Allegations Against Cardinal Pell

Cardinal George Pell maintains his innocence on all allegations, including his conviction (overturned on final appeal). He was acquitted from the following charges: 5 counts of child molestation: 1 count of sexual penetration of a child under 16, and 4 counts of committing an indecent act with, or in the presence, of a child.[4] This conviction was overturned by the high court of Australia upon appeal: See the Wikipedia page and section on Cardinal George Pell’s Acquittal here.

LIST OF ALLEGATIONS

“He stands publicly accused of complicity in a sex abuse coverup in the diocese of Ballarat in the 1970s and early 1980s; complicity in a sex abuse coverup in the archdiocese of Melbourne in the late 1980s and 1990s; and various counts of child molestation, assault, and indecent exposure, from 1961 through 1997.” [5]

1961
“Then there is the allegation that Pell fondled a boy at a camp at Phillip Island in 1961.” [1]

In 2002, Pell “temporarily stands aside while a Church investigation looks into an allegation that he sexually abused a 12-year-old altar boy in 1961 while he was a seminarian.” [2]

“Scott alleged that Pell molested him ‘on any occasion that it was possible’ during the camp — in his tent, on nature walks, while they were swimming. He also alleged that Pell abused another camper, Michael Foley.” [3]

1970s
“One of the three men who have claimed Pell touched them improperly in Ballarat swimming pools in the 1970s intends to sue the cardinal for damages, and the other two are expected to give evidence in that case.” [1]

” ‘When we were in the deep end… Father Pell would let one hand go and I felt his other hand reach up and hold my crotch area,’ Lyndon Monument, one of his accusers, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The allegation was echoed by Damian Dignan and Michael Breen, who gave their accounts to ABC journalist Louise Milligan. Monument also alleged that Pell loitered in the boys’ changing rooms, an allegation repeated by another accuser, Les Tyack. Tyack claimed he saw Pell naked with three young boys for an extended period of time in a boys’ changing room in Torquay, a seaside town where Pell vacationed for many years.” [3]

1973
“Father Pell lives with Gerard Ridsdale who was later convicted for sexual abuse in the 1960s-1980s. Pell has maintained he never knew of the abuse, which was a focus of questioning by Australia’s royal commission in 2016.” [2]

“Moreover, he [Pell] lived in the clergy house with Australia’s worst pedophile priest, Gerald Ridsdale, who raped victims in that presbytery.” [3]
“Ridsdale pleaded guilty to 27 counts of child abuse” [3]

1970s
“Pell…lived and practiced in the St. Alipius presbytery…. the St. Alipius boys’ school had become overrun with child sexual abuse, perpetrated by a ring of Christian brothers and a pedophile priest. They were raping, beating, and abusing the schoolboys. Kids were violated in just about every corner of the school, including the principal’s office. In one fourth grade class, over a third of the boys went on to commit suicide.” [3]

“Years later, multiple victims testified that Pell knew about the abuse, both at St. Alipius and other parishes. He even sat on a committee that facilitated Ridsdale’s moving from parish to parish, allowing the priest to abuse countless more children while keeping the scandal under wraps.” [3]