Cardinal George Pell charged with historic sex offences. The Pope's finance chief and third most senior cardinal in the Catholic Church has been charged with historic sex offences. Watch Go For Sisters Putlocker#. In revelations that have rocked the Vatican, Australian Cardinal George Pell has been ordered to to face a court in Melbourne in three weeks. There is no extradition agreement between the Vatican and Australia, but Cardinal Pell, 7. He is the highest- ranking official to be charged in the sex abuse scandal that has dogged the Catholic Church for years. Pope Francis is yet to comment on the charges. Scroll down for video Cardinal George Pell has been charged over sex abuse allegations (pictured eating in Italy)It is understood Cardinal Pell has been summoned to Australia from Rome in relation to the charges (pictured sipping on a beer while dining in Italy)The Catholic Church worldwide has in recent years faced a damaging series of allegations relating to sex abuse by priests, and claims that these cases were covered up. Cardinal Pell has been charged with with 'historic sex offences' stemming from 'multiple complainants' and is due to face Melbourne Magistrates court on July 1.
He has already signalled that he plans to return to Australia to 'clear his name', as long as the trip is approved by 'his doctors'. The conditional response has caused many to question whether the priest will cite poor health as a reason not to fly back home - as he did last year when faced with questioning by a royal commission. Cardinal Pell was summonsed from Rome on Thursday after Victoria police presented the charges to his Melbourne legal team and the court. In a statement, he took aim at leaks from the police investigation in his home state of Victoria. He said: 'There have been leaks to the media. There has been relentless character assassination. A relentless character assassination.'And for more than a month, claims that a decision on whether to lay charges was imminent.'I'm looking forward, finally, to having my day in court.'I'm innocent of these charges. They are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.' Victoria police confirmed the charges during a press conference on Thursday. Cardinal Pell is facing multiple charges in respect of historic sexual offences. There are multiple complainants relating to those charges,' Victoria state police deputy commissioner Shane Patton said.'Cardinal Pell has been treated the same as anyone else in this investigation. Advice was received and sought from the office of public prosecutions, however ultimately, the choice to charge Cardinal Pell was one that was made by Victoria Police.' Cardinal Pell said in a release he will return to Australia to fight the charges and 'clear his name'Victoria state police deputy commissioner Shane Patton confirmed police have charged Cardinal Pell with sex offences (pictured is the press conference)Victoria police would not specify the charges and said they would not comment on the allegations again. Cardinal Pell responded to the charges after a couple of hours.'Although it is still in the early hours of the morning in Rome, Cardinal George Pell has been informed of the decision and action of Victoria Police,' the statement said. 'He has again strenuously denied all allegations.'Cardinal Pell will return to Australia, as soon as possible, to clear his name following advice and approval by his doctors who will also advise on his travel arrangements.'He said he is looking forward to his day in court and will defend the charges vigorously.' CARDINAL PELL'S RISE THROUGH THE CATHOLIC CHURCHJune 8, 1.
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Born in Ballarat, Victoria. December 1. 6, 1.
Ordained a Catholic priest. Assistant priest Swan Hill parish. Assistant priest Ballarat East parish. Shared St Alipius presbytery with Gerald Ridsdale (later revealed as Australia's worst pedophile priest) and Monsignor William Mc. Mahon. 19. 73- 1. Episcopal Vicar for Education in Diocese of Ballarat; founding member of Catholic Education Commission of Victoria. Principal of Institute of Catholic Education (now merged with Australian Catholic University)1.
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Administrator of Bungaree parish. July 1. 6, 1. 98. Ordained as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Melbourne. Parish priest Mentone, Bishop for the southern region of Melbourne. Chair of Caritas Australia.
May 2. 7, 1. 99. 3 - Accompanies Ridsdale to his first court appearance. Later says it was a mistake to show priestly solidarity and he did not know full extent of Ridsdale's crimes. June 1. 6, 1. 99. Appointed Archbishop of Melbourne by Pope John Paul IIAugust 1. Installed as archbishop. October 1. 99. 6 - Announces Melbourne Response protocol for handling sex abuse complaints in Melbourne archdiocese. March 2. 6, 2. 00.
Appointed Archbishop of Sydney by Pope John Paul IIMay 1. Installed as archbishop. April 2. 1, 2. 00. Awarded Centenary Medal by Australian government.
September 2. 8, 2. Elevated to the Sacred College of Cardinals by John Paul II2. Appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia. February, 2. 00. 7 - Appointed to Council of Cardinals on Organisational and Economic Problems of the Holy See. April, 2. 01. 3 - Appointed by Pope Francis to group of eight cardinals to advise on government of the universal Church and study plan for revising Apostolic Constitution of Roman Curia.
May, 2. 01. 3 - Gives evidence to Victorian parliamentary inquiry into handling of abuse by religious and other organisations in Melbourne. February 2. 5, 2. Appointed as Prefect for the newly- created Secretariat for the Economy, Holy See.
March 2. 01. 4 - Gives evidence to Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Sexual Abuse in Sydney. August 2. 01. 4 - Second royal commission appearance via videolink from the Vatican, to Melbourne hearing on the Melbourne Response.
February 2. 9 - March 3, 2. Third royal commission appearance, via videolink from Rome hotel conference room to Sydney; hearing on church's handling of abuse allegations in Ballarat diocese and Melbourne archdiocese. June 2. 9, 2. 01. Charged with multiple, historical sex offences, set to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on July 1. Source: The Australian Associated Press. The Sano taskforce, which investigates allegations of sexual offences, has been investigating Cardinal Pell since 2.
Last year, citing ill health, Pell declined to return to Australia to give evidence to the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse in person last year.