CARDINAL George Pell has denied involvement in an alleged sex abuse cover-up after the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Ballarat heard allegations he tried to bribe a victim to keep quiet.
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In a statement, Cardinal Pell rejected claims that he helped move disgraced paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale between catholic parishes and tried to pay one victim to remain silent.
He also denied ignoring another victim's claim that a now-convicted sex offender was abusing children at St Patrick's College in Ballarat.
Cardinal Pell, now finance chief at the Vatican, said he had already addressed many of the claims levelled against him in a Victorian parliamentary inquiry in 2013, and he stood by those statements.
"I have been accused of being complicit in the moving of a known paedophile, of ignoring a victim's complaint and of bribery," he said.
"These matters again require an immediate response and it is important to correct the record, particularly given the false and misleading headlines."
Testifying at the Royal Commission this week, David Ridsdale, told of being abused by his uncle, Gerald, from when he was 11 years old.
Mr Ridsdale said he called then Bishop Pell to tell him about the abuse in February 1993. But he said Cardinal Pell asked him 'what it will take to keep you quiet'.
Timothy Green told the inquiry Cardinal Pell said to him 'don't be ridiculous' when he reported that Brother Edward Dowlan was abusing boys at St Patrick's College in Ballarat.
Cardinal Pell said he had no recollection of having a conversation with Mr Green, more than 40 years ago.
"To the best of my belief this conversation did not happen," he said.
Click here for all the latest from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse which has been holding hearings in Ballarat.
- with The Courier