Australia -- Case against Cardinal Pell will go to trial, SNAP responds

For immediate release Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Statement by Tim Lennon, SNAP President, [email protected], 415-312-5820

We are very grateful that the Australian magistrate has decided that there is enough evidence for Cardinal George Pell to stand trial on multiple counts of historical sexual abuse.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/30/asia/cardinal-george-pell-trial-may-intl/index.html

While we do not know whether or not the charges against the cardinal are true, we do know that research shows that false allegations are extremely rare.

In this case three men originally came forward with complaints against the cardinal. One of them, Damian Dignan, unfortunately passed away. Mr. Dignan played a pivotal role in pressing law enforcement to move forward against the cardinal, the most senior figure in the Vatican to face criminal charges for alleged assault.

We urge anyone who has information concerning the charges against Cardinal Pell and who has not yet come forward to do so now. Damian Dignan will not have his day in court, but it is not too late to help ensure that his efforts are not in vain. 

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, is the world's oldest and largest support group for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 25,000 supporters. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org) 

Contact  -  Steven Spaner, SNAP Australia Coordinator, [email protected]; Tim Lennon, 415-312-5820, [email protected]; Melanie Jula Sakoda, 925-708-6175, [email protected]