Vatican in middle of war of words between cardinal and abuse survivor

[Warren Stupidity]

Row between George Pell and Peter Saunders demonstrates the challenge Pope Francis faces in reforming Vatican, experts say

Now Pell – a senior official in charge of church finances – is embroiled in a bruising fight of a different sort: one that has pit him against a layman, Peter Saunders, who was handpicked by Pope Francis last year to help rehabilitate the church following years of sex abuse scandals and cover-ups.

This week Saunders claimed in an interview in Australia that Pell’s allegedly “callous” past treatment of sex abuse victims was “almost sociopathic”.

In response, Pell – who has vehemently denied allegations that he once sought to bribe an abuse victim in return for his silence, among other cover-up allegations – said he would seek advice on legal action against Saunders, who is a survivor of sex abuse and a member of the pope’s commission on abuse in the church. Pell has previously apologised to victims of clergy sex abuse for the pain they endured.

The loaded exchange occurred after witnesses spoke out against Pell at a hearing before an Australian royal commission on child abuse. Claims that Pell ignored or sought to silence allegations of abuse are more than a decade old. Pell has denied all of the claims and was summoned to testify at the next hearing by the royal commission. A date has not yet been set.

On Thursday Australia’s Catholic archbishops issued a statement backing Pell as a “man of integrity who is committed to the truth and to helping others, particularly those who have been hurt or who are struggling”.

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jun/05/vatican-cardinal-george-pell-abuse-survivor-row

[rug]

1. Interesting.

Francis removed Pell from any pastoral role while naming Saunders as a point man on the sexual abuse crimes.

[Yorktown]

2. There is a recent rumor about molestation of boys by ISIS militants

No idea if it's a manipulation or not, it's based on a Twitter capture attributed to al-Baghdadi.

If true, it would show the two leading religions share more than they care to say.

[trotsky]

3. Whatcha gonna do, Frank?

Pope Francis has tended to stand by officials if they are publicly under attack and there are no signs that he is backing off from his support of Pell. If he were to do so, it would mean undermining a man he has personally charged with tackling another crucial issue of his papacy: Vatican financial reform. In that, too, Pell faces serious challenges.

His "leadership" on this issue is weak and pathetic. Why if he doesn't take a stand here, people MIGHT just think that he's doing things for show only and not actually changing anything!