Cyber Monday Deal: Up to 60% off InvestingProCLAIM SALE

Vatican treasurer may front Australian abuse inquiry remotely - judge

Published 08/02/2016, 04:08 pm
Updated 08/02/2016, 04:10 pm
Vatican treasurer may front Australian abuse inquiry remotely - judge

By Byron Kaye

SYDNEY, Feb 8 (Reuters) - The Vatican's Australian finance controller was cleared on Monday to testify at a child abuse inquiry in his homeland via videolink because of a heart condition, a ruling bound to frustrate victim groups who wanted him to appear in person.

Cardinal George Pell, once seen as a contender to become pope, was scheduled to testify at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse on Dec. 16 but asked to give evidence by videolink instead. judge chairing the inquiry said he accepted a Jan. 29 medical report saying the former archbishop of Sydney and Melbourne had hypertension and ishcemic heart disease complicated by a previous heart attack, and said he could testify remotely.

"Although people with the conditions that Cardinal Pell has may fly long distances, it is apparent ... that in the case of Cardinal Pell there is a risk to his heath if he undertook such travel at the present time," the judge, Peter McClellan, told the inquiry.

"Having regard to the nature of his ailments, it could not be expected that his health is likely to improve and remove these risks," McClellan said, effectively reversing his December statement that he wanted Pell to testify in person.

McClellan said Pell must testify from Rome via videolink on Feb. 29.

The inquiry heard testimony last year that priests suspected of abuse in Pell's former diocese were moved between parishes and put in church-appointed rehabilitation instead of being reported to police.

Pell, 74, has denied those allegations.

In a second blow to victim groups, McClellan declined their request to make Pell's medical report public, saying he had read the most relevant parts to the inquiry.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.