Vatican Treasurer Cardinal George Pell must face trial on charges of historical sexual offences, an Melbourne court ruled on Tuesday, making him the most senior Catholic official to be tried on such allegations.
Magistrate Belinda Wallington on Tuesday found there is evidence of sufficient weight against Australia's most senior Catholic cleric for him to stand trial on some allegations.
Several other charges against the 76-year-old were struck out.
In court, Pell pleaded not guilty in a firm, loud voice.
As they did every day during his committal hearing, police escort Cardinal #Pell out of court. Large local and Int’l media presence too. Committed to stand trial, Australia’s most senior catholic will tomorrow face a directions hearing at the County Court. pic.twitter.com/CQQE8n6U0q — Sarah Abo (@_SarahAbo) May 1, 2018
Pell has strenuously denied all charges, and Tuesday's committal comes after a four-week-long hearing to determine whether the allegations would go to trial in the County Court.
Pell, who took leave from his position as Vatican treasurer to fight the charges, was in court to hear the decision.
The magistrate is continuing to deliver her findings.
During the pre-hearing, the defence repeatedly attacked the police investigation into Pell, which began in March 2013 before any crime had been reported.
In April the defence and prosecution returned to Melbourne Magistrates Court for further legal arguments. Pell was excused from attending.
Defence barrister Robert Richter QC argued Pell had been targeted as Australia's most senior Catholic amid hatred and public furore over the church's response to clergy abuse.
Mr Richter suggested some of the allegations were the product of fantasy, mental problems or pure invention.
He also suggested claims about Pell made in a television program led to other people making complaints against the cardinal, creating a kind of public furore.
But crown prosecutor Mark Gibson SC said the defence attack on the complainants' credibility amounted to nothing more than "a conflict in the evidence", which was up to a jury to decide.
Mr Gibson said there was no evidence to back the defence theory that Pell was being targeted because the church had failed to stop sexual abuse.
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