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In May 2015, Gerald Ridsdale's nephew David told the commission how he had been abused by his uncle from age 11. In February of 1993, David claimed he'd phoned Pell to tell him about the abuse, because "he was the only human being in the church whom I believed was still a friend and who I could trust."Pell, he claimed, became angry: "I want to know what it will take to keep you quiet." David responded, "Fuck you, George, and everything you stand for." And then he hung up.Pell denies this ever happened.Cardinal Pell has given evidence to commission that can largely be summed up like this: Pell had absolutely no idea that any abuse was taking place.
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Pell had an even stranger excuse in store when asked about Father Peter Searson. Searson sexually abused children, physically assaulted them, and pointed knives at them . Children were—not surprisingly—terrified of Father Searson.In one of the more bizarre exchanges, Pell was asked if he knew Searson had once stabbed a bird with a screwdriver in front of children. "Yes," replied Pell, adding, "but I don't know if the bird was already dead."In 1989, Pell was approached by parents who were concerned about Searson. "I don't think I was obliged to do anything more than I did, because I took it to the archbishop and asked what should be done," he said, presenting a view not really compatible with a Martin Luther-type rabble-rouser who was "not cut from the same cloth."In admitting his lack of interest, Pell has given the Commission the real truth it was designed to uncover.
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