Video Information


On February 6, 2017, Channel 7 News televised a report from the Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse on the extent of child abuse within the Catholic Church.

On March 1, 2016, Channel 9 News televised a report from Rome outlining the third day of Cardinal Pell’s video testimony to the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse.

On February 10, 2016, the ABC’s satirical current affairs program, The Weekly, televised a segment dealing with Cardinal Pell’s inability to come to Australia on medical grounds.

On February 28, 2016, Press TV News Videos released a report on Cardinal Pell giving testimony from Rome via video link. The report includes an interview with one of the alleged victims of child abuse by a priest.

On February 29, 2016, Catholic Voices UK produced a report on Cardinal Pell’s video link testimony to the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse.

On February 29, 2016, EMTV Online televised a report on Cardinal Pell’s video link testimony from Rome before the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse. The report includes comments from some of the survivors of child sex abuse.







Web links, documents and video clips

The homepage of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse can be accessed at http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/

On March 20, 2017, The Huffington Post carried a report detailing Cardinal George Pell's letter to the Australian Senate in response to its call that he return to Australia to assist police with their inquiries.
The article is titled 'George Pell Refuses Senate Call To Return Home, Slams Interference' and can be accessed at http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/03/20/george-pell-refuses-senate-call-to-return-home-slams-interfere_a_21902963/

In March, 2017, Broken Rites published on its Internet site an updated comment titled 'Why is Cardinal George Pell not re-appearing in Australia?'
Broken Rites is an advocacy group for the victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. Its comment condemns Cardinal Pell for not having appeared in person two of the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse hearings which he was requested to attend.
The full text of this comment can be accessed at http://www.brokenrites.org.au/drupal/node/391

On February 26, 2017, The Newcastle Herald published an analysis and comment titled by Joanna McCarthy titled 'The Vatican, child sex crimes and how Australia is the great facilitator'.
The article details the diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Australia and explains both the lack of an extradition agreement and the Vatican's failure to assist the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse by making information available to it.
The full text of this article can be accessed at http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4477315/calls-for-vatican-diplomatic-recognition-to-end/

On February 12, 2017, Eureka Street published a comment and analysis of the findings of the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse into the extent of abuse within the Catholic Church.
The piece is written by Frank Brennan SJ, chief executive officer of Catholic Social Services Australia. Father Brennan concludes 'the Australian [Catholic] Church will need to change radically, or become a despised, diminishing sect.'
The full text of the article can be accessed at http://swww.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=50620#.WOGFwGclFVc

On February 9, 2017, civil liberties lawyer Terry O'Gorman issued a media release criticising the Senate's call for Cardinal George Pell to return to Australia to assist the Victoria Police in their investigation of allegations of child abuse made against him. O'Gorman noted that the motion was made in apparent ignorance of the Cardinal's co-operation with investigations and showed a disregard for the proper separation of powers.
The full text of O'Gorman's comments can be found at http://www.robertsonogorman.com.au/blog/2017/february/09/terry-ogorman-comments-on-senate-calls-for-pell-to-return-to-australia/

On February 9, 2017, The Sydney Morning Herald published a report titled 'Cardinal George Pell slams Greens push demanding his return a political stunt'
The report details Cardinal Pell's objections to the motion that passed the federal Australian Senate calling on him to return to Australia to facilitate investigations into accusations of child abuse that had been made against him.
The full text of the report can be accessed at http://www.smh.com.au/national/cardinal-george-pell-slams-greens-push-demanding-his-return-a-political-stunt-20170208-gu8rs6.html

On February 8, 2017, SBS News published a report titled 'Senate calls on Pell to return to Australia' detailing the successful passage through the Australian federal Senate of a Greens motion calling on Cardinal George Pell to return to Australia to answer allegations of child sex abuse made against him.
The full text of this report can be accessed at http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/02/08/senate-calls-pell-return-australia

On February 8, 2017, The Australian published a report titled 'George Pell must front child abuse inquiry again, says Bill Shorten'
The report treats leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten's demand that Cardinal George Pell return to Australia to answer questions before the Royal Commission in regard to the extent of child abuse exposed within the Catholic Church.
The full text can be accessed at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/royal-commission/george-pell-must-front-child-abuse-inquiry-again-says-bill-shorten/news-story/1be84f3664f05b00c4b86fb75cf19027

On February 7, 2017, ABC News published a report titled 'Royal commission into child sexual abuse: 1,880 alleged perpetrators identified in Catholic Church'
The report details the findings of the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse on the alleged incidence of child abuse within the Catholic Church from 1950.
The full text of the news report can be accessed at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-06/royal-commission-into-child-sexual-abuse-begins-in-sydney/8242600

On March 5, 2016, The Sydney Morning Herald published a comment and analysis by Fairfax religion editor Barney Zwartz . The piece is titled 'The tragic legacy of George Pell'. It examines the video testimony of Cardinal Pell and his apparent inaction over decades regarding child abuse within the Catholic Church in Australia. The article suggests Pell's connections with the Vatican may injure the reputation of Pope Francis.
The full text can be accessed at http://www.smh.com.au/comment/pells-reputation-irrevocably-tarnished-by-his-performance-in-rome-20160303-gnabg8.html

On March 4, 2016,The ABC published a comment by Dr Simon Longstaff, the Executive Director of The Ethics Centre, titled 'Equal Before the Law: Cardinal Pell and the Presumption of Innocence'
The article stress the importance of Cardinal Pell being treated fairly regrading all the accusations that have been made about him.
The full text of this article can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2016/03/04/4418566.htm

On February 22, 2016, the New Matilda published a comment by Hugh Harris, board member of the Rationalist Society of Australia, titled 'Can Australian Catholicism Save Itself From Its Ultra-Conservative Forces?'
The comment suggests the type of leadership necessary if Australian Catholicism is to survive the aftermath of the sexual abuse scandal.
The full text can be accessed at https://newmatilda.com/2016/02/22/can-australian-catholicism-save-itself-from-its-ultra-conservatives/

On February 20, 2016, The Illawarra Mercury published an editorial titled 'Cardinal George Pell must humble himself in abuse hearings in Rome'
The editorial argues that if Cardinal Pell is unable for health reasons to return to Australia to testify before the Royal Commission, he should accede on behalf of those victims of abuse who have asked to be able to come to Rome to hear his testimony.
The full text of this editorial can b accessed at http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/3740843/cardinal-george-pell-must-humble-himself-for-victims/

On February 18, 2016, The Australian published a news report titled 'Cardinal George Pell responds to call to face abuse royal commission' detailing the Cardinal's response to popular demands that he should return to Australia to testify before the Royal Commission.
The full text of this report can be accessed at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/cardinal-george-pell-responds-to-call-to-face-abuse-royal-commission/news-story/8e26798fb49afa790c5917fe03df068c

On February 17, 2016, The Herald Sun published a comment by Andrew Bolt titled 'Cardinal George Pell is the victim of a vicious witch hunt'.
The comment defends Cardinal Pell against demands that he return to Australia and a series of accusations and abuses levelled against him.
The full text can be accessed at http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/andrew-bolt/cardinal-george-pell-is-the-victim-of-a-vicious-witch-hunt/news-story/29e8036f329dfee742adf48949ed8743

On February 8, 2016, The United Kingdom Catholic Herald published a comment by Ed Condon, a canon lawyer working for tribunals in a number of English dioceses. The opinion piece is titled 'Peter Saunders's departure was ugly, but inevitable'. Condon explains the circumstances surrounding Saunders's removal and suggests its probable effects.
The full text can be accessed at http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2016/02/08/peter-saunderss-departure-was-ugly-but-it-was-inevitable/

On February 8, 2016, The New Daily published a report titled 'George Pell to remain in Rome' The report details the medical condition which prevents Cardinal Pell returning to Australia to give testimony before the Royal Commission in person.
The full text of the report can be accessed at http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2016/02/08/george-pell-wont-return-child-abuse-commission/

On January 29, 2016, Mamamia published an opinion piece by Georgina Dent titled 'George Pell, it's time to stop running'
The comment calls on Cardinal Pell to return to Australia to attend the Royal Commission hearing being conducted in February and March, 2016.
The full text can be accessed at http://www.mamamia.com.au/george-pell-too-unwell-to-travel/

On May 24, 2015, The Daily Telegraph published a comment by Miranda Devine titled 'Miranda Devine: It's easy to blame Cardinal George Pell but that misses target'
The opinion piece details the prejudicial treatment to which the author believes Cardinal Pell has been subjected.
The full article can be accessed at http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/miranda-devine-its-easy-to-blame-cardinal-george-pell-but-that-misses-target/news-story/6ea3ef91256bb93869e7669a9365aeaf

On December 23, 2015, Online Opinion published a comment by Bill Cover, Associate Professor in the School of Social and Cultural Studies at The University of Western Australia, titled 'The scandal of defending George Pell: Amanda Vanstone's moral support'
The comment examines the need for an open investigation of the Australian Catholic Church's response to child abuse, including that of one of its principal leaders, Cardinal George Pell.
The full text can be accessed at http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=17917&page=1

On December 22, 2015, The Age published five letters to the editor under the heading 'Cardinal George Pell: No, not a benevolent man of the people'
The letters are a response Cardinal Pell's August 2014 testimony to the Royal Commission, his inability to attend the Commission in person and former Liberal minister Amanda Vanstone's subsequent defence of Cardinal Pell.
These letters can be accessed at http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-age-letters/cardinal-george-pell-no-not-a-benevolent-man-of-the-people-20151220-gls852.html

On August 22, 2014, The Daily Mail published a news report titled 'Cardinal George Pell compares priests to truck drivers as he claims Catholic Church leaders should not be held responsible for child sex abuse'
The report details some of Cardinal Pell's testimony before the Royal Commission explaining why he believes church leaders cannot be held responsible for the wrongdoing of individual priests.
The full text can be accessed at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2731340/Cardinal-George-Pell-compares-priests-truck-drivers-claims-Catholic-Church-leaders-not-held-responsible-child-sex-abuse.html

On November 13, 2012, the ABC's 7.30 Report televised excerpts of the press conference given by then Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, indicating his response to the recently announced royal commission into institutional sex abuse.
The full text can be accessed at http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2012/s3632078.htm