Vatican treasurer to face Australia court on historical sex charges

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Vatican treasurer to face Australia court on historical sex charges

By Byron Kaye

 

Vatican Treasurer Cardinal George Pell is surrounded by Australian police and members of the media as he arrives at the Melbourne Magistrates Court in Australia, July 26, 2017. REUTERS/Mark Dadswell

 

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell arrived at a court in his native Australia on Wednesday for his first appearance to face historical sex charges as the most senior Roman Catholic official to face such accusations.

 

Pell, 76, a top adviser to Pope Francis, was escorted into Melbourne Magistrates' Court by police through a large crowd of media, protesters and supporters.

 

Australian police charged Pell last month with "historical sexual offences" from multiple complainants.

 

Pell has previously said he was looking forward to his day in court to fight charges he said are false.

 

Protesters shouted as Pell climbed the steps of the courthouse. He did not speak to waiting media.

 

Pell's appearance in court was expected to be brief as prosecutors formally file the charges against him. Australian court rules do not require him to enter a formal plea. A full trial was expected at a later date.

 

Pell is on a leave of absence from his Vatican role as Francis' economy minister, which he started in 2014.

 

In testimony to an Australian government-backed inquiry into child abuse last year, Pell said the Church had made "catastrophic" choices by refusing to believe abused children, shuffling abusive priests from parish to parish, and relying too heavily on the counsel of priests to solve the problem.

 

(Reporting by Byron Kaye; Editing by Jane Wardell and Paul Tait)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-07-26

[nev]

Not another one, about time they are starting to round them up.

[Cats4ever]

I have no idea whether he is guilty or not, but I can't abide the man. First time I saw him on some late evening TV round table conference, before he was even archbishop, and the thing that struck me was the immaculate cut of his jacket. Later someone suggested that he flew to Rome first class each time because he is a big man; George poo poohed that and said he could sit in economy, but it would not be so pleasant.

[williamgeorgeallen]

god has sent a drought to punish them. Vatican is having to turn off their fountains.

[tryasimight]

Its taken longer to get him into court than the Red Bull guy......hopefully justice will be done. I doubt George will go to Jail....but I hope he rots in hell along with the other men of the cloth who abused children for decades/millennia.

 

[Cadbury]

This has been on the cards for a long time. He has always protected his kiddie fiddler mates over the years and karma is finally here.

The Pope may well have tried to hide him away at the Vatican as the Catholic Chancellor of the Exchequer but nothing will save him now. 

[Thechook]

This is the guy who could have very well been the current pope