Australian Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Vatican official to be charged in the Catholic Church sex abuse crisis, must stand trial on charges alleging he sexually abused multiple victims decades ago, a magistrate ruled Tuesday. Since Pell returned to Australia from the Vatican in July, he has lived in Sydney and flown to Melbourne for his court hearings. Advocates for abuse victims have long railed against Francis' decision to appoint Pell to the high-ranking position in the first place. His lawyers argued in court that Pell was targeted for "special treatment" by detectives from a police task force that investigated historical sex abuse. Pell was charged by summons in Rome and agreed to return to Australia to face the allegations.

Source: CBC News May 01, 2018 02:25 UTC