But the Pope’s money man, Cardinal GEORGE PELL, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, complaining that he had been subjected to relentless character assassination during a two-year investigation into what he calls false claims.
The Vatican Treasurer said Pope FRANCIS had granted him a leave of absence to fight the charges, which police in the state of Victoria said are related to alleged historical incidents.
Police Deputy Commissioner SHANE PATTON was quoted in a report saying that the allegations against seventy-six-year-old Cardinal PELL were made by a number of people.
PATTON said the cardinal would be required to face the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 18th July.
However; the magistrate court will decide next week whether to release the details and the nature of the charges ahead of the cardinal’s court appearance.
