The father of a choir, who prosecutors accused of sexually abusing him by Cardinal George Pell, has prosecuted the cleric and the Catholic Church.
After learning about the allegations, his lawyers said the man was seeking damages for his mental injury.
In 2018 Cardinal Pell was convicted of abusing two choirs in the 1990s. But Australia’s top court later dismissed the convicts. Cardinal Pell has always maintained his innocence.
The Australian cleric had spent more than a year in prison when he was released in 2020 after a successful appeal.
One of the choir’s fathers has now filed a civil claim in the Supreme Court of Victoria against Cardinal Pell and the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. Neither the man nor his son, who died in 2014, could be named for legal reasons.
His father is suing Cardinal Pell for an amount not yet known to compensate for the “nervous shock” caused by losing his son and learning of the allegations a year later.
Nervous shock is a legal term for a recognized mental disorder, injury or illness caused by the actions or omissions of another party. In a statement of claim, he argues that the church is liable because it has violated its duty of care.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne has been contacted for comment. The court on Thursday fixed the trial for next month.