Cardinal charged with sex offences jeered at Australia court
SYDNEY, Australia — Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic official to face sex offence charges, was jeered by protesters as he made a court appearance in his native Australia on Friday in a case that has rocked the Vatican and placed scrutiny on the pope’s stance against abusive clergy.
Australia’s highest-ranking Catholic and Pope Francis’ top financial adviser, Pell entered the Melbourne Magistrates Court flanked by police and media as a small group of placard-waving protesters yelled from the sidewalk. He did not react to the hecklers.
The 20-minute hearing focused on planning for the committal hearing starting March 5 that will determine whether he goes to trial. As many as 50 witnesses could be called for that proceeding, expected to last a month.
Pell, who remained silent throughout, has been charged with multiple offences involving multiple complainants. The exact detail and nature of the charges have not been disclosed to the public, though police have described them as “historical” sexual assault offences, meaning they are alleged to have occurred years ago.