday, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference said that "talk of a systemic problem of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church is ill-founded and inconsistent with the facts" and Cardinal Pell echoed that sentiment today.

"The Catholic bishops of Australia have welcomed the royal commission which was announced by the Prime Minister last night," he said.

"We think it's an opportunity to help the victims, it's an opportunity to clear the air, to separate fact from fiction."

He said he had spoken to both Ms Gillard and to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott "over the last few days" but said he had not spoken to the Pope since the royal commission was announced.

"[Ms Gillard] just called me up to tell me what she was going to do," he said.

"She said this wasn't an anti-Catholic move, but more general, and I said I acknowledge that and I said I wasn't surprised that it wasn't anti-Catholic, and I was grateful for that."

Confession 'inviolable'

Cardinal Pell is at odds with NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell on the sanctity of the confessional box when it comes to admissions of child abuse.

Cardinal Pell says the seal of confession is inviolable, but Mr O'Farrell has told State Parliament that was a position he personally found hard to support.

"I heard Cardinal Pell today indicate that the bonds of the confessional will remain intact," he said.

"I understand that as a Catholic, not a particularly good Catholic, that is an important sacrament within my church.

"But I struggle to understand that if a priest confesses to another priest that he's been involved in paedophile activities, that that information should not be brought to police."

Mr O'Farrell has indicated NSW may drop its inquiry into clergy sex abuse in the Hunter Valley if the royal commission announced by the Prime Minister addresses the allegations raised by Detective Chief Inspector Fox.

Key interviews: The road to the royal commission 'Explosive' allegations Lateline, November 8: Chief Inspector Peter Fox calls for a royal commission. Gillard acts November 12: Julia Gillard announces a royal commission into institutional responses to instances of child sexual abuse. 'My career is over' Lateline, November 12: Chief Inspector Peter Fox reveals he has been vilified by others within the police force for speaking out. Parents' harrowing story ABC News Breakfast, November 13: Two of Anthony and Chrissie Foster's daughters were raped by a Catholic priest. They shared their response to the announcement of a royal commission with ABC News Breakfast. 'We will cooperate' November 13: Archbishop of Sydney George Pell accuses the press of "exaggerating" the extent of abuse in the Catholic Church. Politically messy? Lateline, November 12: Priest, lawyer and professor of law Father Frank Brennan airs his concerns about the royal commission.

Topics: royal-commissions, law-crime-and-justice, sexual-offences, catholic, australia, nsw, sydney-2000

First posted