The Guardian
If you’re new to this story, or need a refresher, I strongly recommend this excellent explainer from Melissa Davey. The piece tells us about the history of the case, its importance, the nature and seniority of Pell’s role in the Vatican, and the broader background of the royal commission.
More to come
The Age
Cardinal George Pell committed to stand trial on multiple historical sexual assault charges
George Pell will be the most senior Catholic leader to face a jury after being committed to stand trial on multiple historic sexual assault charges.
In a decision that will ring loud through the Vatican and around the religious world, Australia's most senior Catholic and the man who a year ago oversaw management of the Vatican's finances was on Tuesday committed to stand trial on half the charges he faced, involving multiple accusers.
However, magistrate Belinda Wallington struck out a series of serious charges at the start of her ruling, finding there was insufficient evidence for him to be convicted by a jury.
Ms Wallington committed the 76-year-old on charges against multiple complainants, involving alleged sexual offending at a swimming pool in the 1970s in Ballarat, where the accused man was then working as a priest; and at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne in 1990s, when he was the then Archbishop of Melbourne.
Asked to enter a plea, Cardinal Pell sat seated in a packed Melbourne Magistrates Court but said in a loud, clear voice: "Not guilty."
Magistrate Belinda Wallington said there was no evidence the two Ballarat accusers had colluded in their evidence.
...
Cardinal Pell will face a directions hearing in the County Court tomorrow morning, when it is expected a date will be set for a trial before a jury.
He is on bail and has already handed in his passport, the court heard.
He is unable to leave Australia as a condition of his bail.
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