MELBOURNE -- Vatican Cardinal George Pell will plead not guilty to historical sexual offence charges involving multiple complainants, a court in Melbourne was told on Wednesday. "Cardinal Pell will plead not guilty to all the charges and will maintain his presumed innocence that he has," his lawyer Robert Richter told the packed courtroom on Pell's behalf. The filing hearing in Melbourne court on Wednesday marks the start of what is expected to be a lengthy legal process. "It is a very symbolic day," said Phil Nagle, a child sexual abuse survivor, who was present in the court room. The Church could no longer turn a blind eye to the issue "whether Cardinal Pell is found guilty or innocent," it said.

Source: The China Post July 26, 2017 05:15 UTC